Fierement

He was from the eighth crop of foals sired by Deep Impact, who was the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2005 and 2006, winning races including the Tokyo Yushun, Tenno Sho, Arima Kinen and Japan Cup.

[5] Fierement did not race as a two-year-old, beginning his track career on 28 January 2018 when he won an event for previously unraced three-year-olds over 1800 metres at Tokyo Racecourse.

[8] After a break of three and a half months Fierement returned in the Grade 1 Kikuka Sho over 3000 metres at Kyoto Racecourse on 21 October in which he was ridden by Christophe Lemaire and started at odds of 13.5/1 in an eighteen-runner field.

Generale Uno set a steady pace from Kafuji Vanguard and Cosmic Force with Fierement settled in seventh place before threading his way through the field as the runners fanned out on the final turn.

He was made the 1.8/1 favourite ahead of his old rival Etario, while the other eleven runners included You Can Smile (Diamond Stakes), Clincher (Kyoto Kinen), Meisho Tekkon, Glory Vase (Nikkei Shinshun Hai) and Perform A Promise (Copa Republica Argentina).

The outsider Vosges set the pace from Lord Vent d'Or and Meisho Tekkon with settling in seventh place until Lemaire made a forward move and sent the favourite into the lead on the final turn.

[14] On his final appearance of the season Fierement contested the Arima Kinen over 2500 metres at Nakayama on 22 December in which he was ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe and finished fourth behind Lys Gracieux, Saturnalia and World Premiere.

[15] In January 2020, at the JRA Awards for 2019, Fierement finished fourth to Win Bright, Indy Champ and Suave Richard in the poll to determine Best Older Male Horse.

"[18] After the summer break Fierement returned to the track for the autumn edition of the Tenno Sho over 2000 metres at Tokyo on 1 November and started the 16.4/1 fifth choice in a twelve-runner field.

The horse had been scheduled to reappear in the Sankei Sho All Comers at Nakayama in September but was found to be running a high temperature in training and was withdrawn from the race.

A sustained struggle ensued and after the Chrono Genesis gained the advantage in the final strides Fierement lost second place on the line to fast-finishing outsider Salacia.

Fierement's trainer Takahisa Tezuka