Hello everyone.
Many of you may have recently attended the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in France. This year's winning horse was Britain's Blue Stocking. Shin Emperor from the Yahagi stable also competed from Japan, and jockey Yutaka Take's ride on Ireland's Al Rifah also made headlines. The race was broadcast live on television and the internet, and a public viewing was held at Tokyo Racecourse, creating a very exciting atmosphere. I watched the race from home, but Christophe also returned from Tokyo Racecourse to watch the race. "I've watched every race at Longchamp, including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and it's exciting to see all the different riding techniques. During the warm-up laps at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, number 7, Blue Stocking, looked calm and in good shape, so my wife Barbara and I were talking about how this horse might win. As expected, number 7, Blue Stocking, won in a spectacular fashion," he said, clearly having carefully assessed the horses' condition.
Many of you may have recently attended the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in France. This year's winning horse was Britain's Blue Stocking. Shin Emperor from the Yahagi stable also competed from Japan, and jockey Yutaka Take's ride on Ireland's Al Rifah also made headlines. The race was broadcast live on television and the internet, and a public viewing was held at Tokyo Racecourse, creating a very exciting atmosphere. I watched the race from home, but Christophe also returned from Tokyo Racecourse to watch the race. "I've watched every race at Longchamp, including the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and it's exciting to see all the different riding techniques. During the warm-up laps at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, number 7, Blue Stocking, looked calm and in good shape, so my wife Barbara and I were talking about how this horse might win. As expected, number 7, Blue Stocking, won in a spectacular fashion," he said, clearly having carefully assessed the horses' condition.
Shin Emperor took a front-running position from the start, but when he moved to the outside in the straight, he lacked the power to extend. "Sakai ran the race well, but the rain made the track very heavy, and the local jockey also mentioned the track's weight in an interview. The conditions may have been a little tough for a Japanese horse," Sakai said, reflecting on the reason for his defeat. Regarding the winner, Blue Stocking, he praised the horse and its jockey, saying, "In his previous race, the Prix Vermeille, he took the lead but was overtaken by the second-place horse, but then recovered to win. It was very impressive. Young jockey Ryan has earned the trust of Juddmonte Farm, famous for Enable, and it was wonderful to see him confidently lead the horse to victory even under pressure."
When asked about last week's Mainichi Okan race, he said, "Sixpence showed good legs at the end. It took him a while to get into gear, but winning against older horses after a break confirmed his high potential. The Derby distance seemed a little long, but I think a distance of 1800 to 2000 meters is best for this horse." After the race, he smiled and said, "It seems to be a tradition for the winning jockey to wear the crown in the winner's circle." When asked about other memorable races, he said, "Bold Zone is a good horse, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does next. Galdaia, who won the maiden race, didn't stop even after the race was over and ran all the way to the third corner." He also shared an anecdote from his eight wins over the weekend.
This weekend's G1 race is the Shuka Sho, held at Kyoto Racecourse. Christophe will be partnering with Cervinia, with whom he won the Oaks. "I'm not planning on riding in training at Miho this time, but the staff at Kimura Stables always make sure the horses are in good condition, so I trust them with their preparations. Cervinia's strength is her maneuverability, and she can race from any position. I'll plan my strategy based on the track conditions on the day and the gate positions of the opposing horses," he said, expressing his enthusiasm for the Shuka Sho.
I'd also like to share a story about my visit to the racecourse on the day of the Kyoto Daishoten. I entered the general stands to show Franco da Silva, a jockey based in Korea, around the track. Franco had previously raced with Andrea Starke, a jockey visiting Japan from Germany, so when I went near the winner's circle with him, many fans came up to me and greeted me. They offered encouraging words, saying things like, "We read your blog" and "We follow your posts on social media." I was also delighted to see people cheering on the race wearing "CL by C. Lemaire" brand shirts. I'd also like to thank brand follower Goto and photographer Takahashi, who always provide their own photos for my blog. I hope to continue cherishing my connections with everyone through horse racing and the brand.
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藤井勘一郎
こんにちは、藤井勘一郎です。このたび『CL by C.ルメール』のホームページでクリストフ・ルメール騎手のブログを担当させていただく事となりました。毎週金曜日、私からの視線でルメール騎手の魅力や競馬の話、そして『CL by C.ルメール』に対しての情熱を書いていくつもりです。文章を書くことは私にとって新しいチャレンジですが、引き受けたからには皆さんにも楽しく読んでもらえるように頑張ります。よろしくお願いします！
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