WHATEVER you back in today’s Irish Champion Stakes, you must applaud the connections of Deirdre for bringing their filly from Japan to take on some of the best in Europe.

In the aftermath of the filly’s Nassau Stakes success at Glorious Goodwood, Yoshi Hashida – son of trainer Mitsuru Hashida and his assistant – gave some excellent media interviews in fluent English.

As you would expect from a Japanese visitor, Yoshi was very gracious and humble in victory. Soon afterwards it was confirmed that Deirdre would come to Leopardstown and The Irish Field made contact with Yoshi.

He agreed to be a guest on our Champions Weekend podcast and delighted listeners with his use of the Irish language and surprised them with his knowledge of Gaelic football!

But Yoshi was not finished yet. He is very aware of Ireland’s rich racing heritage and, given his filly’s Irish name, he was moved to write the following words:

The day at Goodwood was surely Glorious.

I witnessed pure beauty that day.

A view never seen before, spread out like forever.

My first time to understand the real meaning of the word glorious.

Our horse, named Deirdre after the tragic heroine in Irish myth, is a grand and incredibly tough mare who understands the world as if she can take it all in.The path she has walked deepens the footsteps taken by Japanese horsemen overseas over many years.

“It was like a video game,” some Japanese said.

I cannot say if it’s a video game.

But it has been a totally unbelievable experience.

All negative thoughts disappear when she is in front.

Jealousy, discrimination, any man-made problems, are all shattered by her confident presence.

Ireland is not only the home of the thoroughbred, it is also where many mythological figures were created.

Listening to Celtic music, perhaps while sipping Irish whiskey, we can feel the presence of those legends watching over us.

Believe me, Deirdre will perceive them once she lands on Irish soil.

At that moment we will know our place as her apostles.

With maximum respect to all the Irish people, their horses and legends.