Dubai World Cup hero Victoire Pisa is set to touch down on French soil next month with a view to having a second tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.
Katsuhiko Sumii’s four-year-old was beaten a little over six lengths into seventh in Europe’s premier middle-distance prize last year, but may have since improved judged by his superb display at Meydan in March.
Shingo Soma, from the Japan Racing Association, said: “The horse is going to arrive in France on August 10 before hopefully running in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
“I think he may also take in the Prix Foy in September first of all.”
Victoire Pisa is set be joined on the trip from Japan by last year’s Arc runner-up Nakayama Festa, his stablemate Nakayama Knight, as well as Hiruno D’Amour, winner of a Grade One at Kyoto on May 1.
“Three more horses are coming from Japan and I think they will all be arriving on the same plane,” Soma added.
“Hiruno D’Amour is one. He won a race known in English as the Emperor Cup. That is a 3200-metre (two mile) race, but it is very high quality.
“Nakayama Festa went very close to winning the Arc last year, but Workforce was just too strong. He is going to come back again this year and have another go.
“Nakayama Knight is a horse of a lower level but I think he will also travel.
“I don’t know if he will run in the Arc, but I think he will come and work with Nakayama Festa, who has the same owner.
“Hiruno D’Amour could also run in the Prix Foy and while I’m not sure about Nakayama Festa, last year he did.
“It is a Japanese dream to win the Arc and every year we try to have runners.
“Last year we almost won. Hopefully this year we can do it.”
PA AAP TURF
