Contrail delivered a dominant performance to win the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) and remain unbeaten in five starts.
Last year’s Champion Two-Year-Old Colt also won the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas, 2,000m) and is the seventh horse in JRA history to win the first two Triple Crown titles unbeaten, and the first in 15 years after his sire, Deep Impact.
Contrail was positioned just behind the leading group as Win Carnelian set a modest pace in the lead before easing out into running room before the final turn.
Once in the clear Contrail accelerated clear and was untroubled to defeat Salios by three lengths with Weltreisende a furtrher 1-3/4 lengths away third in 2:24.10 for the 2400m on firm ground.
Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga told the JRA the slow early pace was not ideal.
“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 (second position) which was critical,” Fukunaga said.
“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, so he’s got great potential and there’s a lot to look forward to in this colt.”