Rusei Sakai, who is challenging for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, showed “confidence in his achievement” and “pride in being the best jockey.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a long-cherished dream of Japanese horsemen. Since the first attempt in 1969, famous horses such as Elcon Dol Pacer, Deep Impact, and Orfevre have tried to reach the top, but have fallen just one step short.

Rusei Sakai, 27, will be challenging for the race on October 6 (local time) with Sin Emperor, a 3-year-old stallion.

Sakai and his trainer, Yoshito Yahagi, and Forever Young (3-year-old stallion), the favorite horse of Susumu Fujita, the owner and representative of Cyber Agent, challenged overseas horse racing in the first half of the year and made a strong impact. This time, the same trio will be aiming for their first feat in Japanese horse racing.

Friday caught up with this young hope of the Japanese horse racing world just before the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. We asked him about his passionate thoughts before his trip to France.

There is a good chance.

–Rusei Sakai: “Last year, you had to travel a lot in and out of the country.

Rusei Sakai: “Last year (754 rides) was incredibly busy, and I thought, ‘There won’t be another year like this. However, when I opened my eyes, I found that I had even more opportunities to ride overseas this year. It’s a real blessing to be a jockey, but it also makes me wonder where I am and what time it is (laughs).

–With Forever Young, he won the Dubai and Saudi Arabian Derby, and ran a blistering third in the Kentucky Derby, which was as good as a win. It has truly been a year of leaps and bounds, with a fourth place finish in the domestic leading position, interspersed with overseas tours.

Rusei Sakai: “I have been working with Mr. Yahagi to become a jockey who is active in the world, so I am still lacking in many areas. However, I have been given really good opportunities. Whether overseas or in Japan, preparing thoroughly for a race is the same. For me, every weekend race and the big races overseas are the same.

–Rusei Sakai: “This will be your first time riding in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but what kind of race is it from your point of view?

Rusei Sakai: “It is the dream of every Japanese horseman, and it is a special race that no one has won yet. I went to France two years ago and three years ago to study there with the hope of one day riding in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. I also watched the race live twice. I have ridden at the Longchamp racecourse myself, so I have a good idea of what to expect. I am really excited. On the other hand, I also feel a sense of responsibility and pressure to represent Japanese horses.

–This year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is said to be a crowded race. In fact, the race is attracting a great deal of attention, with Shin Emperor being pushed to the top of the list of favorites by overseas bookmakers.

Rusei Sakai: “His older brother (Sottsass, a French-bred horse) is a Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe horse. So there is no reason why he is not suited to this stage. He also has a high aptitude for Longchamp’s powerful track. I think his pedigree is also highly regarded there. This year’s race is really crowded, and Shin Emperor has a good chance.”

–What kind of horse do you analyze Shin Emperor as?

Rusei Sakai: “I have the feeling that he is essentially a European horse. It may be correct to say that he has adapted well to Japan’s high-speed tracks. That is the horse’s ability. That’s why he might be able to perform even better in France than he has in the past. If he can show that, I think he has the potential to win …….

Of course, I’m serious about winning.”

-He also ran well in the preliminaries of the Ai Champion S. (GI), finishing third after putting on a show.

Rusei Sakai: “In anticipation of the race, to be honest, the race was still in the process of improvement. The field was strong, and I wondered how far I could go here. I was riding with the image of hoping for a good finish that would lead to the next race, and he stretched out well at the end. Once again, I felt his ability, and it was not a bad race for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

–Rusei Sakai: “What will be the key points for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe?

Rusei Sakai: “I am very concerned about the condition of the track. The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a completely different race when it rains and when it is sunny. I am also concerned about the number of horses and the order of the horses, but I am not sure about …… until I can see the track conditions on the day of the race. We will start to solidify our image from now on. I would like to organize more information after Thursday, when I will be traveling to Japan. I don’t want to have regrets when I look back on it later, so I will do everything I can to prepare for it.

–Rusei Sakai: “What kind of conversations did you have with Susumu Fujita, the owner of the company?

Rusei Sakai: “He is a very busy man, so I haven’t had a chance to talk to him that much. However, I did meet him the night before the races in Dubai and in the United States. Perhaps it will be the same in France. The owner, Mr. Yahagi, the stable staff, and myself have all been preparing well for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. So I think we will probably have a normal talk the day before, not a strategy meeting or anything like that, but the same as we normally do.”

–Finally, please give a few words to your Japanese fans.

Rusei Sakai: “This year, there is only one Japanese-trained horse. I will go into the race with the feeling of representing Japanese horse racing. I am not looking for a good run, but of course I am serious about winning, so please expect a lot from me!　Your support will also give me strength, so please cheer me on!”