December 20, 2024

In his previous race, the Kikuka Sho, Urban Chic's lead changed hands frequently in a unique race. He settled in the back, gradually advanced from the front straight, and then moved out to the outside at the fourth corner to break away. "Everything went according to plan. This horse had a tendency to bite the bit when he was younger, but I was able to create a wall in front of him and teach him how to race properly. The 3000m at Kyoto Racecourse has six corners, so it's similar to Nakayama Racecourse in some ways. Of course, it's tighter than Kyoto Racecourse and the final straight is shorter, but I won't be changing my strategy too much when I ride Urban Chic. I always prioritize the horse's rhythm. I'm particularly interested in Doudeuce's movements," he said, seemingly keeping a close eye on rival horses. Christophe reaffirmed his priorities: letting each horse run at a rhythm that suits them. Furthermore, his stamina, having completed the 3000m course, will likely be an added advantage.
"Of the 17 times you have ridden, which Arima Kinen race has left the biggest impression on you?" I asked. Christophe, who usually answers quickly, seemed to think carefully, saying "Hmm, that's difficult." Of the three horses Christophe mentioned, I'd like to introduce them here, in order of oldest to newest: "Eishin Flash is one of my most memorable horses. He had an outstanding response from the third corner to the fourth corner. He was so close to the horse in front that I instinctively called out to the jockey in front of him. I was focused on winning as I came into the corner, so that race left a strong impression on me." That year he came in second, just three-quarters of a length behind Orfevre.

"Ocean Blue ran a good race. He had won the previous Kincho Sho, and the Ikee Stable team sent him to the Arima Kinen in peak condition. He wasn't a favorite, but his good condition translated into good results, and I was surprised by how he ran." That year, he finished second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Gold Ship. "The last horse I chose was Queen's Ring. I chose from two or three horses to ride for that year's Arima Kinen. When I chose Queen's Ring, my agent even asked me, 'Are you sure?' I was confident, so I'm glad I was able to prove it with the results." Queen's Ring finished second, 1 1/2 lengths behind Kitasan Black. What these three horses have in common is that they all lost to the champion of that year. Christophe said, "These horses ran at full speed, and ultimately lost to strong horses, so I was satisfied with their performances." It's also interesting that my question wasn't, "Which Arima Kinen race left the biggest impression on you?" I felt that he also values ​​races other than those won by Heart's Cry, Satono Diamond, and Equinox.

Did you all enjoy this unexpected answer? An English page has been launched on the CL by C. Lemaire brand homepage, allowing overseas customers to purchase directly from the site. Christophe said, "As I announced in a previous blog, the music project is progressing smoothly. With the launch of the English site, I would like to promote the appeal of horse racing from various angles outside of Japan." Why not guess the winner of the Arima Kinen and give a CL by C. Lemaire product as a gift to someone who has helped you at the end of the year? On the day of the Arima Kinen, I also plan to visit Nakayama Racecourse and enjoy the exciting races!