Rouget is a veteran of keeping his head in such situations and he was typically steady in his pre-race assessment this week. “We're not going to do anything special,” he said. “He's quite calm in the morning and while it's true that in a race, like all good horses, he's more exuberant we shall just handle it as we always do. The track is going to be fast enough so everyone will be able to find a position and I'm not really worried that there isn't going to be any pace.”

“Ace Impact, given his stride devouring-action, should relish these conditions,” Rouget added. “We can't be absolutely certain that he'll stay the trip, but the manner in which he finishes his races allied to the fact that his sire had the required stamina lend me to feel fairly optimistic. The fact that he's discovering Longchamp for the first time isn't a worry, as the colt is a straightforward ride once he settles. The race holds no particular terrors! I'm just hoping for a race run at a proper gallop.”

The Flame Still Burns…

   In the days of the old 12-furlong Prix du Jockey Club, it was Pascal Bary who held sway with five winners but surprisingly none of them managed to provide him with the Arc victory he so covets. Surprisingly, his top-class 1998 Chantilly Classic hero Dream Well (Fr) (Sadler's Wells) cut no ice that year at Longchamp while his best Jockey Club hero  Sulamani (Ire) (Hernando {Fr}) beat High Chaparral (Ire) in the 2002 Arc but failed to get past Marienbard (Ire) (Caerleon). Perhaps the fairytale victory will come during his twilight via his longstanding supporter and friend Jean-Louis Bouchard's TDN Rising Star Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB}). This lightly-raced and probably still-improving colt is tried and tested over the course and distance on similar ground and the manner of his G1 Grand Prix de Paris display lingers in the memory.

“He really likes Longchamp, because it's a track that allows him the time to produce his potential,” Bary reflected. “He's a horse that likes to take his time and at Longchamp he can do that because there's the long straight. He's a horse that can be a bit cold at the beginning of a race, but he develops throughout the race as he goes further and he showed in the Grand Prix de Paris that he accelerated really well in the final straight.”

“Having such a horse at the end of my career is something very fortunate,” the trainer added. “Jean-Louis Bouchard is very upbeat ahead of Sunday, we have a magnificent colt and are heading to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with a chance. Obviously, we are heading there with a mix of pleasure and enthusiasm and if not this year, it will be next year! He will be an even better four-year-old.”

Japan's Long Wait To End?

Over the past two seasons, it is clear that Japan sits at the forefront of the international racing world and most would agree that it is only a matter of time before the country achieves the Arc glory it has strived for with such admirable determination and patience. While the 5-year-old mare Through Seven Seas (Jpn) (Dream Journey {Jpn}) seemed the unlikeliest of flagbearers for the nation when winning a Nakayama handicap in January, she has since used a win in the G3 Laurel R C Sho Nakayama Himba S. as a springboard to the big time.

That came when pushing the world's best Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}) to a neck in Hanshin's G1 Takarazuka Kinen at a huge 55-1 and she has reportedly thrived since arriving in France. It is ironic that in a year when Equinox would have had his ideal ground to finally satiate Japan's hunger for his prize, his rider Christophe-Patrice Lemaire could still be in for the ultimate glory ride on what could be a supersub of supersubs.

Trainer Tomohito Ozeki is on the verge of history, notoriety and immortality and he knows it. “For any trainer, the Arc is a huge goal which seems somewhat removed, but it is now staring me right in the face,” he said. “Everything has gone well in her training. She has acclimatised really well to a new environment. Through Seven Seas has reached her optimum level as a five-year-old. In her younger days she showed a lot of temperament, ate little, was very thin and lacked strength. The mare was roughed off for the season after last August and she has strengthened up as a result. I believe in the mare.”

A Solid Cast…

Representing the brilliant-to-watch G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S., the race that Aidan O'Brien said was “turned into a St Leger”, are the respective monarchs of two of the most successful breeding and racing operations in the sport in Hukum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}). While Hukum's illustrious brother Baaeed (GB) ended his career in anti-climax in the soft ground that blurred his brilliance, Shadwell's latest flame could have done with plenty of the rain that undermined his sibling in last year's G1 Champion S. Instead he has none and a very difficult wide draw, so perhaps his desire for attritional warfare will go unrequited.

Juddmonte's Westover was a respectable sixth in the sapping, deep going in this 12 months ago, but a quartet of big shows at the top level this term demonstrate what an expert job Ralph Beckett has done with a colt that could have gone the wrong way. While he has a far-from-straightforward number one draw, Rob Hornby may have in his mind what his mount did when ridden forward by Colin Keane on a sound surface in last year's G1 Irish Derby.

Just what the G1 St Leger hero Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) is capable of is a tantalising mystery and he thankfully continues the long mission to at last marry the dear old Doncaster Classic and this ultimate prize. Had the former Ballydoyle legend Alleged not encountered the rock-hard Royal filly Dunfermline (GB) in that Classic prior to winning his first Arc in 1977, this would have been a story long since concluded. However, the stark fact is that in the extensive interim period there have been many in the Continuous category who have looked as good as him coming here only to have failed by some margin.

Thankfully for Germany, their own search for an Arc winner is already a past success story and the country is now a regular and rightly-respected presence in the race. In the hero of the 154th G1 Deutsches Derby, Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}), it has another contender along with that Classic's runner-up Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}) who remains unexposed and potentially problematic for his adversaries. Fantastic Moon seemed to beat Feed The Flame fair and square in the course-and-distance G2 Prix Niel three weeks ago, while TDN Rising Star Mr Hollywood is not far off the standard of Westover based on his battle with the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud runner-up Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}) in the G1 Grosser Preis von Baden.

Then there is the spectre of the reigning G1 Champion S. hero Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}), whose five-length dismissal of Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in Sandown's G3 Brigadier Gerard S. last May was a performance consistent with what is required to win one of these. Among those who rate as “outsiders”, Sir Michael Stoute's fully-mature charge is the stand-out during an era that is favouring experience over youthful zest.

Raiders Take Aim At Beauvatier In The Lagardere…

   Sunday's action at ParisLongchamp begins with an open-looking renewal of the G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, in which Philippe Allaire and Haras d'Etreham's TDN Rising Star Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) puts his unbeaten record on the line against the usual collection of British and Irish challengers. Stall seven is no problem, but seven overseas peers in attendance could be as he bids to show he is more than just a very effective group 3 bully.

There is no arguing with his string of precision strikes, starting with the edging out of the high-class Ramatuelle (Justify) in a Saint-Cloud showdown in May followed by an upstaging of the subsequent G3 Prix des Chenes winner Zabiari (GB) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in Deauville's Listed Prix Roland de Chambure in July. Even his defeat of Evade (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the course-and-distance G3 Prix la Rochette in early September stands up well, but the trouble for Yann Barberot and co. is that he has no direct line to the likes of fellow TDN Rising Star Unquestionable (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) from Ballydoyle or the still-exciting Hannon trainee Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}).

Where Rosallion is concerned, it is a question of whether the version that ran away with Ascot's Listed Pat Eddery S. turns up or the one that flopped in third in the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster. Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's homebred grandson of his remarkable broodmare Reem Three (GB) (Mark Of Esteem {Ire}) has been done no favours drawn in 10 in a race where that really matters, so he will have to be every bit as good as he looked when dismissing the subsequent impressive winners Al Musmak (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Alyanaabi (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) on the King George card.

“It looks like it's going to be fast ground out there which will be much more to his liking,” Hannon said. “We were very disappointed at Doncaster and we hope he is going to show what he can really do. They went very slow at Doncaster and he just didn't look like the horse we saw at Ascot or we've seen at home, so hopefully we will see him in a much better light.”

One of the live outsiders is Wathnan Racing's unbeaten Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sale S. scorer Native American (Ire) (Sioux Nation) from the Richard Fahey stable responsible for Wootton Bassett who captured this in 2010 and who is the sire of three runners in this renewal. “They would be similar horses and both undefeated going there,” the trainer said. “I think Wootton Bassett had won four before going there. He was slightly more experienced, but this horse will have improved a lot now. He's going to be a better three-year-old than two-year-old, but we've been really pleased with him since the Curragh.”

Another Turn-Up Due In The Marcel Boussac?

If there is one race on the Arc card that has proven difficult for favourites, it is the G1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac with no market leaders successful since Ballydoyle's Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in 2015. Since then, there have been recorded returns of 8-1, 10-1, 25-1 and 28-1 which perhaps reflects the changing of the season and the flux in these juvenile fillies' fortunes as a result. As a rule, proven sequence winners like Newtown Anner Stud Farm's G2 May Hill S. and G3 Prestige S. winner Darnation (Ire) (Too Darn Hot {GB}) can find it hard, especially after having to travel, but with the sun shining like summer she could still have an edge despite her horror draw in 10 of 10.

Aidan O'Brien's sole favourite on the card is his representative here Opera Singer (Justify), who is unbeaten over this mile trip and who came into her own when taking The Curragh's G3 Flame of Tara S. in August. Drawn best of the main contenders in two, she carries the confidence of Ryan Moore. “This Justify half-sister to Hit It A Bomb and Brave Anna , both group one-winning juveniles, took a big step forward when winning at the Curragh last time. She looked a serious filly there and, although the likes of Darnation and Les Pavots clearly have to be respected, I reckon she has a big chance here to follow in the family footsteps,” he said.

Interestingly, the aforementioned Les Pavots (Ire) (No Nay Never) is a half-sister to a duo by Camelot (GB) that the Ballydoyle handler has recently had through his hands in Sir Dragonet (Ire) and Sir Lucan (Ire), but Haras d'Etreham and Craig Bernick's TDN Rising Star is not surprisingly more about speed and precocity than those middle-distance colts. After a string of creditable efforts over five and six furlongs, the Francis-Henri Graffard trainee is two-for-two over seven with a latest triumph in Deauville's G2 Prix du Calvados but on strict form has to improve again upped another furlong.

In general, winners of this tend to be already battle-hardened fillies, with Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in 2016 the last to come off a debut win and succeed. That augurs badly for Albert Frassetto's highly-regarded Ribaltagaia (Blame), but what the Gianluca Bietolini-trained Lyon Parilly winner lacks in experience she more than makes up for in star potential if the manner of her performance in that 6 3/4-furlong maiden is anything to go by.

Can Blue Rose Bloom Again?

Dominant in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac on this fixture 12 months ago, Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) seemed an unstoppable force by the time she had extended her sequence in the G1 Prix de Diane in June. Now approaching the G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines, Yeguada Centurion SL's homebred has had her wings clipped to a degree with two defeats marring her otherwise admirable record. While the latter probably came as a result of insufficient stamina in the 12-furlong G1 Prix Vermeille, the prior reversal was marked by a sluggish display in the G1 Nassau S. over this 10-furlong trip.

Only fourth having been hampered in that Goodwood feature won by the more straightforward Al Husn (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the dual Classic heroine is on a retrieval mission but Christopher Head is confident she is going to go out on a high in 2023. “I think that's pretty much going to be the end of the season for her,” he said. “She's going back to the 2,000, she's had a tremendous season and we can't wait to see her this weekend.”

With the possibility that Blue Rose Cen may fail to fire and Al Shira'aa Farms' G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) being drawn in 12, this could open up. There was only a head between that Carlos Laffon-Parias-trained 3-year-old and Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) in the G2 Prix Alec Head at Deauville in August and that subsequently impressive G2 Blandford S. winner has the upper hand from stall three.

Princess Has a Question To Answer In The Abbaye…

Uncharacteristically tame defending her crown in the G1 Flying Five at The Curragh when last seen on Irish Champions Weekend, Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) looks to bounce back on her first tilt at the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp Longines. Having dodged this burn-up 12 months ago in favour of a build-up to the Breeders' Cup, John Quinn is keen to have a go this time on the back of a season which can be seen as slightly underwhelming. That may be a harsh summary given that her current campaign has yielded a win in Goodwood's G2 King George S. and three placings at this level, but then she was such a force in 2022 anything other than a repeat was always going to engender a touch of deflation.

“She's doing fine and has been well since the Curragh,” Quinn said. “I've been happy with her the last 10 days. She did a little bit of work on Tuesday morning and moved well and Jason [Hart] was happy with her. She looks well, it didn't work out at the Curragh but Sunday is a different day.”

Of her draw in stall 14, he added, “She missed the break at the Curragh and slipped coming out and at least in 14 she has a bit of space where she can manoeuvre. I was hoping to get somewhere in the middle, like 10 or 12, so I'm not going to cry over 14. This is a nice flat track, she has good form on flat tracks and we're looking forward to Sunday.”

Of the 3-year-olds, The Rogues Gallery's Listed Scarbrough S. winner Rogue Lightning (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) is dangerously progressive albeit from the widest draw in 19. Others in the mix are the Flying Five hero Moss Tucker (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) and Clipper Logistics' TDN Rising Star Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) who needs to arrest a decline having failed to fire since opening her season with an impressive win in the G2 Temple S.

Rogue Lightning's trainer Tom Clover said of the post position, “It is a bit of a graveyard draw, but he's in really good form. We're not drawn too far from Highfield Princess, so hopefully that gives us some pace and he can run a really nice race.”

Kinross Poised For Foret Defence...

The draw is all-important in the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret, particularly when there are 14 in the line-up as is the case this year, so Marc Chan's ever-reliable TDN Rising Star Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) has an immediate headstart in two as he bids for back-to-back wins in the seven-furlong contest. This has been dominated by British raiders since Make Believe (GB) prevailed for France in 2015 and one of his main rivals, the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp heroine Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}), has a nightmare scenario from stall 13. In nine is Kinross's 2022 1000 Guineas-winning compatriot Cachet (Ire) (Aclaim {Ire}), who will need to go forward from there as she continues her road back.

Chan's racing manager Jamie McCalmont said of Kinross, “Knowing Frankie as long as I've known Frankie, he's not really one to become emotionally attached to horses but one thing is for sure, he really does like this horse and is fond of him. I remember last year by the time that race was run, the English crowd had got a fair few drinks in them and when they went back into the winner's enclosure the crowd were chanting 'oh Frankie Dettori'. It was pretty cool. Let's hope they are all singing again.”

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A colourbearer for Gousserie Racing and Ecuries Serge Stempniak, the five-for-five G1 Prix du Jockey Club hero ran out a three-quarter length winner of the G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano when last seen in August.

“Why shouldn't I be optimistic? I'm coming in with a horse that's unbeaten,” said Rouget, who is seeking his second Arc after the success of Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in 2020.

“We know in any race anything can happen and we're coming to the end of the season, but he gets three kilos from the older horses, which is important. I'm optimistic in the sense that he goes into the race unbeaten and has done everything we have asked him to so far.

“It's been six weeks [since Deauville] and the six weeks have passed very quickly.”

The 2400-metre Arc will be the colt's first try over that trip and at that racecourse. In the lead up to Sunday's card, the weather also appears to be playing fair which is good news for several contenders.

“Obviously we can't be certain, but with the way he finishes his races and also the fact his sire was a winner over the distance gives us hope that he can stay,” he continued. “If the Prix du Jockey Club [French Derby] had been over a mile and a half, as it was in the past, he would have won that.

“Last year Vadeni (Fr) (Churchill {Ire}) was in the same place for us and he ran really well [finished second to Alpinista (GB) (Frankel {GB})]. I'm not worried about the course, he's an easy horse once he's settled in his race and there are plenty of horses that have won the Arc that also hadn't run at Longchamp before.

“I think it is going to be good for everyone, which is an interesting point about this year's race. In the past the race was often criticised for its heavy ground and the fact horses are tired, but this year I think the ground is going to suit everyone.”

Ground Key For Feed The Flame And Fantastic Moon

G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Feed The Flame (GB) (Kingman {GB})'s camp is hoping for a bit of ease in the ground. Pascal Bary is seeking his first Arc, and is also confident in his Jean-Louis Bouchard-owned colt, who was second to Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in the G2 Prix Niel earlier this month.

“He's a very good horse, he has a very good temperament and he gets the mile and a half really, really well,” said Bary. “I think on the day of the Arc, the ground will be slightly different and he will be more comfortable on that ground.

“Anything a bit softer than the ground he encountered in the Jockey Club, Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Niel would be appreciated.”

The connections of G1 Deutsches Derby hero and Prix Niel scorer Fantastic Moon were pleased with their colt's Tuesday work at Munich and have not ruled out the Arc at this stage. Raced by the Liberty Racing Syndicate, Fantastic Moon would need to be supplemented.

“Fantastic Moon's work in Munich was very good,” said Liberty Racing Syndicate's Lars-Wilhelm Baumgarten on X on Tuesday morning. “The trainer will have a discussion with the owners about the possibilities with an eye on ground conditions. The Arc is in any case again a real option, if the sun continues.”

Another expected supplement is the Coolmore partners' Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), who won the G1 St Leger for Aidan O'Brien in mid-September.

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Continuous wins the Betfred St Leger! @DoncasterRaces #ハーツクライ pic.twitter.com/dVm7G1185g

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 16, 2023

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Continuous opened his sophomore campaign with a third in May's G2 Dante S. at this venue, but was no match for Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) when eighth in the June 4 G1 Prix du Jockey Club next time and went postward for this G1 St Leger staging post coming back off a second behind King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the June 23 G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot.

“He's a lovely horse who is progressing, he has enough class for a mile-and-a-half and could stay further,” revealed Aidan O'Brien. “He's an exciting horse and he handles an ease in the ground well as he has a bit of a round action. That was fast ground today, Ryan [Moore] said it was quicker than it was at Royal Ascot, and he didn't seem to have any problem with it. He came here in the Dante and needed the run very badly and ran a massive race. A little bit of class usually outs, especially if the pace is even. I asked Ryan about the St Leger trip and he said he doesn't need a mile-and-six, but he said you wouldn't rule it out.”

Charlie Appleby expects Castle Way to bypass the St Leger and will look to North America for the runner-up's next outing. “The fractions looked very quick and William [Buick] said he was close enough, but fair play to the winner, he was the fastest horse in the race,” the trainer reflected. “The main thing to take out of it is that William did say the mile-and-six in the Leger will probably stretch him. I think I'll most definitely put him on the radar for [the Jockey Club Derby at] Belmont, where the quick ground will suit him, and that will most likely be our next stop. He's got a great attitude and he tries, but he was beaten by a better horse today.”

John Gosden felt Gregory ran the ideal St Leger trial and said, “We felt we couldn't go from Royal Ascot [straight] to the Leger so we had to come here, even with a three-pound penalty. They went a strong pace and there were two others forcing it, but what I loved about it was that a furlong out he got going again. To me he's run the perfect trial for the Leger. I couldn't be more pleased and you can see by the size of him he's all about next year. One more run in the Leger and then Cup races next year.”

Pedigree Notes

Continuous is the third of six foals and one of two scorers out of a winning full-sister to G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, herself the dam of G1 2000 Guineas-winning sire Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The March-foaled bay's dam is also a full-sister to dual Group 1-placed G3 Silver Flash S. victrix Promise To Be True (Ire). His stakes-winning second dam Sumora (Ire) (Danehill) is kin to G1 Oaks and G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) from the family of multiple Group 1-winning sire Dr Devious (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}). Continuous is half to the unraced 2-year-old filly Angelica Tree (Ire) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and a yearling colt and a weanling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB).

Wednesday, York, Britain
SKY BET GREAT VOLTIGEUR S.-G2, £250,000, York, 8-23, 3yo, c/g, 11f 188yT, 2:27.45, g/f.
1–CONTINUOUS (JPN), 128, c, 3, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
1st Dam: Fluff (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sumora (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Rain Flower (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
O-D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor & Westerberg; B-Wynatt, Chelston Ireland & Orpendale Bloodstock (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £141,775. Lifetime Record: GSW-Fr, 6-3-1-1, $317,416. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Castle Way (GB), 128, c, 3, Almanzor (Fr)–Beach Frolic (GB), by Nayef. (425,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Godolphin; B-Highclere Stud & Floors Farming (GB); T-Charlie Appleby. £53,750.
3–Gregory (GB), 131, c, 3, Golden Horn (GB)–Gretchen (GB), by Galileo (Ire). O-Wathnan Racing; B-Normandie Stud Ltd (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £26,900.
Margins: 3 3/4, 1, 11. Odds: 4.00, 6.50, 0.73.
Also Ran: Artistic Star (Ire), Canberra Legend (Ire).

It didn't look likely at one stage, but Continuous stays on best to win the @SkyBet Great Voltigeur Stakes for @Ballydoyle and Ryan Moore @yorkracecourse!

The son of Heart's Cry is now as short as 5-2 for the St Leger

Gregory, the 8-11 favourite, faded into third pic.twitter.com/rCwzWV5f2M

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 23, 2023

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Teruya Yoshida, CEO of Shadai Farm, said in a statement, “Hearts Cry ran out of steam last night [Thursday]. I heard from the person in charge of the Shadai Stallion that he left nobly and without showing any weakness until the very end.

“When training, he had a unique gait, but the difference in the springs shown on the training course was obvious. I had worked on many Sunday Silence progeny before, but the way they bounced, agility, and propulsion were so different that I handed them over to trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi with great confidence.”

Bred by Shadai Farm, the April foal went into training with Hashiguchi and carried the Shadai Racing Horse silks with honour in three countries. Best known for his defeat of paternal half-brother Deep Impact (Jpn) in the 2005 Arima Kinen (video), he showcased his quality on the world stage, taking the 2006 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, and finished a respectable third in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond S. later that year.

Yoshida added of the dark bay's racing career, “The highlight of my racing life is probably his three races from the end of [his] 4-year-old year to early in his 5-year-old season, especially when he defeated Deep Impact in the Arima Kinen. I was worried that the opponent would be the only rival and Heart's Cry would have a dirty image after that, but the overwhelming victory in the next round of the Dubai Sheema Classic proved that the level of horse racing in Japan has progressed to a tremendous level, and it has been a great opportunity for the officials, fans and media. Everyone was happy.”

Retired to stand at Shadai Stallion Station in 2007 after five wins from 19 starts and over $8 million in earnings, Heart's Cry would spend his entire stallion career there. The sire of 63 black-type winners (44 group), his best runner was versatile mare Lys Gracieux (Jpn), who won the Arima Kinen in 2019, as well as the G1 Cox Plate, G1 Takarazuka Kinen, and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. Of his 11 top-tier winners, G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) and G1 Yasuda Kinen hero Just A Way (Jpn) also traveled to the deserts of Dubai, and left with a victory in the G1 Dubai Duty Free.

Stateside, his son Yoshida (Jpn) is one of two stakes winners from just four to race. An ¥94,000,000 (£578,299/€653,571/ $696,836) purchase out of the JRHA Select Yearling Sale, the young sire won the GI Woodward S. on dirt and the GI Turf Classic S. on turf. Currently a resident of WinStar Farm, his first 2-year-olds run this year.

Added Yoshida after Heart's Cry was pensioned in 2020, “After retiring as a stallion, he spent his time comfortably on the pasture. I wanted you to enjoy this comfortable life for a longer time, and I wanted you to live forever, but I am sorry that it was a sudden parting. I hope you rest in peace.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all the people involved in his life, the fans who supported us, and the breeders who chose us as our compounding partners. Thank you very much for your help so far. Thank you.”

As a broodmare sire, Heart's Cry is responsible for seven stakes winners anchored by Japanese Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) and G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa (Aus) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).

Heart's Cry with jockey Christophe Lemaire win the Arima Kinen | Horsephotos

Regular rider Christophe Lemaire tweeted, “Very sad to hear [of] the passing of my champ. It all started with him for me in Japan. Big thoughts to Teruya Yoshida and Shadai Farm staff. Legends never die.”

Out of the dual Japanese stakes winner Irish Dance, Heart's Cry was the best foal of his dam. A half-sister by El Condor Pasa produced G3 Fairy S. heroine Omega Heart Rock (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}). Eclipse Champion Sprinter My Juliet (Gallant Romeo) is under the third dam, as is four-time Grade I winner Stella Madrid (Alydar), GI Ashland S. winner Lilacs And Lace (Flower Alley) and GI Shuvee H. scorer Tis Juliet (Alydar) while his extended family features G1 February S. hero Nonkono Yume (Jpn) (Twining), G1 Irish Oaks victress Winona (Ire) (Alzao), and dual Grade I winner Super Quercus (Fr) (Hero's Honor).

Very sad to hear the passing of my champ . It all started with him for me in Japan . Big thoughts to Teruya Yoshida and Shadai Farm staff . Legends never die . #champ#legendhorse#merci https://t.co/eKareRL4lD

— Lemaire Christophe (@christo68914587) March 10, 2023

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Unhurried near the back early, the bay gradually closed the gap from his outside perch through the opening mile, began to narrow the gap on front-running Pradaria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) rounding the final turn and blew by that rival midstretch en route to a geared-down 3 1/2-length victory over Mantenro Leo (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}). Japanese Horse of the Year Efforia (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) was pulled up and was later determined to have suffered from atrial fibrillation.

Pedigree Notes:
A winner of six starts, including the GII Gallant Bloom H. and GIII Sugar Swirl S. and runner up in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Dust and Diamonds realized $1 million when offered at the 2016 Keeneland November sale after producing black-type performer Much Better (Pioneerof the Nile) earlier that season. In Japan, she dropped full-brother named Fulleren (Jpn), an earner of $699,654, before producing a 2018 Deep Impact colt of modest success. A May foal in 2019, Do Deuce is the sole black-type winner for his dam.

Sunday, Hanshin, Japan
KYOTO KINEN-G2, ¥119,800,000, Hanshin, 2-12, 4yo/up, 2200mT, 2:10.90, fm.
1–DO DEUCE (JPN), 128, c, 4, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
1st Dam: Dust and Diamonds (MGSW & GISP, $496,260), by Vindication
2nd Dam: Majestically, by Gone West
3rd Dam: Darling Dame, by Lyphard
O-Kieffers Inc.; B-Northern Farm; T-Yasuo Tomomichi;
J-Yutaka Take; ¥62,910,00. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Colt-Jpn,
MG1SW-Jpn, 9-5-1-1. *1/2 to Much Better (Pioneerof the
Nile), MGSP, $313,571. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Matenro Leo (Jpn), 123, c, 4, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)–Saratoga
Venus (Jpn), by Brian's Time. O-Chiyono Terada; B-Inoke Farm;
¥25,260,000.
3–Pradaria (Jpn), 126, c, 4, Deep Impact (Jpn)-Chasse' Roll (Jpn),
by Kurofune. O-Nagoya Yuho Inc.; B-Orient Farm; ¥16,130,000.
Margins: 3 1/2, NK, 1 1/2; Odds: 1.50, 14.20, 7.80.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Click for the JRA chart and video.

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Undefeated as a juvenile with his three-race campaign culminating in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S., Salios would go on to run second in both the 2020 G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas and G1 Japanese Derby. The dual G2 Mainichi Okan hero (2020/22) was third in the Hong Kong Mile during the 2021 edition of the Longines Hong Kong International Races, and he added a third in the G1 Yasuda Kinen this June. His record stands at 15-5-2-2, with $4,350,207 in earnings.

Salios, out of the G1 German Oaks heroine Salomina, is a half-brother to Japanese Group 2 victress Salacia (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who also reported home second in the G1 Arima Kinen and G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. His extended family is one of the best in Germany, as his second dam, the Tiger Hill (Ire) Group 3 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Saldentigerin (Ger), is out of listed winner Salde (Ger) (Alkalde {Ger}). Saldentigerin is a half-sister to three stakes winners and an additional two black-type horses led by dual Group 3 winner Saldenschwinge (Ger) (N The Wings {GB}). Another half-sister, the stakes-placed Saldenehre (Ger) (Highest Honor {Fr}), produced G1 German Oaks heroine Serienholde (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), herself the dam of G1 NHK Mile Cup victor Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}).

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Favoured at 2-1 despite his lengthy winless drought, the 5-year-old entire was content to stalk in fourth as a rank Red Belle Aube (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) cut out the running while tossing his head. That foe eventually settled down to business while shaded by Lei Papale (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and covered the first 1000 metres in a sparkling :57.90.

Facing a wall of horses to traverse after dropping to sixth on the bend, Salios still had is work cut out for him, but a gap opened around the 300-metre mark and he bulled his way through. The story was much the same within the final furlong, and once again the chestnut found a path between foes, pinned his ears and surged to the lead. His winning margin was a half-length over Justin Café (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), who'd made an encouraging run along the outside. The 2020 Japanese Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Danon The Kid (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}), winner of that term's G1 Hopeful S., was another length back in third.

A winner of his first three starts, culminating in the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S. in 2019, Salios placed in the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown as a sophomore and was also a winner of the G2 Mainichi Okan that October. Winless in 2021, his best showing was a third in the G1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin that December. Unplaced in the Mar. 27 G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen, the 5-year-old was third in the G1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo on Jun 5, before being shelved until the Mainichi Okan on Sunday.

Pedigree Notes

The second stakes winner out of G1 German Oaks victress Salomina (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}), Salios's older half-sister Salacia (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) claimed the G2 Fuchu Himba S. and was second in both the G1 Arima Kinen Grand Prix and the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup. All six of Salomina's foals to race are winners, including the 3-year-old Deep Impact filly Saliera (Jpn), second in the G2 Rose S. Salomina's juvenile colt and yearling filly are both full-siblings to the winner, while her most recent foal is a filly by Duramente (Jpn).

Tracing to one of Germany's premiere families, Salios's second dam is Saldentigerin (Ger) (Tiger Hill {Ire}), a Group 3 winner in her native land and also placed in both the German Oaks and G1 Preis von Europa, who threw the stakes winner Salut (Ger) to the cover of Lomitas, as well as the group-placed Skyful Sea (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}). His great granddam Salde (Ger) (Alkalde {Ger}) foaled a quartet of German stakes winners, of which Saldentigerin was her best, as well as the multiple Group 1-placed Saltas (Ger) (Lomitas {GB}). Another of Salde's black-type placed daughters, the Highest Honor (Fr) mare Saldenehre (Ger), is the dam of German Oaks winner Serienholde (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), who foaled, in turn, the G1 NHK Mile Cup hero Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}), second in both the G1 Yasuda Kinen and G1 Mile Championship.

Sunday, Tokyo, Japan
MAINICHI OKAN-G2, ¥128,700,000, Tokyo, 10-9, 3yo/up, 1800mT, *1:44.10 (NCR), fm.
1–SALIOS (JPN), 123, h, 5, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Salomina (Ger) (G1SW-Ger, $332,689),
                                by Lomitas (GB)
                2nd Dam: Saldentigerin (Ger), by Tiger Hill (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Salde (Ger), by Alkalde (Ger)
O-Silk Racing; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); T-Noriyuki Hori; J-Kohei
Matsuyama. ¥67,700,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Jpn,
14-5-2-2. Click for the
   free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick
   Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Justin Café (Jpn), 123, c, 4, Epiphaneia (Jpn)–Casino Boogie
(Jpn), by Workforce (GB). 1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK
   TYPE. O-Masahiro Miki; B-Shadai Farm (Jpn); ¥27,200,000.
3–Danon the Kid (Jpn), 123, c, 4, Just a Way (Jpn)–Epic Love
(Ire), by Dansili (GB). (¥100,000,000 Wlg '18 JRHAJUL). O-Danox Inc.; B-Northern Farm (Jpn); ¥17,100,000.
Margins: HF, 3/4, 1. Odds: 2.00, 4.90, 5.70.
Also Ran: Lei Papale (Jpn), North Bridge (Jpn), Potager (Jpn), Kingston Boy (Jpn), King Of Koji (Jpn), Happy Hour (Jpn), Red Belle Aube (Jpn). Click for the JRA chart & video.

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“It was a very good performance for a horse who had just run once to win a maiden,” commented Coolmore representative Hermine Bastide. “Aidan [O'Brien} was quite confident he would have no problems staying the distance. Looking at his pedigree on his dam's side, it suggested he'd be capable of handling soft going and Ryan [Moore] said the ground was okay for him. Aidan will talk to the owners and he could come back here for the [Oct. 22 G1] Criterium International.”

Continuous, half-brother to a yearling filly by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and a weanling colt by Wootton Bassett {GB}), is the third of five foals and one of two scorers out of a winning full-sister to G1 Moyglare Stud S. heroine Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, herself the dam of G1 2000 Guineas-winning sire Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). The March-foaled bay's dam is also a full-sister to dual Group 1-placed G3 Silver Flash S. victrix Promise To Be True (Ire). His stakes-winning second dam Sumora (Ire) (Danehill) is kin to G1 Oaks and G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) heroine Dancing Rain (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) from the family of multiple Group 1-winning sire Dr Devious (Ire) (Ahonoora {GB}).

Friday, Saint-Cloud, France
PRIX THOMAS BRYON JOCKEY CLUB DE TURQUIE-G3, €80,000, Saint-Cloud, 9-30, 2yo, 8fT, 1:45.86, vsf.
1–CONTINUOUS (JPN), 126, c, 2, by Heart's Cry (Jpn)
1st Dam: Fluff (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Sumora (Ire), by Danehill
3rd Dam: Rain Flower (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor & Westerberg; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (JPN); T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. €40,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, €49,735. Werk Nick Rating: C. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Make Me King (Fr), 126, c, 2, Dark Angel (Ire)–Miss Infinity (Ire), by Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (130,000gns Ylg '21 TAOCT). O/B-Haras Voltaire (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €16,000.
3–Times Boulevard (Fr), 126, c, 2, Shalaa (Ire)–See You Always (GB), by Siyouni (Fr). 1ST BLACK TYPE; 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O-Allan Belshaw; B-Times of Wigan Ltd (FR); T-Christophe Ferland. €12,000.
Margins: (3/4, HD, 7). Odds: 2.00, 3.30, 2.20.
Also Ran: Behind The Scenes (Ire), *Syros (Fr). DNF: Captain Wierzba (GB). Scratched: Knockhill (Ire). Video, sponsored by TVG.
*Demoted from 2nd.

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1.25 Curragh, Mdn, €17,000, 2yo, 8fT
HIPPODROME (IRE) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of three Ballydoyle newcomers in this maiden won by TDN Rising Stars High Definition (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Duke De Sessa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the last two runnings. A son of the 1000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas runner-up Lightning Thunder (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}), the 650,000gns Book 1 graduate is joined by fellow newcomer Covent Garden (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), a full-brother to Johannes Vermeer (Ire) and Wembley (Ire), and the Ryan Moore-ridden Hiawatha (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), the full-brother to Luxembourg (Ire) who has the benefit of two runs.

2.00 Curragh, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 7fT
CANUTE (Quality Road) is the second foal out of the G1 Falmouth S., G1 Matron S. and G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and is one of another Ballydoyle trio alongside Ryan Moore's pick Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), a relative of Saxon Warrior (Jpn), and Charles Bianconi (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), a 320,000gns Book 1 half-brother to Dame Malliot (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) who carries the Evie Stockwell silks. They are met by Qatar Racing's fellow newcomer High Court Judge (Kitten's Joy), a Johnny Murtagh-trained son of the GII Lake Placid S. and GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile winner Proctor's Ledge  (Ghostzapper).

4.25 Sandown, Mdn, £9,900, 2yo, f, 7fT
CATCH A STAR (IRE) (Cracksman {GB}) is a notable Godolphin newcomer on a day replete with exciting Classic prospects, being a daughter of the G2 Flying Childers S. scorer Sand Vixen (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who has produced the top-level winners Dream Castle (GB) and With The Moonlight (Ire) from matings with Cracksman's sire Frankel (GB). Charlie Appleby has charge of the March-foaled bay, whose rivals include the similarly-unraced Beautiful Star (Ire) (U S Navy Flag), Amo Racing Limited's Richard Hannon-trained half to Wichita (Ire) (No Nay Never).

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