Deep Impact blasts Japan Cup competition

Tears of joy. Tears of relief. The kind of tears that spring to your eyes when you know you're witnessing historical moments. Those were the kind of tears that sprang to eyes at Tokyo Racecourse Sunday - for Deep Impact.

Making the jump slowly, in characteristic form, Yutaka Take allowed Deep Impact to lope along behind the rest of the 11-strong field, "taking it calmly, not fighting with him."

"I wasn't worried at all about the position, 11 horses, the last position, that was OK," Take said.

With 700 meters to go, Take asked to pick up the pace in a race that was unfolding at a crawl. Deep Impact "responded immediately."

He moved up slowly on the far outside, shifting into high gear as he straightened for home. Frankie Dettori, on European Horse of the Year Ouija Board, moved in, and "I moved in with him," Take said. "That was my sign."

From, there it was clear sailing. Deep Impact "flew."

"I knew it was going to be OK," Take said. "It was like, 'yes!' "

The crowd, 120,000 strong, was a wall of sound as it chanted Deep's name.

"I could hear them chanting," trainer Yasuo Ikee said. "It was really something and I was so grateful for it."

Passing horse after horse and gaining strongly, papers, hats and programs were hurtled into the air. Victory looked certain.

Gaining the top with 200 meters to go, Deep Impact put 2 lengths between him and Dream Passport by the wire.

Ouija Board battled gamely on for third place, with Cosmo Bulk in fourth and 3-year-old filly Fusaichi Pandora making the board in fifth place. Race second choice Heart's Cry shocked with a 10th place finish.

Deep Impact circled back toward the stands and Take shook his fist in triumph to the roar. Revenge was theirs.

"Today was different," Take said later. "So much had happened. I wanted to see Deep Impact show what he could do.

"I wanted him to run a race in which he was shown at his best, and as a jockey that was my job, to give him that race."

Those were words that could be said of any race, by any jockey worth his weight.

But, Take said, "It was different this time.

"I thought of his trainer, of his staff and of all the efforts they had made to win the Arc. And I thought of the fans and I just had to win. It would be like a comeback, a rebirth."

And so it was.

But it was more a rebirth for Deep Impact's fans, his owner, trainer and staff. Deep Impact had never lost heart, never given up.

"He's full of life," trainer Ikee had said before the race. "He's full of enough life for himself and me as well."

Ikee had pulled a green handkerchief from his pocket, green for the No. 6 bracket, saying, "If he wins I'll put this in my pocket."

Postrace, amid tears from reporters and owner connections and fans, Ikee remained dry-eyed, stoic, without flowery words or lavish praise.

The bright green peeking from his breast pocket said it all, however - Deep Impact had come through for them once again.

Deep Impact, pegged for retirement to a record 5.1 billion yen syndicate, has one race left in his career.

Their days together numbered, both trainer and jockey commented on the remaining weeks.

"Nothing will change between us, to the end," trainer Ikee said.

"It's something that's been decided," Take said.

"I'd like to ride him many more times."