Japan has yet to win the prestigious PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE, but could have a strong hand for this year’s edition.
Among the Japanese hopes will be Croix du Nord (Kitasan Black). Trained by Takashi Saito, he won the Prix du Prix d’Orange at Longchamp over French rival Daryz. He also won the Tokyo Yushun, the Japanese Derby, and is a true champion.
The Japanese thoroughbred Byzantine Dream (Epiphaneia), while not necessarily the one most in the spotlight at the start of the Qatar Prix Foy (Gr.2) at Paris Longchamp recently, trained by Tomoyasu Sakaguchi, stylishly defeated the French runner Sosie (Sea The Stars), who himself was considered one of the most solid contenders for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1), to be run on October 5 over the same course.
During the race, Mont St Michel (Galileo) set a strong pace, as though he were acting as pacemaker for his stablemate Los Angeles (Camelot) – the latter duly taking his slipstream to lead the pack, in which Almaqam (Lope de Vega), Sosie, and Arrow Eagle (Gleneagles) were well placed. The Japanese runner was meanwhile kept out of sight at the rear, alongside notably the French horse Iresine (Manduro).
On entering the straight, Los Angeles moved up, closely tracked by Sosie – himself shadowed in turn by Byzantine Dream. It became a relay race: Sosie first took the lead from Los Angeles, only to be overhauled close to home by Byzantine Dream, who prevailed without a single flick of the whip. Always in the thick of things, but slightly wider in a race decided on the inside rail, Almaqam snatched third ahead of a brave Los Angeles.
The Qatar Prix Foy, open to horses aged four and older, has long smiled upon the Japanese, who had already won it several times with Deep Bond (2021, unplaced in the Arc) and Orfèvre (2012 and 2013, later twice runner-up in the Arc), not to mention the champion El Condor Pasa (1999, runner-up in Montjeu’s Arc).
French champion filly Aventure confirmed her position as a very serious contender for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) by winning the Qatar Prix Vermeille (G1) Sunday at ParisLongchamp.
The daughter of Sea The Stars is now the 4-1 joint favorite for the Arc, with Coolmore’s dual Oaks winner Minnie Hauk.
For Aventure, as surprising as it may seem, she scored her first Group 1 in the Prix Vermeille – she who has often been beaten in her attempts, despite her immense class – in particular last year in the Vermeille then in the Arc, where she twice finished second, each time losing to the English horse Bluestocking.
Aidan O’Brien trainee MINNIE HAUK (Frankel), a winner of four Oaks races this year, is also a favourite for the Arc.
Official Result – QATAR PRIX FOY
1st BYZANTINE DREAM (O. Murphy)
2nd SOSIE (M. Guyon)
3rd ALMAQAM (W. Buick)
Time: 2’28’’32. Margins: ½ – 2 – Head.
Quotes
Tomoyasu Sakaguchi, trainer of Byzantine Dream (1st), Japan: “The horse was in very good condition. The jockey rode a perfect race. It’s a beautiful victory. He still has room for improvement. He will be at the peak of his condition for the Arc. Today was just a prep race, and he still has something in hand. The question will be the ground, but the main goal is to have the horse ready for the Arc, and then we’ll see how the ground turns out on the day.”
Oisin Murphy, jockey of Byzantine Dream (1st): “He relaxed very well during the race. He’s a very good horse. He’s truly amazing. He’s got a lot of temperament and possesses a very sharp turn of foot. The Arc is the most important race in the world. He will have a strong chance if the ground stays good.”
Pierre-Yves Bureau, racing manager for Wertheimer & Frère, owners of Sosie (2nd): “That was a very good return! He hadn’t run since early July, and the idea was to prepare him for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. We were beaten by the horse we knew the least about, but against the other runners, he clearly showed his quality. If all goes well, we’ll be at the start of the Arc in four weeks’ time. We are satisfied.”
Edward Walker, trainer of Almaqam (3rd), England: “That’s a very good performance, I’m very pleased with Almaqam. All week, I was worried about where to run him. I think we made exactly the right choice in coming here. He definitely stays the trip. We learned a lot today. Almaqam wasn’t beaten by much. I think he will be better on softer ground. He’s had a light campaign this year, and today’s race opens up more options for him going forward. Disappointed to be beaten, but very pleased nonetheless. (…) I believe he’s a great horse. This is probably the best year to run in the Arc. William [Buick, his jockey] told me: ‘If you’re going to take your chance, do it this year!’ As an option, we had the Champion Stakes, which will be a red-hot race. But I think he really enjoys the mile-and-a-half. So why not try? If the boss [Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum] agrees to take the chance, then I think we should go for it.”
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