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JAPAN’S wait for their first Arc winner may be finally coming to an end thanks to BYZANTINE DREAM.
He stormed to glory in the Prix Foy at the weekend and announced himself as the value bet for Europe’s richest race.
Oisin Murphy produced a trademark cool ride, anchoring the four-year-old at the back before unleashing him down the centre of the track.
In a matter of strides he swept past Sosie and Almaqam, proving beyond doubt he stays the mile and a half and cut in the ground holds no fears.
The bookies didn’t hang around.
Byzantine Dream was a 25-1 shot on Sunday morning.
By the time punters left Longchamp he was slashed into 12s.
That still looks a fair price to me.
He has winning form over 1m7f but doesn’t lack speed and the time was good – especially for the closing stages which suggests he has plenty of class.
Japan have sent champions to tackle the Arc before – El Condor Pasa found only the mighty Montjeu too good, the legendary Deep Impact was given a shocking ride, Orfevre was unlucky on his first shot at the race and Nakayama Festa was a whisker away – but the hoodoo remains.
Byzantine Dream’s impressive win, on ground edging towards soft, suggests history could be about to change.
At double-figure odds he’s value.
He’s battle-hardened, he stays, and he looks the type to keep finding when others cry enough up the Longchamp straight.
If rain arrives before October 5 – as it normally does – his price could shorten still.
It’s a huge plus Murphy will be in the saddle again next month.
One of the main reasons Japan have yet to win an Arc is the different style of their jockeys who seem to lack that power in a finish European racing needs.
The Arc market leaders suddenly don’t look so secure.
Minnie Hauk still heads the betting at around 4-1 and brings top-class Oaks form.
She’s no slow boat by any sensible standards and could well be underestimated but she’s short enough.
Aventure is the same price and brings arguably the strongest form thanks to winning the Vermeille on Sunday without really breaking sweat.
She was second last year and has every chance of making the frame again.
Then there’s Kalpana.
Once favourite, she was found out at Kempton in Saturday’s September Stakes and has drifted to 12-1.
You should forgive any horse one bad day but questions remain about whether she truly has the class for Longchamp when the chips are down.
At this stage an each-way squeak is all she has to offer.
Sosie, runner-up in the Foy, deserves respect.
He’s won twice at Longchamp and showed again that the track brings out his best.
At around 11-1 he’s a solid each-way alternative, though it’s hard to escape the feeling he was simply outgunned by Byzantine Dream when it mattered.
He was fourth in the Arc last year and that looks about his mark.
Los Angeles did nothing in the race to suggest he’ll better last year’s third should he have another go at the big race.
Whirl has plenty of questions to answer after her disappointing last in the Vermeille.
She was sent off the 1-2 favourite and led into the final furlong before going out like a light.
That was a real head-scratcher of an effort given she likes soft ground and went well when second in the Oaks.
If you keep the faith, there’s 25s on offer but she must be a doubtful Arc runner after this.
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