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.