Japan's Satono Diamond, Satono Noblesse fail to shine in Arc

Two-time Grade 1 winner Satono Diamond, along with his stablemate Satono Noblesse, failed to live up to the expectations of the Japanese racing fans in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday at Chantilly Racecourse, finishing 15th and 16th, respectively, in a field of 18 horses.

Satono Diamond, winner of the Grade 1 Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) and the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St. Leger) last year, was sent off as the second favorite in the Japanese market, but simply struggled to find his speed on the heavy Chantilly turf. The race was won by the hot favorite and 3-year-old filly, Enable, which dominated the field after hitting the final straight. It was a record-setting fifth Arc title for jockey Lanfranco Dettori.

“Satono Diamond was near his best form, but the track just didn’t suit him,” trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said. “As for Satono Noblesse, he adapted well to the surface here, but the distance was a bit too long for him.”

“The horse was in good condition and was in better shape than he was for his last race,” said Satono Diamond’s jockey Christophe Lemaire. “But, with this track, he didn’t have anything left in the final straight.”

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