Contrail Goes Out On A High In Japan Cup

[Wandering Eyes]

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.

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.

The post Contrail Goes Out On A High In Japan Cup appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article