Leading Japanese owner Koji Maeda of North Hills is planning a European raid for last weekend's GI Tenno Sho runner-up Deep Bond (Jpn}) (Kizuna {Jpn}).
The 4-year-old, who won the GII Hanshin Daishoten in March for trainer Ryuji Okubu, will be campaigned with the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe as his major target, with the aim of running in the G2 Qatar Prix Foy in the build up.
Maeda said, “It was vey brave effort from Deep Bond in the Tenno Sho, which is very tough race. While it was very quick ground at Hanshin on Sunday, the colt is by Kizuna, who finished fourth in Arc in 2013, and he can act on softish ground as well so I think he is a suitable horse to send France in the autumn.”
Deep Bond may not be the only representative of the Maeda family with France's most prestigious race on his radar. The owner also hopes that his G3 Prix Belle de Nuit winner Believe In Love (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) can continue her progression from a successful 2020 campaign which saw her win five of her nine starts and finish third in the G2 Park Hill S.
He added of the 4-year-old, who is trained in Newmarket by Roger Varian,” I hope the filly by Make Believe will progress well to become good enough to be an Arc contender as well.”
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