3 minute read
The first bit of sad news is that super-stallion Deep Impact has been taken off the roster for the rest of the year owing to problems with his neck,
This must be of great concern to people who had mares booked in for him and those who were planning to send mares. It is hoped that a long rest may fix the problem for this very hard working stallion.
The second bit of sad news comes out of England where the wonderful mare Vodka had to be euthanised on Monday due to the effects of laminitis. She was in Newmarket for her next mating presumably to Frankel again as she has a young foal to him born in January. The foal will need a foster mother although she is too old to have a nursing foster mother.
Vodka had a stellar career winning on debut in a Newcomers race at Kyoto and going on to win the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies.
In her 3yo year she ran second to Daiwa Scarlet (with whom she was to have several notable clashes) in the Oka Sho and then became the first filly in postwar times to win the Derby. She ran third to Daiwa Scarlet in in the Shuka Sho and then fourth in the Japan Cup, earning her a rare Special Achievement Award.
In 2008 she went to Dubai in March and ran 4th in the Dubai Duty Free (1800m) and in June won the Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo defeating Hong Kong runner Armada. She went on to win the Tenno Sho (Autumn) in a tight photo finish with Daiwa Scarlet and then ran third in the Japan Cup which was won by Screen Hero. This earned her the Horse of the Year award.
2009 saw her back in the Diuty Free but just 5th this time but on return she won the Yasuda Kinen for the second year running and then in November she won the Japan Cup. Unfortunately she bled after this race and had to take some time out. However she did win the Horse of the Year for the second time, the first female to do so.
In 2010 she returned to Dubai but in the third round of the Al Maktoum challenge she had another nose bleed and it was decided to retire her and she was sent to Ireland for her second career, where she produced some nice horses from Sea The Stars, and later went to Frankel.
She was inducted into the Japanes Racing Hall of Fame in 2011.
In her racing career she had 10 wins from 26 starts, 7 of these at G1 level, and was in the first three for 18 of her races.
