Lemaire confident everything in place for Makahiki Niel bid

Japan's latest Arc challengers will leave nothing to chance, with Tokyo Derby winner Makahiki being prepared with the assistance of as much French know-how as connections can muster in their quest to land the great prize for the first time.

Chantilly native Christophe Lemaire - who is currently second in the Japanese jockey's championship, having permanently relocated for the start of the 2015 season - put Makahiki through his paces on Chantilly's Piste des Reservoirs in front of a large gallery of media.

And at Lemaire's invitation, Makahiki's lead horse was ridden by four-time Arc winning jockey Thierry Jarnet, as trainer Yasuo Tomomichi put the finishing touches on the Deep Impact colt's preparation ahead of Sunday's Prix Niel.