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creating unique emotions and lasting bonds across generations. The National Association Les Poneys au Galop wishes to express its deep gratitude to all owners, breeders, and professional jockeys who supported these championships. Their commitment, both financial and emotional, provided these young talents with an exceptional stage on which to shine.
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PEDAGO
� PAGE 108
By Céline Gualde
THE JAPANESE EPIC IN THE ARC
Ganbatte! This Japanese expression means“ persist, persevere.” None could better describe the so far unfortunate adventure of the Japanese in the Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe( Gr. 1). From their first attempt in 1969 with Symboli Speed to the disappointment of Shin Emperor, only twelfth last year, Japanese horses have endured countless misfortunes. While some speak of a curse, there are also objective reasons behind these failures.
This year, three of them will line up at the Arc, as health issues ruled out the fourth
contender, the best known in Europe, Shin Emperor. Three serious Japanese candidates, each having won a fine race leading up to the world thoroughbred championship. For Alohi Alli, it was the Prix Guillaume d’ Ornano, mid-August at Deauville, ridden by Christophe-Patrice Lemaire. Byzantine Dream took the Prix Foy( Gr. 2) on September 7th at ParisLongchamp, over the Arc course, defeating the favored“ Fabre” horse, Sosie. Finally, Croix du Nord won the Prix Prince d’ Orange( Gr. 3) on September 14th, also at ParisLongchamp. So yes, perhaps the first Japanese victory will come in 2025! At least, that is what Naohiro Goda, a star racing journalist in Japan, hopes:“ It is very interesting to observe that the trainers of the three Japanese horses have chosen different paths to prepare for the Arc. They are also relatively young trainers: Hiroyasu Tanaka( Alohi Alli) is 39, Takashi Saito( Croix du Nord) 43, and Tomoyasu Sakaguchi( Byzantine Dream) 44. New actors are trying to write Japanese racing history in 2025!” The horses are stabled at Satoshi Kobayashi’ s yard in Chantilly. This trainer knows French racing and tracks perfectly well in his adopted country, which is also an advantage for his compatriots! Benefiting from such a home base could prove decisive. Naohiro explains why the Arc holds such importance for the Japanese, whether professionals or punters:“ The ultimate goal of every owner, trainer or breeder in our country is to win two legendary races, the Derby and the Japan Cup. Both are run over 2 400 meters, the classic distance for us. We consider the finest foreign race over that same distance to be the Arc, which is why we dream of winning it.”
A Fine Bird( Inter) El Condor Pasa was the first Japanese horse to hit the Arc board, in 1999. Bred in Kentucky for his owner Takashi Watanabe, the son of Kingmambo arrived in France as early as April, fresh from his Japan Cup victory the previous autumn. He was managed in France by bloodstock agent Patrick Barbe, who had worked with Japan for decades. Barbe even provided El Condor Pasa, trained at Chantilly by Tony Clout, with a high-quality lead horse. At the time, when a Japanese horse left the country for more than 60 days, it lost the right to compete in the national racing program. But Watanabe had decided in the spring that his champion would run the Arc and then go to stud. Barbe recalls:“ El Condor Pasa debuted in France on May 23rd, beaten a head in the Prix d’ Ispahan by Croco Rouge, before brilliantly winning the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud ahead of Tiger Hill, Sagamix, Dream Well, and Borgia, no less! He then won a three-runner Prix Niel.” In the Arc, the champion ridden by Masayoshi Ebina made the running.“ He probably would have won if his jockey had followed or-
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