Contrail Remains Undefeated With Japanese Derby Romp

Contrail hit the front midway down the Tokyo Racecourse stretch in the grade 1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and quickly kicked away to a three-length victory May 31, remaining undefeated in five starts.

Contrail now has the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown locked down. He is the first horse to accomplish that feat while undefeated since his sire, the late Deep Impact, did so in 2005.

The dominating victory could set up an interesting second half of the year as only a week earlier, over the same course, Daring Tact remained undefeated while winning the grade 1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks). Any of several major grade 1 events toward the end of the season could attract both.

With Yuichi Fukunaga riding, Contrail got a dream trip in the 2,400-meter (about 1 1/2 miles) Derby. Breaking smoothly, he saved ground while racing a few lengths behind the leaders down the backstretch. The field spread across the course turning into the stretch, leaving plenty of room for Contrail, and the colt wasted no time taking advantage.

By the 200-meter mark, Fukunaga had Contrail in full flight and the outcome was no longer in doubt. Old rival Salios was along for second, 1 3/4 lengths better than Weltreisende. Conrail finished in 2:24.1 on firm going. The grandstand, which has seen as many as 196,517 packed in for the 1990 Derby, was empty this year as the COVID-19 pandemic precautions have been extended in Japan through June.

Fukunaga said a mid-race move by a rival was key to success in the Tokyo Yushun. My Rhapsody, under Norihiro Yokoyama, blitzed around most of the field during the backstretch run to take the lead entering the turn and shaking up the running order.

"The pace was not really flowing in the first half but I sort of expected Nori-san (Yokoyama) to make a move like that and it opened up the path for me to reach the horse in front, which was critical," Fukunaga said.

Despite the smooth performance and margin of victory, Fukunaga said more can be expected from Contrail.

"I was just focusing on finishing this race on a high note and although he still has room for improvement—he tends to lose his focus when he's leading—he still is able to win like he did today," the rider said. "So he's got great potential and there's a lot to look forward to in this colt."

Contrail's trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, who also won the 2012 Tokyo Yushun with Deep Brillante, confirmed the next target for his new star will be the third leg of the Triple Crown, the grade 1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto—a 3,000-meter (about 1 7/8 miles) endurance test Oct. 25.

Only seven horses have completed the sweep of that series. The last was Orfevre in 2011.

Contrail, produced by the Unbridled's Song mare Rhodochrosite, is owned by Shinji Maeda. North Hills bred the colt.

He won at first asking Sept 15 at Hanshin Racecourse, came back two months later to win a grade 3 event at Tokyo Racecourse, and finished his 2-year-old season with a victory in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) a Nakayama.

He  was idle until the grade 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas) at Nakayama April 19, where he was all out to defeat Salios by a half length with a stout effort in the final 100 meters.