The China Mail - Three Japanese tales of Arc heartbreak

They first tried in 1969 with rank outsider Symboli Speed and have contested numerous editions of the Arc since then.

Here AFP Sport picks out three occasions when their dream came close to being realised:

El Condor Pasa -- 1999

The title of a Peruvian song brought to global attention due to the cover version by Simon and Garfunkel. The latter added 'If I Could' to the title and at one point it looked like the equine version could indeed land the Arc.

He went off second favourite -- due to wins in the prestigious Grand Prix de Saint Cloud and Arc trial the Prix Foy -- and when Masayoshi Ebina pushed him into a three length lead at the top of the finishing straight Japanese spectators held their breath.

However, Mick Kinane managed to get favourite Montjeu off the rails and once he had a clear run he ate into the lead before drawing level with El Condor Pasa.

Ebina had not given up and got him back in front but once again Montjeu had a little bit left and had half a length to spare over his gallant opponent at the finish line.

If there was any consolation it was his being named Japanese racehorse of the 20th Century based on form ratings.

Nakayama Festa -- 2010

Ebina returned on board the far less- fancied Nakayama Festa and again went close to delivering for Japan.

"I felt like 'I am back let's do this again' when I saw the racecourse," he told fellow jockey Christophe Lemaire in a 2021 interview for World Horse Racing.

Ebina waited for his chance before delivering his challenge midway down the straight. He drew level with the leaders only to be joined by Epsom Derby winner Workforce.

"I thought we could really win but then I could see the nose of the horse inside us."

The pair fought out a terrific duel, "we went head to head" said Ebina who could hear the Japanese spectators at Longchamp cheering him on.

However, Ryan Moore was to prevail on Workforce winning by only a head.

For Ebina there was little consolation at such a terrific display.

"It was such a shame," he said.

"Second in horse racing means your name is never left in history."

Orfevre -- 2012

Orfevre's defeat will be forever the Arc that got away from Japan.

The horse's owners Sunday Racing, who also own Croix du Nord, took the bold decision to opt for crack France-based Belgian jockey Christophe Soumillon -- the first time a Japanese runner in the Arc had a European rider -- and on the back of winning the Prix Foy and around 2000 Japanese spectators at Longchamp started favourite.

Soumillon played all his cards right having been drawn unfavourably on the outside and waited at the back till producing a devastating burst of speed as they hit the finishing straight passing 12 of his rivals.

He left the likes of Epsom Derby winner Camelot trailing in his wake as he surged clear. However, damned with a quirky temperament Orfevre suddenly veered to the right and despite Soumillon's sterling efforts to straighten him he hit the rail.

The loss of direction and momentum allowed the modest Solemia to steal past him and win by just a neck.

Soumillon refused to accept he had been at fault for the defeat.

"Once I had the lead, no one could have imagined that we'd be beaten," he said.

"The overconfidence in him defeated us.

"He stopped because the ground was so heavy and as everyone knows he is too clever and cheeky sometimes.

"If he had stayed straight he would have won the Arc by three or four lengths. I am sorry but I have no regrets."

Orfevre and Soumillon returned again the following year, once again starting favourite and finishing runner-up -- but there was no hard luck story as Treve trounced him by five lengths.

B.Carter--ThChM