All roads lead to Longchamp for Almond Eye after awards walkover

The Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a potential date with hat-trick-seeking Enable will be this season's priority for Almond Eye, Japan's latest racing superstar.

Named by the Japan Racing Association as Horse of the Year on Tuesday, as well as leading three-year-old filly, Almond Eye is in the early stages of preparation for her first foreign venture to Dubai at the end of March.

The JRA awards – which will be formally presented on January 28 – may have been something of a formality as Silk Racing's daughter of Lord Kanaloa went unbeaten in 2018, collecting all three legs of the fillies' Triple Crown, before landing the Japan Cup in an astounding 2m 20.6 seconds.

But Almond Eye's coronation was still notable as she became the first horse since TM Opera O in 2000 to scoop all 276 votes for Horse of the Year.

Jockey Christophe Lemaire stands next to trainer Sakae Kunieda (grey hat) at the official victory ceremony following Almond Eye's Japan Cup victory in November 2018Credit: Japan Racing Association

Twenty-four hours on from the announcement, Almond Eye's trainer Sakae Kunieda was at the Miho training centre, looking ahead to what could be an exciting international campaign.

Kunieda said: "The Arc is our ultimate goal. We'll see how we do in Dubai and make the final call after that but the Arc is our target. She's doing really well now, coming along nicely."

Jockey Christophe Lemaire is considered a key component of the team's Arc ambitions, having enjoyed a highly successful career in his native France before relocating full-time to Japan in 2016.

Since then he has twice been tasked with guiding Japanese hopes in Europe's richest race, suffering disappointment aboard Makahiki in 2016 before a wet autumn effectively ruined his chances with Satono Diamond the following October.

Kunieda has yet to saddle a runner in the Arc but added on Wednesday: "Lemaire thinks she'll adapt to the Longchamp course, so I'll take his word for it!"

Entries for the 1m1f Dubai Turf and 1m4f Sheema Classic closed on Wednesday, with connections set to make a decision nearer the time as to which race Almond Eye will contest on what is scheduled to be her seasonal reappearance.

Take earns special recognition

Further reminders of Japan's long and often painful love affair with the Arc came as Yutaka Take was named recipient of a Special Award in recognition of him passing 4,000 career victories on the JRA circuit.

Yutaka Take celebrating after passing 4,000 career JRA victories at Hanshin in September 2018Credit: Masakazu Takahashi

Take said: "The achievement of winning 4,000 races has allowed me to once again take a look back. I wish to express my appreciation to the many people who lent me their support and to the horses I have ridden. I humbly ask for your continued support."

Take, who will be 50 in March, has carried Japanese hopes in the Arc on multiple occasions, most notably when finishing third in 2006 aboard the country's most enduring equine legend, Deep Impact.

JRA 2018 Award winners

Horse of the Year/Best three-year-old fillyBest two-year-old coltBest two-year-old fillyBest three-year-old coltBest older colt or horseBest older filly or mareBest sprinter or milerBest dirt horseBest steeplechaserSpecial AwardYutaka Take

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