Contrail Will Stand For ¥12 Million

Japanese Triple Crown hero Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}-Rhodochrosite, by Unbridled's Song) will stand for ¥12,000,000 (£79,790/€93,636/$106,518) at Shadai Stallion Station in 2022. The price is equal to another son of Deep Impact at the Hokkaido nursery, Kizuna (Jpn), who already has a Group 1 winner to his name among his 16 black-type winners with his eldest foals just four.

The North Hills-bred 4-year-old was named the 2019  Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and 2020 Champion 3-Year-Old Colt in his native land with seven straight victories before running second to Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the 2020 G1 Japan Cup. A Group 1 winner every year he raced, Contrail sealed his career with a two-length victory in Sunday's Japan Cup and retires with a record of 11-8-2-1 and $10,992,642 in earnings.

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Contrail Goes Out On A High In Japan Cup

Generational leader and 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was bet down to heavy favouritism for his swansong in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup despite having met with defeat in his last three outings, and he justified the betting public's faith with a straightforward score on his way to the stallion barn at Shadai Stallion Station.

After losing his unbeaten record in this race last year when he found only the champion filly Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) too tough, Contrail was third over yielding ground coming off a winter break in the G1 Osaka Hai on Apr. 4. Put away until Oct. 31, the dark bay resurfaced with a second-place finish in the G1 Tenno Sho Autumn over 2000 metres at Tokyo.

Breaking among the leaders from gate two, Contrail was allowed to drop back through the field on the inside as they passed the stands for the first time. A rank Aristoteles (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) took the field around the first bend, with Contrail eventually settling right around midpack with this year's G1 Prix Jean Romanet victress Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), one of three international raiders, tracking him with Aidan O'Brien's Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) both keeping close tabs on her.

Midway down the backstretch the 2017 G1 Kikuka Sho winner Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn})-who has not won a race since-made a bold bid to pass the majority of the field on the outside to take the lead on the run into the final bend. Contrail, meanwhile, maintained his placing under Yuichi Fukunaga while working his way to the outside for running room coming off the turn. Contrail had about six lengths to make up upon straightening but was soon rolling down the middle of the course as Authority (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) grabbed a short-lived lead from the tiring Kiseki approaching the 200. Authority's quest for a first Group 1 win was soon quelled by Contrail, who blew past under minimal urging with a furlong to run and drew clear to win by a widening two lengths. This year's G1 Tokyo Yushun scorer Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) got up for third, with Grand Glory staying on for fifth as she bowed out ahead of a sale date at Arqana December next weekend. Japan and Broome checked in eighth and 11th, respectively, under Yutaka Take and Ryan Moore. Japan was likewise running his last race before he heads to stud at Gestut Etzean in Germany.

Contrail's trainer Yoshito Yahagi said after seeing his stable star cross the wire for the final time, “All I have now is mixed feelings of relief and lonesomeness. In the colt's latest start [the Tenno Sho Autumn], he broke poorly so I told him while he was walking in the paddock earlier to stay calm at the start.

“It worried me a bit since the pace was slow and he wasn't in that good a position, but we had tuned him up to perfection and the colt gave us all he had in the straight. I have to admit I was under a lot of pressure during the two years he was at my stable, but I think it has helped me in becoming more mature, and I can't thank him enough. Wouldn't it be wonderful to win the Arc with an offspring of his someday?”

Fukunaga added, “All I did today was believe in him. He broke well and everything went just perfectly. He has given me every jockey's dream and I am utterly grateful. The colt shone a bright light over a gloomy year due to the pandemic last season. I'm relieved that we can send him off to his next career with this victory.”

Contrail was bringing to a close a distinguished career that began with victories at two in the G1 Hopeful S. and G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. Named Japan's champion 2-year-old off an unbeaten three-start campaign, Contrail picked up where he left off at three, rolling through the Japanese Triple Crown and also taking the G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai to once again earn divisional honours.

Grand Glory's trainer Gianluca Bietolini said of his mare's fifth-place finish, “I am very satisfied with her performance and her result at fifth-place. She appeared to lose a bit of balance and lean to the inside but thankfully Cristian [Demuro] got her back on her feet by the stretch. She's mentally very strong and the experience to run in the Japan Cup was fantastic for us. It's a great race and we would love to come back with another horse.” Grand Glory's rider Cristian Demuro added, “We couldn't have asked for a better result–having finished fifth in this competition is almost like winning for us. She was in super form, almost as good as when I rode her in the Prix Jean Romanet, which we won. The pace was very fast for this mare, but she handled it remarkably.”

Aidan O'Brien was represented in Tokyo by Pat Keating, who said of Japan, “The track may have been a bit too fast for this horse. He was able to secure a good spot but wasn't able to keep up with the pace.” Of Broome, he added, “He missed his break and that cost him.”

Pedigree Notes

Shinji Maeda's Contrail is the third foal out of Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song), who was bought by Maeda's brother Koji of North Hills Farms for $385,000 at Keeneland September in 2011. The daughter of American champion 2-year-old filly Folklore (Tiznow) was placed four times at two, and has a 2-year-old full-brother to Contrail who has run twice this year.

Contrail's page has been further boosted this season by the exploits across the pond of GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. winner Essential Quality (Tapit), who is out of Folklore's half-sister Delightful Quality. Essential Quality was America's champion 2-year-old of 2020 and goes to stud in 2021 as a four-time Grade I winners with the likelihood of picking up another divisional championship first.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
JAPAN CUP-G1, ¥575,460,000, Tokyo, 11-28, 3yo/up, 2400mT, 2:24.70, fm.
1–CONTRAIL (JPN), 126, c, 4, by Deep Impact (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Rhodochrosite, by Unbridled's Song
                2nd Dam: Folklore, by Tiznow
                3rd Dam: Contrive, by Storm Cat
O-Shinji Maeda; B-North Hills; T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Yuichi
Fukunaga; ¥303,822,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo & 3yo Colt-
Jpn, 11-8-2-1. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for
   the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Authority (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Orfevre (Jpn)–Rosalind (Jpn), by
Symboli Kris S. O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm; ¥121,092,000.
3–Shahryar (Jpn), 121, c, 3, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Dubai Majesty,
by Essence of Dubai. O-Sunday Racing; B-Northern Farm;
¥75,546,000.
Margins: 2, 1HF, 3/4. Odds: 0.60, 6.10, 2.70.
Also Ran: Sanrei Pocket (Jpn), Grand Glory (GB), Uberleben (Jpn), Shadow Diva (Jpn), Japan (GB), Aristoteles (Jpn), Kiseki (Jpn), Broome (Ire), You Can Smile (Jpn), Mozu Bello (Jpn), Makahiki (Jpn), Lord My Way (Jpn), Muito Obrigado (Jpn), Windjammer (Jpn), Wagnerian (Jpn).
Click for the JRA chart and video or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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Epiphaneia Leads Shadai 2022 Roster

Following more Classic success, this time with his son Efforia (Jpn) in 2021, Epiphaneia (Jpn) (Symboli Kris S)'s fee has increased to ¥18,000,000 (£117,174/€139,172/$156,021), tops of the Shadai Stallion Station 2022 roster. The 11-year-old also celebrated group winners Aristoteles (Jpn) and Circle of Life (Jpn). Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), the sire of Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn), remains at ¥15,000,000. Kizuna (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn})'s fee has been raised to ¥12,000,000 on the back of 11 2021 black-type winners including G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup heroine Akai Ito (Jpn). Another Shadai stallion to see his fee increase is Drefong (Gio Ponti), who will stand for ¥7,000,000, after his Geoglyph (Jpn) won the G3 Sapporo Nisai S. and he had another pair of runners gain black-type placings.

A trio of exciting newcomers will cover their first mares at Shadai in 2022–2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), G1 2000 Guineas hero Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}), and 2019 Japanese Champion Dirt Horse and G1 Champions Cup winner Chrysoberyl (Jpn) (Gold Allure {Jpn}). Fees for Poetic Flare and Chrysoberyl have been set at ¥6,000,000 and ¥3,000,000, respectively. Contrail's fee will be announced after his run in Sunday's G1 Japan Cup.

Responsible for the G1 Victoria Derby victor Hitotsu (Aus), Maurice (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn})'s fee has been reduced to ¥7,000,000. That is the same price that Japanese Classic winners Rey de Oro (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and Saturnalia (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) will command, with the former having first yearlings in 2022 and the latter welcomes his first foals next year. 2019 U.S. Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway), whose first foals are yearlings in 2022, will hold court for ¥6,000,000. The last son of Sunday Silence on the Shadai roster, Daiwa Major (Jpn), will stand for a private fee.

For the complete Shadai 2022 roster, please see below.

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Contrail Will Retire to Shadai After Japan Cup Run

Last year's Japanese Triple Crown winner and dual champion Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}–Rhodochrosite, by Unbridled's Song) will retire to Shadai Stallion Station in Japan after making his final start in the G1 Japan Cup on Nov. 28. The news was first reported by BloodHorse. A fee for the 4-year-old North Hills Co., Ltd-bred will be announced later.

The Shinji Maeda colourbearer, who is trained by Yoshito Yahagi, was named the Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt of 2019 on the back of a flawless campaign that culminated in a 1 1/2-length win in the G1 Hopeful S. after taking the 1800-metre G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai S. in a record time of 1:44.50 in November of that year.

Contrail made his 3-year-old bow in the Apr. 19 G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas, and maintained his unbeaten record with more victories in the May 31 G1 Japanese Derby and G2 Kobe Shimbun Hai on Sept. 27. He just lasted for a neck score in the G1 Japanese St. Leger to become the eighth Japanese Triple Crown Winner on Oct. 25, 2020. Although he lost the G1 Japan Cup to the Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) running second, Contrail still earned divisional honours as the Japanese Champion 3-Year-Old Colt. His 2021 record shows a third in the G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin in April and a second in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) to 2021 Japanese 2000 Guineas hero Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) on Halloween. He has earned $8,311,887 from just 10 starts, with seven wins, two seconds and a third.

His dam, the placed Unbridled's Song mare Rhodochrosite, was picked up by Koji Maeda for $385,000 as a Keeneland September yearling in 2011. Contrail is her third foal, while his granddam Folklore (Tiznow) was a winner of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, the GI Matron S. and the GII Adirondack S. and was also named the Eclipse Champion Juvenile Filly in 2005. A half-sister to Folklore, the multiple stakes-placed Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality), is the dam of 2020 U.S. Champion Juvenile Colt and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Essential Quality (Tapit), who progressed to take the 2021 GI Belmont S. as a sophomore and will stand for $75,000 at Darley America next year.

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