Contrail Becomes the Third Undefeated Winner of the Japanese Triple Crown

Mark Smith - Sunday October 25

He needed to dig deep in Sunday’s Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) at Kyoto, but it was mission accomplished for the superstar Contrail who became the third undefeated Triple Crown winner in JRA history.

Ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga for trainer Yoshito Yahagi, Contrail hooked with Christophe Lemaire on Aristoteles (Epiphaneia) and the pair set down for a thrilling length of the straight battle.

Every time it looked that Aristoteles had his measure, Contrail found a little more.

Advertisement

The champion son of Deep Impact won by a neck from Aristoteles with another on of Deep Impact,      Satono Flag a further three and a half lengths back in third.

Now undefeated in six career starts, Contrail joins Symboli Rudolf (1984) and his sire Deep Impact (2005) to win the Triple Crown undefeated and the eighth colt to win all three titles, which begins with Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).

Yuichi Fukunaga said the menacing presence of Aristoteles gave his mount little time to relax.

“I can’t say that I was successful in keeping him relaxed during the race with so much pressure from Aristoteles,” he said.

“It turned out to be a tough race for us with Aristoteles looking quite strong and persistent. This race may not have been his best performance, but I kept my faith in Contrail and he certainly showed how strong he is to have maintained his position up to the end of the 3,000-metre trip.”

A homebred for North Hill Farm’s Shinji Maeda, Contrail is a son of the perennial champion sire Deep Impact out of the Unbridled's Song mare Rhodochrosite, who was a $385,000 Keeneland September Sale yearling purchase by Koji Maeda, who 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 filly 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 a colt foal by Heart’s Cry.

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
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.
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.
G1 Guineas Goal for Unbeaten Snitzel Filly
A quartet of well-performed fillies from Stephen Marsh’s stable took their first steps toward upcoming age group features when they stepped out 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.
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).
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.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 4
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Deep Impact's Contrail a Class Above in Japanese Derby
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
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.