JAPAN strengthened its hand for next month’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as the Japanese Derby winner Croix Du Nord narrowly denied Daryz in the Group 3 Prix du Prince d’Orange at ParisLongchamp last Sunday.

Japanese raiders have suffered more than their fair share of heartbreak in Europe’s premier middle-distance contest over the years, with the likes of El Condor Pasa, Deep Impact and Orfevre all coming close without managing to claim victory.

However, Byzantine Dream and Alohi Alii both look likely contenders having won the Prix Foy and Prix Guillaume d’Ornano respectively on French soil in recent weeks and now Croix Du Nord has thrown his hat into the ring, with the big day just over two weeks away.

Making his first appearance since winning the Japanese Derby in early June, the son of Kitasan Black was a hot favourite and was produced to lead inside the final two furlongs.

Francis-Henri Graffard’s Daryz, unbeaten in four previous starts in France before disappointing in the Juddmonte International at York, came at the Japanese challenger fast and late as the post loomed, but Croix Du Nord, ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, had his head in front where it mattered. Nahraan was close-up in third for John and Thady Gosden. The going was officially very soft but could still be softer come Arc time,

Francis-Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan appeared to have good chances in the other two group races on the card and they landed the Group 3 Prix du Pin over seven furlongs with the favourite Roshvar. Mickael Barzalona partnered the four-year-old Siyouni gelding to a half length win over Karl Burke’s Poet Master.

The stable’s filly Rayevka went off favourite for the five-furlong Group 3 Prix du Petit Couvert but she found Monteille, trained by Mario Baratti, three-quarters of a length too good under Cristian Demuro.