Plans are shelved for ‘tired’

Triple Crown winner Contrail

AN impressive winner of the Japanese Derby in 2020, Contrail finished his three-year-old season as the leading three-year-old colt in Japan and was widely recognised as one of the best of his generation globally.

However, in the immediate aftermath of the 2021 Derby, his trainer Yoshito Yahagi announced that Contrail will miss his intended engagement in the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen on June 27th.

The reason given by his trainer was that the superstar colt had not recovered sufficiently from his exerts in defeat in the rain-sodden Osaka Hai.

The terminology used by Contrail’s trainer, translated to English, simply means the colt is ‘still tired’, a quite common remark used by trainers in Japanese racing circles.

However, it is an extremely broad term, typically encompassing a multitude of ailments and injuries, varying greatly in degrees of severity.

The trainer’s announcement comes one month before the intended race and over two weeks before the entries close for the 2,200 metre (11-furlong) contest.

The timing of the announcement has had racing fans questioning what the future holds for the Triple Crown winner.

Perfect in his career until meeting the mighty Almond Eye in the Japan Cup, Contrail has been soundly beaten in his last two starts. Prior to his spring reappearance when the colt still held an air of invincibility about him, connections made public that Contrail is likely to retire at the end of his four-year-old campaign.

At the same time, it was announced that Contrail would not travel and compete in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe.

Contrail’s last known autumn campaign plan included a trio of Group 1 races: the Tenno Sho, the Japan Cup and the season-ending Arima Kinen.