Contrail the Favorite for Japan's Tenno Sho (Autumn)

The racing fates take another twist Oct. 31 at Tokyo Racecourse as Contrail looms the favorite in a talented field of 16 set for the Tenno Sho (Autumn) (G1).

A year ago, the Deep Impact  colt was basking in the glow of an undefeated run through the Japanese Triple Crown and gave this race a pass in favor of November's Japan Cup (G1).

That race turned into one for the ages as Almond Eye  swept to victory, relegating Contrail to second—his first loss after seven wins. Daring Tact, the filly Triple Crown winner, was third.

Now, Almond Eye is retired and Daring Tact is still hoping to return to action this autumn. And Contrail is among a largely new cast of characters for the Tenno Sho. Although the field boasts five grade 1 winners, only two of the entrants have prior Tenno Sho experience.

Contrail has made only one start since the Japan Cup defeat, finishing third in the Osaka Hai (G1) April 4.

"His loss in the Osaka Hai came down to the poor going," said Contrail's trainer, Yoshito Yahagi. "It had rained very hard right before the race, so much so that in the paddock, I had wanted to scratch. He came out of the race poorly as well."

After an extended recovery and a few recent weeks of hard work, Yahagi said, "I think he's back to his best ... His movement was excellent and the work brought out his suppleness. He's bigger than he was in the spring and I think the way he moves has improved as well."

The competition for the 2,000-meter (about 1 1/4 mile) event is broad and deep with Efforia, winner of this year's Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1), and five-time grade 1 winner Gran Alegria  pegged as the biggest threats.

Efforia, an Epiphaneia colt, comes off a second-place finish in the May 30 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1), his first loss in his fifth start. The Derby winner, Shahryar, will not contest the Tenno Sho.

"Of course, his loss in the Tokyo Yushun was very frustrating. But it doesn't end there," said Efforia's trainer, Yuichi Shikato. "Here, he's a challenger and that feels quite different from the Derby. All of us—myself, the jockey and the horse—can relax here a bit."

Gran Alegria, a 5-year-old Deep Impact mare out of the Tapit   mare Tapitsfly , renews a distance challenge in the Tenno Sho. She has raced beyond 1,600 meters (about 1 mile) only once previously, resulting in a fourth-place finish in the aforementioned Osaka Hai.

"She's in good shape," said trainer Kazuo Fujisawa. "The Osaka Hai was her first 2,000 meters and she was returning from time off. The ground was heavy and the Derby winner was strong ... She has speed but I'd like to see if she has the speed to conquer the Tokyo 2,000 meters. This race always attracts strong horses and it's difficult."

Contrail was drawn in the No. 1 gate with Yuichi Fukunaga in the irons. Jockey Takeshi Yokoyama will start Efforia from the No. 5 slot and Gran Alegria will go from the No. 9 hole under Japan's leading rider, Christophe Lemaire.

The others in the field have less robust resumes.

While the 2,000 meters might be a stretch for Gran Alegria, it might be too short for World Premier. The 5-year-old son of Deep Impact was last seen winning the Tenno Sho (Spring) (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse May 2. That 3,200 meters (about 2 miles) was his second grade 1 score following the 2019 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) at 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles).

Curren Bouquetd'or , a 6-year-old Deep Impact mare, has not won since April 2019 and Persian Knight, a 7-year-old son of Harbinger , last visited the winner's enclosure in 2017 but both regularly figure in the placings in top-level races.

Spectators looking to their right to watch the start can, on a clear day, see iconic Mount Fuji in the distant background.