October 14, 2025

The winner was Michael Barzalona, a long-time friend of Lemaire's. He has previously traveled to the JRA with a short-term license. After the race, Lemaire expressed his joy as if it were his own, saying, "He is a talented jockey, and I know that he has been serious about racing since he was young. The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a dream race for French jockeys. He still seemed unable to believe he had won."

After the race, the two shared a meal in Paris and shared their friendship. "We were very close and treated each other like brothers. I know how difficult it is to win the world's most prestigious race like the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and how special the feeling is when you win. I experienced the same feelings when I won a big race in Japan. That's why I wanted to truly celebrate his victory," he said.

The winning horse, Daliz, was owned by His Highness the Aga Khan, with whom Lemaire once had an exclusive contract. The horse's traditional green and red livery shone brightly on the French turf. "Given that His Highness passed away earlier this year, I believe this victory had great significance for our team," jockey Lemaire said quietly.

Lemaire won seven races in the three days since returning to Japan. The most impressive performances were those of Almond Eye's son, Alon's Rod, and Equinox's full sister, Exceed. He had this to say about Alon's Rod: "I was a bit worried about how much he'd recovered since his last race, but I felt like he could move from the warm-up. It took him a little while to get into gear, but he showed great speed all the way to the end. His mother, Almond Eye, used the Tokyo course as her backyard (laughs). This course suits him, too." Exceed overtook him with a finishing kick of 33.4 seconds over the last three furlongs. "He still showed his youth in the race, but he still won on ability alone. He's definitely inherited the good qualities of Kitasan Black. I look forward to watching him grow even more in the future. Of course, I'm looking forward to seeing him in the classics, but first, it's important for him to make the necessary steps safely," he said calmly.

This weekend is the Shuka Sho (Kyoto, 2000m turf). Lemaire rode Embroidery at the Miho Training Center last week to make final preparations. Trainer Mori Issei, who manages the horse, did not give him any special instructions, saying "I know this horse very well," showing his high level of trust in the horse. "The feeling when I sat on her was clearly better than before the Oaks in the spring. In the Oaks, I tried to exert a little too much force, and the race started to move just as she got her breath back. This time, the distance is shorter, so I think my past experience will work to my advantage."

At the end of the interview, jockey Lemaire revealed with a smile:
"I got to touch the Barcelona trophy. At that moment, I felt like something was starting to move inside me again."

The friendship and excitement I felt on the night of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
With that feeling in his heart, his next challenge - a new journey towards Longchamp next year - has already begun.

He answered questions from readers who submitted them to the social media project "#AskLemaire."

Question (Oguri Cap):
I heard that the CL by C. Lemaire store is having a pre-opening before it opens to the public. I've visited the pop-up before, but what's the atmosphere like at the permanent store?

Jockey Lemaire:
We created the boutique and cafe because we wanted to bring the world of horse racing closer to people through fashion. We've recreated an actual jockey room inside the store, allowing fans to experience the atmosphere behind the scenes that they don't normally get to see. Not only can you touch the racing uniforms and jockey pants and feel the lightness of the fabric, but we also have on display equipment used in races, such as helmets and boots. The opening of this boutique marks a new step for the brand. We would be thrilled if many horse racing fans would come and visit and give us their thoughts and feedback.

*Please note that pre-opening reservations are only available to customers who have previously made online purchases. Details were already announced in the newsletter sent out on October 10th.
The grand opening to the public will be on Thursday, November 6th.