Written by Richard Edmunds
A rare feat was achieved at Flemington on Saturday when Fierce Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) added the G1 Kennedy Cantala to his victory in last month’s G1 Toorak H. at Caulfield.
The 6-year-old entire became the first horse since Magari (Maybe Lad) in 1982 to complete Melbourne’s major spring mile double.
Fierce Impact has been in career-best form this spring, starting with a second placing behind Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the G3 Bill Ritchie H. in September. That horse has subsequently given that form a massive boost by winning the G1 Epsom H. and the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle.
The Matthew Smith-trained Fierce Impact was at double-figure odds when he took out the Toorak three weeks ago, but was more respected in the market at Flemington at $9 as he delivered a repeat result.
He was ridden on both occasions by Craig Williams, producing an impeccably timed finish from the second half of the field in both races.
After a momentary traffic jam at the top of the straight, Williams found clear air for Fierce Impact and sent him into overdrive. With a sparkling turn of foot, he charged past the front-running Chief Ironside (GB) (Lawman {Fr}) and Cliff’s Edge (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) to take the lead.
He may have peaked on his run in the last 150 metres and faced a strong challenge from Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) on his inside, but he fought back relentlessly to hold on in a tight finish.
“I thought he was awesome in the Toorak,” Williams said. “He put the writing on the wall with that race, and his run in Sydney behind Kolding, who has since won the Epsom and the Golden Eagle.
“He was a bit trickier to ride today, but I just wanted to cuddle him up for as long as I could. Matthew (Smith) and his team have done a great job with this horse.
“He was a bit trickier to ride today, but I just wanted to cuddle him up for as long as I could." - Craig Williams
“It’s fantastic to see Katsumi Yoshida here today, who stood the great Deep Impact at stud until he sadly died earlier this year. I’m sure this horse has a stud career of his own to look forward to now.”
Fierce Impact has now had 20 starts for four wins, eight placings and more than $1.8 million in prize-money for an ownership group headed by Seymour Bloodstock and Francis and Christine Cook.
It was another outstanding return to Victoria for Smith, who is based at Warwick Farm in Sydney but has enjoyed all of his Group 1 success in Melbourne. He won the Myer Classic during the same Victoria Derby meeting in 2011 with Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow), then had his second taste of elite success with Fierce Impact at Caulfield last month.
Matthew Smith
“It’s great that we’ve been able to pay back some owners who have been great supporters to us over the years, and great to get a Group 1 win on Derby Day,” Smith said.
“They’re hard races to win. I was sitting on one for quite a while, but I’ve got a couple of extra ones against my name now.
"Every owner wants their trainer to be training Group One winners, so it was so important today to see if we could back it up. For me it's about delivering for your owners and people that support you.
"I'm very proud with the way the horse has produced in the last three starts. It's not often that it all goes to plan, but we were able to pull it off again today.”
Fierce Impact fights to the finish
Smith paid tribute to Ciaron Maher, who has hosted Fierce Impact in his stables during his visits to Melbourne.
“He’s been so incredibly good to us," Smith said. "Every step has to go right to get these results, and if your horse comes to Melbourne and he's not happy, those things can go against you. But they give him his same box each time, so it just works out so well."
Mackinnon a possibility
Smith has not ruled out an attempt at a Group 1 hat-trick during the Melbourne spring carnival, with the possibility of backing Fierce Impact up in next Saturday’s G1 Mackinnon S. over 2000 metres.
“We'll consider it alright – we have to,” Smith said. “The 2000 metres would be right up his alley.
“We'll see how he pulls up, but we'll leave him down here for the week and give him his chance.”
