Victoire Pisa: Dubai World Cup hero set to lead strong Japanese Arc team
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (Racingpost.com/photos)Victoire Pisa to lead Japan's Arc assault
Japan: Dubai World Cup winner Victoire Pisa is set to target the Irish Champion Stakes en route to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, where he will again be joined by compatriot Nakayama Festa, runner-up toWorkforce in 2010.
A visit to France later this summer for a possible tilt at the Arc is on the agenda for no fewer than four Japanese-trained horses, with Tenno Sho (Spring) winner Hiruno D'Amour and three-year-old Nakayama Knight also set to travel.
Victoire Pisa, seventh in last year's Arc, and Hiruno D'Amour will be housed at the Chantilly stable of French-based Japanese trainer Satoshi Kobayashi.
Victoire Pisa is having a break at Shadai Farm on Hokkaido after injury forced him to miss his intended engagement in the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup in Hong Kong on May 1.
The four-year-old was lame on his off-hind but is now fully recovered according to trainer Katsuhiko Sumii. "His lameness wasn't serious and I don't have any concerns about it now," he said.
Hiruno D'Amour will travel to Francein early August with a view to running in the Prix Foy at Longchamp's Arc trials meeting.
"I am sure it will be a good idea for him to get experience of the course in the prep race," said trainer Mitsugu Kon, who will also send jockey Shinji Fujita on an early plane to France.
Nakayama Festa and stablemate Nakayama Knight, who will fly to France on August 10, will have their European base at Tony Clout's yard.
Nakayama Festa will follow the same path as last year, taking in the Prix Foy before the Arc, having finished second in both races in 2010 under jockey Masayoshi Ebina, who will retain the mount for trainer Yoshitaka Ninomiya.
Unraced since finishing down the field in last year's Japan Cup, Nakayama Festa is now back in training after a setback at the Miho Training Centre.
Nakayama Knight, winner of the Grade 3 Kyodo News Hai at Tokyo racecourse in February, was fourth to dual Classic winner Orfevre in the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).
The son of Stay Gold is set to run in the Prix Niel under jockey Yoshitomi Shibata before contesting either the Arc or the Prix Dollar.
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