Hitotsu was bred at Arrowfield Stud, by their Japanese stallion Maurice out of the Redoute’s Choice mare, Love Is Fickle. The colt was sold at Magic Millions, purchased by Kevin Kelly, the bloodstock agent husband of Cranbourne trainer, Wendy Kelly. Kevin was acting on behalf of owner, Kevin Payne and the colt was sent to the Kelly stable. They had a big wrap on the colt from the beginning, and he was set for an ambitious campaign. His first race start was on 7 February 2021 in the Blue Diamond Prelude. He started at $91 but stuck on well from midfield to finish seventh, beaten a little over 3 lengths, behind General Beau and a colt who was having his first run back from a spell in Anamoe. His next start was in the Blue Diamond and he settled last and ran home decently to finish tenth, beaten a little over 5 lengths behind the impressive Artorius with Anamoe in third. Next up it was another G1 in the Sires Produce, and again Hitotsu settled well back in the field. When taken to the outside in the straight, he finished strongly to run sixth only 3.5 lengths from winner Lightsaber. After the race, a large offer was made for the colt by leviathan owner, Aziz "Ozzie" Kheir but the Kelly’s convinced Kevin Payne to retain a share in the colt that they thought was going to be a Derby prospect.
Hitotsu resumed racing for his new stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in a 1350m maiden at Donald, winning comfortably at
