The first foal by the unbeaten 2020 Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail arrived Jan. 23 at Shimokobe Farm on Hokkaido Island, where Sweetie Girl delivered a filly by the three-time Japanese champion.
Bred by Koji Maeda's North Hills, Contrail is the third foal out of Rhodochrosite, which Maeda bought during the Keeneland September Sale for $385,000 in 2011. Her dam, Folklore, was the U.S. Champion Juvenile Filly in 2005.
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Contrail won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) at 2 and Japan Cup (G1) at 4, in addition to all legs of the Japanese Triple Crown at 3, collecting earnings of ¥1,426,866,917 (US$10,992,642) for Shinji Maeda, Koji's younger brother.
Arguably the best son of Deep Impact (JPN), Contrail joined the Shadai Stallion Station roster in 2022 for a fee of ¥12,000,000 ($92,405), the same as Deep Impact's fee his first season. Contrail covered 193 mares his first year at stud; his stud fee for 2023 remains unchanged from 2022.
Sweetie Girl won three races in Argentina, including the Potrancas (G1) and Eliseo Ramirez (G2), both at San Isidro at 2. She was transferred to the United States in 2016, where she won an allowance contest and finished fourth in the Suwannee River Stakes (G3T), both at Gulfstream Park. The filly is Sweetie Girl's fourth foal.
