Deep Bond (Japanese: ディープボンド, Dīpu Bondo; foaled 18 February 2017) is a retired Japanese Thoroughbred racehorse. He competed from 2019 to 2024, recording five wins from thirty-one starts, including the Kyoto Shimbun Hai (GII) in 2020, the Hanshin Daishoten (GII) in 2021 and 2022, and the Prix Foy (G2) in France in 2021. He is notable for finishing second in the Tenno Sho (Spring) (GI) for three consecutive years (2021–2023) and for holding the record for the most career prize money earned by a horse without a top-level (GI/G1) victory.
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Background
Deep Bond is a dark bay stallion bred in Niikappu, Hokkaido, by Murata Farm. He was sired by Kizuna, a son of Deep Impact, and his dam was Zephyranthes (ゼフィランサス), a mare by King Halo. Zephyranthes is a descendant of the Mogami Hime family, which also produced the dual GI winner Laurel Guerreiro. Deep Bond was purchased for ¥17,820,000 at the 2018 Hokkaido Selection Sale by Shinji Maeda, owner of the North Hills syndicate. He was trained by Ryuji Okubo at the JRA's Ritto Training Center.
He would be nicknamed "Pubo-kun (Japanese: プボくん)" by fans, which is a shortened form of the horse's name.
Racing career
2019: two-year-old season
Deep Bond debuted on 13 October 2019 in a maiden race at Kyoto Racecourse, finishing third. He won his second start over 2000 metres at Kyoto on 3 November.
2020: three-year-old season
After an unplaced run in an allowance race, Deep Bond finished second in the Azalea Sho and tenth in the Satsuki Shō (GI). On 9 May, he won the Kyoto Shimbun Hai (GII), defeating Man of Spirit in a tight finish to secure his first graded stakes victory and complete a father-son double in the race with his sire Kizuna. He subsequently finished fifth in the Tōkyō Yūshun (Japanese Derby), fifth in the Kobe Shimbun Hai, and fourth in the Kikuka Shō (GI) behind the undefeated Contrail.
2021: four-year-old season
Deep Bond began his season with a fourteenth-place finish in the Nakayama Kimpai (GIII). On 21 March, he won the Hanshin Daishoten (GII) by 0.9 seconds. He was made the favourite for the Tenno Sho (Spring) (GI) on 2 May, where he finished second to World Premiere.
In autumn, Deep Bond travelled to France. On 12 September, he won the Prix Foy (G2) at Longchamp Racecourse, becoming the first Japanese-trained horse to win the race since Orfevre in 2012 and 2013. He finished fourteenth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) on heavy ground. Returning to Japan, he finished second in the Arima Kinen (GI) on 26 December, narrowly missing out to Efforia.
2022: five-year-old season
Deep Bond won his second consecutive Hanshin Daishoten (GII) on 20 March. He finished second in the Tenno Sho (Spring) for the second year in a row, beaten by Titleholder. After finishing fourth in the Takarazuka Kinen (GI), he travelled to France again but finished eighteenth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He ended the season with an eighth-place finish in the Arima Kinen.
2023: six-year-old season
Deep Bond attempted to become the first horse since Gold Ship to win three consecutive Hanshin Daishotens but finished fifth behind T O Royal. On 30 April, he finished second in the Tenno Sho (Spring) for a historic third consecutive year, a rare feat in Japanese racing. This result also made him the highest-earning horse in JRA history without a Group I victory, surpassing the previous record held by Kyoto City and Nice Nature. He later finished fifth in the Takarazuka Kinen, third in the Kyoto Daishoten (GII), tenth in the Japan Cup (GI), and fifteenth in the Arima Kinen.
2024: seven-year-old season
Deep Bond finished seventh in the Hanshin Daishoten and third in the Tenno Sho (Spring). On 6 October, he finished second in the Kyoto Daishoten (GII) to Chevalier Rose. He contested his final race in the Arima Kinen on 22 December, finishing thirteenth. He was officially retired on 25 December 2024.
Statistics
The following table details all 31 starts of Deep Bond's racing career. Record current as of 22 December 2024.
Post-retirement
Following his retirement on 25 December 2024, Deep Bond was retrained as a lead pony (ouma) at Kyoto Racecourse. He made his debut as a lead pony on 3 May 2025 and led the field for the Tenno Sho (Spring) the following day. On 26 April 2026, he carried the field for the Yomiuri Milers Cup with his former jockey Ryuji Wada riding him, as his retirement ceremony would be held after the races of that day concluded.
Pedigree
Deep Bond is inbred 4 × 4 to Halo and 5 × 4 to Lyphard.
His sire Kizuna won the 2013 Tōkyō Yūshun (Japanese Derby).
His dam Zephyranthes is a half-sister to the dam of Laurel Guerreiro, winner of the 2009 Takamatsunomiya Kinen and Sprinters Stakes.