Arc Win Would Have Double Impact For Take
- Thursday, 03 October 2013 02:45
Should Kizuna fulfil a 44-year quest by Japan and win Europe's most prestigious race the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday it would have an added emotional significance, says his jockey Yutaka Take.
For Japan Derby winner Kizuna - one of two fancied Japanese Arc runners with last year's runner-up Orfevre - is seen as part of the process of rebuilding the shattered morale of the Japanese people following the 2011 tsunami and earthquake that hit the north east of the country and left over 18,000 people dead.
His name translated into English as 'ties' or 'bond' was a sentiment his owner Shinji Maeda hoped would prevail among the Japanese people in the wake of the disaster.
Take, who will be riding in his sixth Arc, said winning would bring so much joy to the Japanese people just as Tokyo winning the right to host the 2020 Summer Olympics last month had given the country a huge boost.
"Kizuna is a very special name and very important for the Japanese people," the 44-year-old told AFP.
"If we won the Arc it would bring a lot of pleasure to the Japanese people and give them a lot of encouragement.
"I will ride in this Arc with a very special feeling in my heart."
For Take too there is a feeling of unfinished business and a debt he owes the Japanese people after failing to land the 2006 Arc on odds-on favourite Deep Impact.
"The Arc is a huge goal for me," said Take who if he wins will also bury the European critics who have never been convinced of his ability in the big European races,
"I always hoped to win this glorious race. The result on Deep Impact was not good and since he retired I said to myself I would return on a son of his.
"I have achieved that part of the dream with Kizuna and I am delighted about that now I want to fulfil the other part of the dream and win the Arc.
"Kizuna may not realise he is the son of Deep Impact but I do and it would bring me great joy to win it on him."
