Arc win on Clincher the ultimate dream for 4,000-winner man Yutaka Take

It has already been quite a week for Japanese superstar Yutaka Take, but fresh from recording win number 4,000 of his JRA career at Hanshin on Saturday the 49-year-old retains high hopes of eclipsing even that achievement with a victory aboard Clincher in the race he described as the greatest of all at Longchamp on Sunday.

Bookmakers have virtually written off the chances of Clincher granting the wishes not only of Take but Japan's devoted racing public, with the son of Deep Sky a general 50-1 shot for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after fading badly in the Prix Foy last month, although that was his first run since the spring.

Trainer Hiroshi Miyamoto declared himself delighted with Wednesday morning's work on sand in Chantilly, a gallop for which Take was reduced to the role of spectator after Miyamoto decided to stick with Clincher's regular work rider.