Japanese superstars confirmed for Arc
BY MASAKAZU TAKAHASHI 7:34AM 24 JUL 2014
JAPAN look to have a great chance of winning their first Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after trainer Naosuke Sugai confirmed top older horses Just A Way and Gold Ship for the Longchamp spectacular.
Winning Europe's richest race has become the ultimate goal for Japanese horsemen after a series of agonising defeats.
In 1999 El Condor Pasa was reeled in by the mighty Montjeu, while Nakayama Festa found only a Ryan Moore-inspired Workforce too good four years ago. The talented, but quirky, Orfevre looked set to score in 2012, but idled when in control, handing the race to Solemia.
However, in Just A Way, Gold Ship and star three-year-old filly Harp Star, Japan have three leading chances of capturing the Arc.
A breathtaking winner of the Dubai Duty Free in March, Just A Way is rated the best horse in the world and is 10-1 for the Arc.
Gold Ship, who last month became the first horse to win the prestigious Takarazuka Kinen twice, is generally 20-1.
He will have a prep race for the Arc in the Grade 2 Sapporo Kinen on August 24 where he will clash with Harp Star, who is 12-1 for the Arc with British and Irish bookmakers.
Gold Ship will be partnered by Norihiro Yokoyama in the Arc with Yuichi f**kunaga on Just A Way, who heads straight to Paris having won the Yasuda Kinen over a mile last month.
The pair will travel to France two weeks before the Arc and will be based in Chantilly.
Sugai, who had voiced concerns about the enigmatic Gold Ship's suitability to travel, said: "I have decided to let the two go there together. They have a good relationship so it would work to keep them together.
"Just A Way will be able to run his best without a prep race and I plan to train him to get the trip in the Arc.
"Gold Ship will run in the Sapporo Kinen because his owner wants to let as many fans in Hokkaido see him."
