Gloom among Japanese media even after sun breaks through the mist

It has become a staple of the week leading up to the Arc that the usual trickle of journalists and photographers on the training tracks of Chantilly and Lamorlaye are swelled considerably.

Much of that is down to the presence of a sizeable contingent of travelling media from Japan, and Wednesday has long been the day that their representatives come out to play.

In 2014 there was a thick blanket of fog over the racecourse when Gold Ship and Just A Way were put through their final pieces of work, with further confusion added by the decision of trainer Hiroyoshi Matsuda to go elsewhere with Japan's third runner, Harp Star.

This year's final workout was back on the more familiar terrain of Les Aigles – favoured by Yasutoshi Ikee in previous years with Orfevre – and this time the shroud was provided by mist clinging low to the ground rather than fog.

There are reasons to be envious of the health of racing in Japan, a sport that can support a huge diversity of media and whose top reporters routinely travel the globe to bring news of Japanese challengers.

One misconception is that this happy band of media pilgrims is blessed with ridiculous optimism about the chances of Japanese success abroad and that – especially in terms of that illusive first Arc victory – defeat is always greeted with disbelief and anguish in equal measure.

That may have been the case with the mighty Deep Impact 11 years ago, but my sense in more recent times is that Japanese journalists are always very well informed about the opposition and rightly respectful about the scale of the task.

Even allowing for that, Wednesday's media session following the gallop had a peculiarly downbeat feel to it, with both Ikee and Christophe Lemaire very open with their concerns about Satono Diamond on soft ground or worse.

The line of questioning from the travelling media also betrayed a lack of confidence in the project, despite the fact that all assembled believe the four-year-old is particularly well-equipped to tackle the Arc in terms of talent and temperament. If only it wouldn't rain.

Japanese journalists are hopeful rather than expectant about Satono Diamond's chances in the Arc: (L-R) Atsushi Teyashita, Ryuhei Kawabata, Tetsuo NishitaniCredit: Racing Post / Scott Burton

Such concerns became even clearer when talking later with three turf writers.

"He seems a little sluggish to me and I've seen his coat in a little better condition on other occasions," was the summary of Atsushi Teyashita of Sports Nippon. "I am hopeful but not expectant."

Teyashita's colleague from Sankei Sports, Ryuhei Kawabata, was even less bullish: "If you ask me where my confidence in him is, it is nearer ten per cent than 100 per cent! I prefer the chances of Ulysees."

Tetsuo Nishitani, of Tokyo Sports Press, shared Lemaire's concern that Satono Diamond has not been burning up the gallops in quite the same style as at home.

"He's a good work horse normally and the best I remember was when he galloped before the Kikuka Sho [St Leger] last year. If he was working in the same kind of form here I would be confident of victory, but he wasn’t moving as well today."

Nishitani did offer one glimmer of hope amid the general gloom.

He said: "If I was looking for good omens I remember it was foggy – just like today – when he had his final gallop before the Arima Kinen. He went on to beat the best horses in Japan."

Gregory Dreams of golden autumn

Gregory Benoit returns in triumph on QemahCredit: Bryn Lennon

Gregory Benoist and Cristian Demuro were both spotted outside France Galop's satellite office, where the Japanese media conferences took place during Wednesday morning.

The two jockeys will be team mates in some respect on Sunday when Demuro dons the silks of Al Shaqab – Benoist's main employer – for the ride on Prix du Jockey Club hero Brametot.

As retained jockey to Brametot's part-owner Gerard Augustin-Normand, Demuro kept the ride when Sheikh Joaan Al Thani's outfit bought a controlling share.

Benoist will wear a distinguishing gold cap aboard Doha Dream, Al Shaqab's second runner and a horse who carries plenty of history for rider and owner.

Benoist scored for the second time at Royal Ascot aboard Qemah in June but then missed a large part of the summer when injuring his neck in a fall from Doha Dream during the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, when seemingly left short of room.

While he was off the track he had to watch Frankie Dettori secure Group 1 spoils aboard another Andre Fabre inmate, Al Wukair, in the Prix Jacques le Marois

In happier times Doha Dream was a first homebred Group winner for Al Shaqab's Haras de Bouquetot when scoring in the Prix Chaudenay at this meeting 12 months ago.

Doha Dream (no 1) bears down on his rivals in the 2016 Prix Chaudenay at ChantillyCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He'll enjoy the fast pace and I'll ride him for a place," said Benoist on Wednesday.

Doha Dream is quoted as 66-1 for the Arc, while Fabre's other two runners have also attracted scant attention, with Plumatic trading at similar odds and even Cloth Of Stars freely available at 28-1.

Benoist will have the choice of last season's runner-up Karar or Zelzal in the Prix de la Foret, while his European season could get a golden send-off if Al Wukair can land the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day.

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