Thursday 6 August 2015 09:45, UK
Japanese runners have added an extra dimension to the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but they may not have a representative in 2015.
From El Condor Pasa and Deep Impact to the quirky Orfevre, runners from Japan have been a regular and welcome feature of the autumn showpiece in Paris but racing fans from the country will have to wait at least another year before achieving their oft-stated ambition of winning the prestigious prize.
From five entries at the initial stage, it now looks as though Japan may not muster a single runner following a series of mishaps.
Duramente had been viewed as a live contender following his record breaking victory in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) having also won the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Such was the merit of his performances that he has been handed a higher rating than Deep Impact and Orfevre at the same stage of their careers but he was found to be lame and has undergone surgery to remove some bone chips and is not expected to return until the spring.
Real Steel, who beat Duramente earlier in the season before chasing him home in the Guineas, has suffered a fracture which will keep him off until the autumn while the five-year-old Epiphaneia has strained a tendon and he has been retired as a result.
The 2014 Derby winner, One and Only had been an intended runner in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes but was re-routed to Takarazuka Kinen where he disappointed. As a consequence, connections have scrapped their plans to travel to Europe for the Arc while Kizuna, whose absence led to the change of running plans, has also had his entry scrapped.
The Summer Edition of Horse Racing in Japan revealed that the only possible Arc contender at the moment is Rouge Buck, a highly rated filly who is unbeaten in three starts since her two-year-old debut in September.
She has come up short in two runs at the top level but connections have stuck to their original plan and announced her return to training for the Sapporo Kinen later this month, a race which was used as a stepping stone to the Arc by Harp Star and Gold Ship last season.
Dual winner Treve is the current 9/4 favourite with Sky Bet from Golden Horn at 9/2.
