Contrail sets out on the road to possible Arc bid in red-hot Osaka Hai

7.40 Hanshin
Osaka Hai (Grade 1) | 1m2f | 4yo+

Contrail blazed a trail through the Triple Crown series in 2020 and the four-year-old is the star attraction in the first middle-distance Grade 1 of the year in Japan, the Osaka Hai.

He lost his unbeaten record but arguably had his standing increased when only finding the mighty Almond Eye too good in a pulsating Japan Cup last November.

Contrail is a general 12-1 fourth favourite for the Arc and given the international ambitions of his owner Shinji Maeda, can be expected to be pointed firmly in the direction of Longchamp should the first half of the season progress as he and trainer Yoshito Yahagi anticipate.

Jockey Yuichi Fukunaga has been impressed with the son of Deep Impact's physical progress since returning to fast work at the Ritto training centre.

"He's bigger now but he's moving very well and showing what speed he has," said Fukunaga. "It'll just be Grade 1 races for him from now. He can get a little tense, but overall he's relaxed and I have no worries about him."

This will be a first start at Hanshin since Contrail made a winning debut in September 2019 and a step back in trip to the mile and a quarter of the Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) but Fukunaga expects his partner to be up to the task.

"He's run well at Nakayama over 2,000 metres, and while it won't be an easy race, if he produces his best, the outcome should be good."

Despite the absence of top-notchers Chrono Genesis and Loves Only You – second and third behind Mishriff in last Saturday's Dubai Sheema Classic – there is typically deep opposition.

Salios came off second-best to Contrail in both the Guineas and the Derby (Tokyo Yushun) last spring but trainer Noriyuki Hori has been pleased with his stable star in the build up, pointing particularly to his improved balance.

Gran Alegria proved virtually unbeatable at six furlongs and a mile last season and now steps up to a mile and a quarter under Christophe LemaireCredit: Jra

The X factor in the race is undoubtedly provided by Gran Alegria, who won three Grade 1s at six furlongs and a mile last campaign and is given a first start over this new trip by trainer Kazuo Fujisawa.

The Japanese racing media made much during the week of Gran Alegria's slightly sluggish fractions in her final fast gallop but jockey Christophe Lemaire is unconcerned.

"I didn't overdo things in her last piece of work," said Lemaire. "She's an easy horse to ride, can settle well in a race, and I know what I have to do with her. Even though it's her first time at 2,000 metres, I'm sure she'll put in a big run. Speed is also needed over the inner turf course."

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