Contrail, which must be regarded as one of the hottest new stallion properties in global bloodstock, has been given an opening fee of ¥12 million by Shadai Stallion Station when he begins his new career in 2022.
It was only on Nov. 28 that the colt bowed out of racing in the perfect fashion with a two-length victory in the Japan Cup (G1). He had a retirement ceremony at Tokyo Racecourse which even included his charismatic trainer Yoshito Yahagi clambering on his back and riding him around the paddock in an immaculate suit and Panama hat.
Contrail won the Japanese Triple Crown in a fantastic 3-year-old season in 2020, rounding it off with a second-place to the lauded Almond Eye in the same race he won at the weekend.
He made amends for two defeats this season in the country's premier event and is the highest new entrant on a roster of more than 30.
Shinji Maeda's Contrail is among the biggest achievers of Deep Impact's offspring and is sure to be in huge demand among breeders, not only for emulating his late sire in the Japan Cup but for the rest of his pedigree.
He is out of the Unbridled's Song mare Rhodochrosite, a $385,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale acquisition in 2011 who is out of 2005 American juvenile filly champion Folklore. Folklore's half sister Delightful Quality produced this year's Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) winner Essential Quality , a recent recruit for Jonabell Farm in Kentucky.
Contrail is priced the same as another accomplished son of Deep Impact, Kizuna, and beneath only giants Epiphaneia at ¥18 million and Lord Kanaloa at ¥15 million.
The roster includes confirmation that Poetic Flare, Jim Bolger's QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas (G1) and St. James's Palace (G1) hero who was retired in October, will begin stud life at a fee of ¥6 million.
