It’s a rare day indeed when Yutaka Take turns up in Ireland, let alone the hilly back lanes of County Kilkenny, but he did this week and his long-distance fly-in from Japan to trainer Joseph O’Brien’s Carriganog Stables was part of the great rider’s preparations for the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp 12 days down the line.
Take, it seems, is leaving as little to chance as possible as he seeks to end his career-long quest for an Arc victory. He has had 10 rides in the big race previously and each has ended in disappointment, to one degree or another, including the great Deep Impact’s deflating third and subsequent disqualification, but starting with White Muzzle’s all-too-wide, all-too-late surge in 1994.
“I was a young rider then,” Take said with a wry smile when he spoke to Idol Horse about the latter at the Asian Racing Conference in Sapporo last month.
Thirty years on, he is a master of his craft and a living legend in Japan. This time he is booked to ride the O’Brien-trained Al Riffa, another leading contender for the race. The four-year-old is owned by Take’s good friend Masaaki Matsushima, who is fully invested in helping Japan’s greatest jockey achieve his goal, and, with the great jockey being 55 years old, both men know time is running out: this might even be his last big chance.
With that in mind, O’Brien and his team welcomed Take to the stables on an autumnal Tuesday morning and the trainer – seeking his first Arc win at age 31 – understands well the weight of history that rests on this particular Arc campaign.
“It was a real pleasure to have Yutaka Take here in our yard, and Mr Matsushima came with him, so we were delighted to have them for a morning,” O’Brien told Idol Horse.
“Having the horse in the yard is special, and having a runner in the race, but also with the Japanese connection and knowing what the Arc means to the racing people of Japan. The Arc means that to the racing people of Ireland as well, but it is a bit extra special to have that connection, and just to have somebody of the status of Yutaka riding our horse in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a realistic chance. Really, it doesn’t get any better than that.”
Take partnered Al Riffa in a straightforward gallop, nothing too swift or strenuous, just usual work to keep the fitness up and the mind tuned.
“I believe Yutaka was very happy with Al Riffa and he got to know him. I think obviously that would give him confidence heading into the big race, having the benefit of having sat on the horse and got a feel of what he’s like,” O’Brien continued.
Al Riffa had very special visitors on Owning Hill this morning as his part owner Mr Masaaki Matsushima and legendary Japanese jockey Yutake Take came to see him. Yutake will ride Al Riffa in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on October 6th and it was great to get them acquainted. pic.twitter.com/aqa23PczqK
— Joseph O'Brien (@JosephOBrien2) September 24, 2024
The trainer, a multiple Group 1-winning champion jockey himself in his younger years, would expect any elite rider of Take’s standing to be able to arrive on track and ride a horse unseen. But he also believes the meeting of horse and rider ahead of the race will have been beneficial.
“I don’t think it’s essential for a man of Yutaka Take’s experience: had he never sat on Al Riffa going into the race, I don’t think that would have fazed anyone at all, but I do think it will help and is certainly not a disadvantage,” he said.
“Al Riffa’s a particularly straightforward colt and he’s a very straightforward ride. He’s a pleasure to have anything to do with, but for Yutaka just to get that connection, I think it will stand him in good stead, it certainly would give Yutaka confidence just having got a feel for him heading into the race.”
Al Riffa won the G1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes to round off a four-race juvenile campaign, but missed the Classics last year due to a delayed return, and then raced only twice, the second of those being a close second at Deauville behind the subsequent Arc winner, the unbeaten Ace Impact.
“After the run in France, we were planning to go on to the Irish Champion Stakes, and on the eve of the Champion Stakes he had a little setback that meant he missed a couple of weeks training. At that time of year, a couple of weeks costs you the rest of the season. That meant that we had to be patient and wait for the spring.”
Al Riffa took time to warm to the task this term but at his third start he ran home strongly for second behind the season’s standout star, City Of Troy, in the G1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in July. After that, O’Brien’s charge won the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin by an impressive five lengths, and City Of Troy, trained by his father, Aidan O’Brien, delivered a brilliant victory in the G1 Juddmonte International to rate as the world’s current best turf horse.
“I think so, I think it does,” the trainer said when asked if that City Of Troy form line gives him added confidence in his colt going into Longchamp. “It was a big run in Sandown and it was nice to see him back it up in Germany,” he added.
Take’s in and out visit to the O’Brien stable would have him back in Japan to ride at Chukyo on Saturday and Nakayama on Sunday to partner Obamburumai in the G1 Sprinters Stakes.
After that, the Arc will get his full focus and perhaps that brief morning connecting with Al Riffa in the County Kilkenny hills will count in his favour at the Longchamp winning post.
