It's been nine years since Orfevre swept the Japanese Triple Crown on his way to international glory, and the local fans are looking for nothing less—and maybe more—from Contrail in the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger, G1) Oct. 25 at Kyoto Racecourse.
Contrail, a Deep Impact colt, enters the final leg of the series undefeated and largely unchallenged. He won the Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes in stakes-record time of 1:44.5 in his second start Nov. 16 with Ryan Moore riding. Since then, Yuichi Fukunaga has been his partner through victories in the Hopeful Stakes (G1) in December, the Satsuki Sho (Japanese Two Thousand Guineas, G1) April 19, and the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) May 31.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi gave the colt a break after the Derby, then a tightener for the Kikuka Sho in the Kobe Shimbun Hai (G2) at Chukyo Racecourse Sept. 27.
While the record speaks for itself, the remaining challenge is distance. Contrail has yet to run farther than the 2,400 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) of the Tokyo Yushun. The Kikuka Sho is contested at 3,000 meters (about 1 7/8 miles).
His camp doesn't seem worried about the effect of the added ground on the colt, produced by Kentucky-bred Rhodochrosite, a daughter of Unbridled's Song.
"I think there won't be a problem over the 3,000 meters," assistant trainer Shigeki Miyauchi said. "It's the same for the other horses, particularly with them all being the same age, when it comes to settling in the race and running well."
Before Contrail drew the No. 3 gate, Fukunaga noted the first turn looms quickly after the start, adding, "I'd like a draw that's not too wide."
Only seven horses have swept the Japanese Triple Crown, with Orfevre the most recent. Orfevre twice carried Japan's decades-long hopes into the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) and twice finished second, famously surrendering to Solemia in the final strides in 2012, then five lengths in arrears of Treve the following year.
Hopes, therefore, are high both for Contrail and for Daring Tact, who completed her own impressive sweep of the Japanese fillies Triple Crown Oct. 18.
First things first, though. Contrail does have competition in the Kikuka Sho, albeit mostly rivals he's handled easily in the past.
Weltreisende ("World Traveler" in German) has seen the wrong end of Contrail at the finish of four races, finishing second three times and third in the Tokyo Yushun. Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said the Dream Journey colt suffered a broken bone, now healed, after the Tokyo race, and more recently has spiked a fever, also now gone.
Babbitt, a son of Nakayama Fest, will defend a four-race winning streak with the last victory coming in the Asahi St. Lite Kinen (G2). Trainer Tamio Hamada said he likes the colt's running style—"speed and stamina"—as a qualification for the Kikuka Sho. Babbitt was the second choice behind Contrail in early wagering.
Satono Flag was second to Babbitt in their last outing, and trainer Sakae Kunieda said he was "surprised the winner managed to stay on last time. … Nevertheless, my horse kept going to the end as well, and it seems he's running better now than in the spring."
Satono Flag, another by Deep Impact, finished 11th in the Tokyo Yushun.
