The China Mail - Demuro hopes to deliver Japan a 'magical' Arc victory

Demuro, who won on Sottsass in 2020 and Ace Impact in 2023, rides Admire Terra, the less fancied of the two Japanese runners, in Sunday's race at Longchamp racecourse.

Admire Terra and Meisho Tabaru are the latest to try and fulfill a dream Japanese racing fans have entertained since their first runner, Speed Symboli finished 11th in 1969.

That was well before 34-year-old Demuro was born, although during his lifetime the Japanese have filled the runners-up spot on four occasions, with Orfevre the last one to do so in 2013.

Demuro, born in Italy but based in France, said winning the Arc for the first time was a "dream" and the second was a "bonus".

However, the opportunity to win a third one was extra special because of an affinity he had with the Japanese people going back over a decade.

"It is the first time I ride a Japanese horse in the Arc," he told the media on Wednesday.

"I owe the Japanese people a lot as my first Group One victory was in Japan (Ayusan in 2013).

"To win this would be magical as the Japanese people have been waiting years for the victory.

"It is really exciting for me to ride a Japanese horse and to achieve their dream, it will be special."

- 'Dream fulfilled' -

Demuro said despite Admire Terra going into the Arc without a prep race at Longchamp the horse had given him a good feel when he rode him in a training gallop on the course last week.

He said this was a positive sign as the track was vastly different to the ones in Japan -- and a reason for him why other more fancied Japanese runners had fallen short in the Arc.

"Japanese tracks are flat and raced normally on good ground, they favour horses with good acceleration," said Demuro.

"Longchamp on the other hand is tough, it rises and falls and the ground in October is generally softer than in Japan.

"Japanese horses find it tough to adapt but I feel Admire Terra can handle it."

Admire Terra will be trainer Yasuo Tomomichi's third runner in the Arc.

The 63-year-old thinks that although his previous two participants had better race records, Admire Terra has the characteristics required to make history.

"Japan have tried many times and never won it," he said.

"If I am the first to win, it will be a dream fulfilled."

For Tomomichi's fellow trainer Mamoru Ishibashi it is his first tilt at the great prize and Meisho Tabaru arrives with a much more impressive CV.

He has not run since June when he won his second successive Takarazuka Kinen, a Group One contest.

His jockey Yutaka Take, who will ride in his 12th Arc, became at the age of 57 years and two months the oldest rider to win a Group One race in Japan.

Ishibashi said the plan to run in the Arc was hatched with then owner Yoshio Matsumoto after his win in the Takarazuka last year.

Matsumoto died a few months later aged 87 and his son Yoshitaka took over as owner.

However, Ishibashi has honoured his late owner's wishes by running him in the Arc.

"For us it is really important we are here," he said.

"We are a close-knit team and so it is a very emotional moment for us."

T.Wu--ThChM