April 25, 2025

Lemaire has previously competed in this race with Crown Pride and Delmasotogake, and this will be his third time. "I am extremely honored to be able to compete again with a Japanese-trained horse. This race is one of the world's biggest races, alongside the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, the Epsom Derby and the Melbourne Cup," he commented. His partner this time will be Admire Daytona. In his previous race, the UAE Derby, he faced a tough race in which he was constantly under pressure from the outside, but was overtaken in the straight before coming back to win. "I felt a strong potential," he said.

He also touched on the growth of Japanese horse racing, saying, "Just like Forever Young's strong performance last year, I think we're close to seeing a Japanese horse win. The quality of the dirt sand in America and Japan is completely different, but Japan is also actively incorporating American bloodlines, so this dream is getting closer." He analyzed, "At Churchill Downs, the stands and the course are close together, so the cheers of the spectators resonate very loudly. It's important that both the horse and rider remain calm and not get overwhelmed by that unique atmosphere." Furthermore, attention will be focused on Luxor Cafe, who has faced off against him before in Japan, and it will be interesting to see how jockey Joao Moreira will ride. He is also aware of his rival, saying, "This is a horse and jockey who are on a roll right now."
Between trips to the US and Australia, he has been riding in Japan for two weeks. Last week, he won the Antares Stakes with Mickey Fight in a spectacular fashion. "He is trained by Tanapaku Sensei (Tanaka Hiroyasu), and I have been riding him in training at Miho. He has won five of his eight races so far, and even in the races he has lost, he has not shown any major weaknesses, running very consistently. In this race, he strained a little during the race due to the influence of the horses on the inside, but it seems like he has even more room to improve. I am looking forward to the upcoming Teio Sho," he said.

On her day off, she visited the Osaka Kansai Expo. "There was so much to see that it was impossible to see everything in one day. What was particularly impressive was the exhibits of France's leading luxury brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Celine, and Dior. It was a space where you could really feel the beauty of 'French elegance,'" she said, sharing her impressions. "If you have the chance to visit, be sure to check out the France pavilion. It's a wonderful space filled with craftsmanship and aesthetic sense," she added, recommending it to her fans.

He also shared an anecdote, saying, "The day was April 15th, which is the birthday of Heart's Cry, so I wore the newly released 'NIGHT HEART' T-shirt from my brand!" In between trips and riding, Christophe is always keen to try new experiences. Perhaps his flexible sensibility and inquisitiveness are what lead to his performance on the stage of horse racing.