Japanese Trio Shines in Arc Trials: Croix Du Nord, Byzantine Dream, Alohi Alii Impress
The Japanese contingent in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is shaping up to be formidable, with Croix Du Nord, Byzantine Dream, and Alohi Alii all winning their respective trials in France. The trio brings a mix of proven stamina, adaptability, and improvement to the prestigious race.
Croix Du Nord, trained by Takashi Saito, has shown impressive form. He won the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, improving his Racing Post Rating by 15lb since the spring. Saito is confident his horse will perform well regardless of the ground conditions. Meanwhile, Croix Du Nord's main rival among the Japanese contenders, Byzantine, also won his trial in the Prix Foy. Trainer Tomoyasu Sakaguchi believes better ground would suit his horse better, but Byzantine handled good to soft ground in the Prix Foy, beating Sosie and Almaqam in a time quicker than Aventure's in the Vermeille. Byzantine has proven ability to stay two miles in Japan, which is not seen as a negative in terms of class. The third Japanese runner, Alohi Alii, also won his trial in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano, demonstrating progress since the spring. Trainer Hiroyasu Tanaka believes Alohi Alii can handle heavy ground and has hope in his pedigree, despite the horse not yet tackling the full Arc trip of a mile and a half.
The Japanese horses in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe have strong claims with their recent performances and adaptability. Croix Du Nord and Byzantine have proven their ability to stay the mile and a half trip, while Alohi Alii shows promise despite not tackling the full distance. The trio's trainers express confidence in their horses' abilities, setting the stage for an exciting race.
