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The time and effort invested in Japan’s quest to win Europe’s greatest race, Sunday’s (6 October) G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) at ParisLongchamp, may finally be rewarded with Shin Emperor, the brother of the 2020 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass.
Third in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (2400m) in May, he raced keenly in the G1 Irish Champion Stakes (2000m) on last month's European introduction and, after losing position 800m out, one might have thought Shin Emperor would then fade. On the contrary, he was surging late to finish just a length third behind the brilliant Economics.
And his trainer Yoshito Yahagi insists the three-year-old was only '70-80 per cent ready' for that Leopardstown assignment.
With Yahagi and jockey Ryusei Sakai briefly back in Japan, Shoya Yoshida has been closely involved in supervision of the flashy chestnut colt who has drawn gate eleven in the 16-runner field.
Yoshida said: "He put in a very satisfying run at Leopardstown. We think he is well suited by European courses and he is in really good shape now. Cristian Demuro rode him at work at Chantilly and says that slow ground seems to suit him."
Currently soft ground is the most likely scenario for the big day.
Japanese interest is also sharpened by the presence of 55-year-old legend Yutaka Take partnering Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Riffa. The move up to 2400m was surely a factor in that colt's runaway victory in the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten in August.
Gone are the days when the Prix Niel – a Group 2 three weeks before the big race and over the same ParisLongchamp course and distance – was the most revered Arc trial; the last time a horse won both in the same year was Rail Link back in 2006.
However, last month's Prix Niel may provide compelling clues to the Arc outcome in Paris on Sunday.
Before the Prix Niel start, stylish G1 Prix du Jockey Club (2100m) winner Look De Vega was the clear Arc favourite, but that swiftly changed after Sosie – who had previously landed the G1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) – had shown no sign of giving way in the straight, easily fending off Delius with Look De Vega back in third. That pair seek revenge under jockeys Ioritz Mendizabal and Ronan Thomas, respectively.
Sosie's trainer Andre Fabre – who also runs Mqse De Sevigne (Alexis Pouchin) and Sevenna's Knight (Mickael Barzalona) – is hunting for a record-stretching ninth Arc win whereas Sosie's rider Maxime Guyon can so far only boast near-misses in the ParisLongchamp spectacular.
Guyon, 35, said of Sosie – drawn in stall five – whose sire Sea The Stars won the 2009 Arc: "He's been brilliant since stretching out to 2400m and those two wins here shows how well this track suits him. He has a perfect temperament and you can ride him in any way. With Sosie you always feel that you have plenty of horse under you."
