He was from the ninth crop of foals sired by Deep Impact, who was the Japanese Horse of the Year in 2005 and 2006, winning races including the Tokyo Yushun, Tenno Sho, Arima Kinen and Japan Cup.

[5] Her dam Folklore was a top-class performer in the United States, winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies in 2005 and was a female-line descendant of the broodmare Stolen Base (foaled 1967), making her a distant relative of Smarty Jones.

After racing in fifth place he moved forward on the outside approaching the final turn, took the lead 400 metres from the finish and drew away to win by five lengths from Al Jannah.

After settling in fourth place behind the outsiders Panthalassa, Blooming Sky and Rhineback, Contrail moved up on the final turn, took the lead 200 metres from the finish and won "effortlessly" by one and a half lengths from Weltreisende.

The favourite raced towards the rear of the field on the inside rail as Chimera Verite set the pace, before switching to the outside as the runners approached the final turn.

The favourite exited the final turn in fourth place, made rapid progress down the centre of the straight, took the lead 200 metres from the finish and drew away in the closing stages to come home three lengths clear of Salios.

[13] After the summer break Contrail returned to the track in the Grade 2 Kobe Shimbun Hai over 2200 metres at Chukyo Racecourse on 27 September and started the 1/10 favourite in a field of eighteen.

[14] Four weeks later at Kyoto Racecourse the colt was stepped up in distance and attempted to complete the Japanese Triple Crown in the 3000 metre Kikuka Sho in which he was ridden as usual by Fukunaga.

He was again made the 1/10 favourite, with the best-fancied of the other seventeen contenders being Weltreisende, Babbitt (St Lite Kinen), Aristoteles, Satono Flag, Valcos and Deep Bond.

He settled in mid-division before launching a strong late challenge down the centre of the straight but failed to catch the favoured Almond Eye and sustained his first defeat as he was beaten one and a quarter lengths into second place.

The 2020 Japanese Fillies Triple Crown winner Daring Tact finished third, while the other runners included Glory Vase, World Premiere, Kiseki and Makahiki.