Japan’s quest to secure a first Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory will continue for at least another 12 months after their team once again came up heartbreakingly short at Longchamp on Sunday behind the regally bred Daryz.
Steady rain on Friday and Saturday turned the track “tres souple” – very soft – and, as has often been the case with Japanese runners, they simply could not find their best form on that wet surface.
As the rain tumbled around Longchamp, Daryz and Minnie Hauk came away to fight out the Arc with the Francis-Henri Graffard-trained colt – by 2009 Arc winner Sea The Stars out of that year’s Hong Kong Vase winner Daryakana – getting the upper hand under Mickael Barzalona.
They raced five and a half lengths clear of Sosie in third, with Hong Kong Vase winner Giavellotto finishing fourth for Sha Tin-based Andrea Atzeni.
It was the seventh Arc winner in the green and red colours of the Aga Khan and the fifth for the late Aga Khan IV, who died in February. It was a first for both Graffard and Barzalona.
“I knew that in these silks, it was certainly more than possible to win,” a jubilant Barzalona said. “I’m lucky to be able to wear them and follow in the footsteps of the great jockeys who rode in them.
“I’ve been second, third, always there and now, here it is. I’ve always adored this horse, we’ve always had a lot of hope with him. When he accelerated, it was just incredible. C’est incroyable!”
Byzantine Dream, heavily backed late, was best of the Japanese contingent in fifth with Croix du Nord in 14th and Alohi Alii in 16th.
The trio’s unplaced efforts mean that 38 Japanese runners have contested the Arc since 1969 without success.
From El Condor Pasa to Deep Impact, Nakayama Festa to Orfevre, the story of Japan’s Arc quest has largely been one of heartbreak and Sunday’s race is another chapter in that tale.
Disappointment was the prevailing emotion at Tokyo Racecourse, where the race was shown live at 11:05pm in front of a crowd almost as big as that at Longchamp. ∎
