Byzantine Dream (Jpn)

Thursday saw the all-important draw made for the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, with the key take-out being the disastrous post position of 17 for the leading Japanese hope Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) among the 18 final confirmations. Things didn't get much better for the nation seeking its elusive first Arc, with the Tokyo Yushun winner's wide post compounded by the draw of 15 for the impressive Prix Foy winner Byzantine Dream (Epiphaneia). Some good news finally arrived during the live draw at 11am French time, with...

Arc clues were in abundance at ParisLongchamp on Sunday and the first piece of the puzzle was put in place by Japan as Byzantine Dream (Epiphaneia) upstaged the Euro contingent in the G2 Qatar Prix Foy. Earning the special voyage with a win in Riyadh's G2 Red Sea Turf Handicap and a second in the G1 Tenno Sho Spring, Kazumi Yoshida's four-year-old was sprung from his cover by Oisin Murphy to overwhelm the 8-5 favourite Sosie (Sea The Stars) in the final yards and record a half-length success. "He has...

For the first time in seven years, the winner of the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) is absent from Sunday's 3200-metre G1 Tenno Sho (Spring). However, there is still an able deputy on hand in Kikuka Sho runner-up Redentor. The son of Rulership is in fighting form to boot, as he ran out a four-length winner of the 3400-metre G3 Diamond Stakes in February. If he prevails on May 4, he would be the first St Leger runner-up to win the Tenno Sho since 2000. Damian Lane has the...