Deep Impact's Contrail a Class Above in Japanese Derby

Mark Smith - Monday June 1

For a fleeting second at around the 300 metre mark in Sunday’s Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), Damian Lane on Salios must have thought he was half a chance of upsetting the favourite Contrail but a couple of backhanders by Yuichi Fukunaga on the exquisite black son of Deep Impact settled the matter in a few strides and he went sailing into the distance to keep his record at a perfect five for five.

Contrail all alone at the finsih of the Japanese Derby (image JRA)

Following his win in the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), Contrail becomes the first horse since his own sire Deep Impact to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown while undefeated.

His trainer Yoshito Yahagi confirmed that Contrail would be aimed at the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger 3000m) on October 25, in the hope of becoming the eighth Triple Crown winner, the last being Orfevre in 2011.

Following the win of Daring Tact (Epiphaneia) in last week’s Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks), there are for the firs time in history, a colt and a filly aiming for their respective Triple Crowns while undefeated.

Yuichi Fukunaga gave a copybook display on Contrail who was third on the fence before peeling three and four wide on the turn.

He only asked last seasons champion 2yo for maximum effort at the 250 metres. What a pity that horse racings most passionate fans could not be there to roar Contrail home in the latter stages. He put on a real crowd-pleasing performance to defeat Salios (Heart’s Cry) by three lengths with Weltreisende(Dream Journey) one and a quarter lengths back in third.

Advertisement

“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,” Fukunaga said.

“He’s got great potential and there’s a lot to look forward to in this colt. The pace was not really flowing in the first half but I sort of expected Nori-san (Norihiro Yokoyama on My Rhapsody) to make a move like that and it opened up the path for me to reach the horse in front which was critical.”

A homebred for North Hill Farm’s Shinji Maeda, Contrail is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Rhodochrosite, who was a $385,000 Keeneland September Sale yearling purchase by Koji Maeda. She was placed in four of her seven starts in Japan.

Rhodochrosite is a daughter of the Tiznow mare Folklore who was honoured as the champion American two-year-old of 2005 following her victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Rhodochrosite has a yearling colt from the final full crop of Deep Impact and was covered by Heart’s Cry in 2019.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Zed 9YO Wins G3 Winter Cup
Saturday’s $110,000 Group Three Winning Edge Presentations Winter Cup (1600m) at Riccarton continued an incredible ride for the connections of Chase (NZ) (Zed), who bought him for only $9,000 from Book 3 of Karaka 2018. Originally a $6,000 purchase by JD Corcoran when offered as a weanling from Valachi Downs in the 2017 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale.
Too Darn Hot Mare Claims Third G1
Too Darn Hot (GB) will be a returning superstar to Darley NSW this spring and there is no doubt he can get an exceptional horse with Fallen Angel capturing her third Group I in France on Sunday when taking out the G1 Prix Rothschild (1m) at Deauville.
Trans Tasman Options for La Crique
Trainers Simon and Katrina Alexander are contemplating options on both sides of the Tasman with their multiple Group One winner La Crique following her pleasing trial at Taupo on Monday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 3
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Contrail Rises to the Occasion in Japan Cup
After the champion Deep Impact mare Gran Alegria (JPN) bowed out of racing triumphant in the Group 1 Mile Championship at Hanshin seven days back, Deep Impact’s champion son Contrail followed suit at Tokyo on Sunday with a commanding performance in the $7million Group 1 Japan Cup (2400m).
G1 Plans for Wexford Stable Mares
Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have their sights set on the opening Group One of the season with a pair of talented mares, both of which appeared at the Taupo trials on Monday.
Nominees Announced for Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards
The nominees for the prestigious 2024/2025 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards have been announced today by Racing Queensland in association with Racing Australia.
One to Watch – Ballarat
Last seen contesting the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, newly gelded three year-old Olatunde bolted in at Ballarat on Monday continuing the fast start to the new season for his sire Farnan.
Te Akau Stars Warm Up at Taupo Trials
Perennial bridesmaid Qali Al Farrasha headlined a strong contingent of trialists out of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson’s stable at Taupo on Monday.
Contrail Prevails in the Battle of the Titans
The highly anticipated clash between two star three year old colts yet to taste defeat, the Deep Impact colt Contrail and the Heart’s Cry colt Salios, lived up to all expectations in an epic renewal of the Group 1 The Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) (2000m) at Nakayama on Sunday.