Satono Diamond is Japan’s latest hope of winning the Arc and his trainer has won this race twice before with Orfevre. He may well be good enough on his first outing since April. But CLOTH OF STARS is still improving and won his first Group 1 when landing the Prix Ganay at Saint-Cloud and beating last year’s winner Silverwave in the process. The latter has subsequently beaten Talismanic in a Group 2 contest here while the German raider Dschingis Secret beat Hawkbill in a soft Group 1 contest at Hoppegarten last month.
Cloth Of Stars (IRE) (9-2) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 1 gs in May beating Zarak (9-2) by shd, 8 ran.
Talismanic (8-13) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 6f Grp 2 stks gd in Jul beating Marmelo (8-13) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Silverwave (FR) (9-2) 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Zarak (9-2) at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Jul.
Dschingis Secret (GER) (9-6) won at Hoppegarten 1m 4f Grp 1 stks gd in Aug beating Hawkbill (9-6) by 1l, 7 ran.
Satono Diamond (JPN) (8-13) won at Kyoto 1m 7f Grp 1 stks (1) fm in Oct beating Rainbow Line (8-13) by 2 1/2l, 18 ran.
Satono Noblesse (JPN) (9-2) 10th of 15, 7 1/4l behind Maurice (9-2) at Tokyo 1m 2f (1) fm in Oct.
