'His French pedigree seems to be a help' - Shin Emperor delights in Longchamp gallop ahead of Irish Champion Stakes bid

Shin Emperor concluded the major part of his build-up to Saturday's Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes with a reconnaissance gallop at Longchamp, where in a month's time connections hope he can break Japan's duck in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. 

With big-race jockey Ryusei Sakai and trainer Yoshito Yahagi due to arrive in France on Monday evening, the brother to 2020 Arc hero Sottsass breezed around a rain-softened Grande Piste in company with his travelling companion La Familia.

While Japanese racing and breeding is recognised as the equal of any territory the world over, homebred challengers have often struggled to adapt to European conditions in the autumn. However, having been bred in Normandy by Ecurie des Monceaux before his purchase at Arqana by Yahagi for €2,100,000 on behalf of owner Susumu Fujita, the son of Siyouni may turn out to be less vulnerable on that score.

Shin Emperor in the pre-parade ring at Longchamp on Sunday

"I believe he handled the ground well," said assistant trainer Yusaku Oka, who has overseen many of Yahagi's successful overseas raids. 

"He worked on Les Aigles during the week with Cristian Demuro and it was soft ground that day, which he handled well. It’s soft again at Longchamp. His French pedigree seems to be a help when it comes to him working well on this ground." 

Shin Emperor has gone close at Group 1 level on several occasions, having been edged out in the Hopeful Stakes at two, before running on to finish third in the Japanese Derby after taking time to find his stride in the straight.

"Shin Emperor settles very well so we don’t have any kind of issue with distance, and he won a Group 3 over ten furlongs as a two-year-old and ran very well over a mile and a half in the Japanese Derby," said Oka, who was aboard the lead horse in the work at Longchamp.

"We don’t really know which is his preferred distance, but he has the mentality to relax, which means he adapts to both. 

"Physically, he is a totally different horse from the one who was running at two, but whether he has developed again since the Tokyo Derby, it’s very hard to judge. We believe this trip to Europe will bring him along for the future."

Leopardstown chief executive Tim Husbands was on hand at Longchamp to see Shin Emperor work, and is delighted to see Yahagi take up the challenge, five years after the Japanese-trained Deirdre finished fourth behind Magical in the Irish Champion.

"It’s hopefully the successful end to a two-year courtship with Mr Yahagi and his team," said Husbands. "We’ve worked very hard and kept in contact with them to encourage them, so I’m delighted they’ve made the effort to come to Ireland. 

"It’s such an international field, not just that race but the whole festival. It’s being covered by 151 broadcasters globally, which I think shows the increased significance and interest."

Husbands added: "Having a World Pool day for us is very important, it gives us a global standing. The fact we have nine races on Saturday also adds value to the racegoers who are coming." 

Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes (Leopardstown, Saturday)

Coral: 5-4 Economics, 11-4 Auguste Rodin, 6 Los Angeles, 12 Opera Singer, 14 Ghostwriter, Shin Emperor, 16 bar

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