Japanese Star Byzantine Dream Sets Sights High After Prix Foy Victory

With Oisin Murphy aboard, the chestnut, who gained fame racing in Saudi Arabia, is now set to run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe

Prix Foy: Japan’s Hope for October / FRANCE-GALLOP

PARIS, Francia (Special for Turf Diario).- Not initially among the favorites, Japanese colt Byzantine Dream (Epiphaneia) emerged as the star on Sunday, powering to victory in the Qatar Prix Foy (G2, 2400 m, good-to-soft turf) at ParisLongchamp. The win not only added a prestigious Group 2 to his résumé but also secured a wild card for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) on Oct. 5.

Ridden by Oisin Murphy, Tomoyasu Sakaguchi’s charge bided his time off the early pace set by Mont St Michel(Galileo) and Los Angeles (Camelot). In the stretch, the French contender Sosie (Sea The Stars) seemed in control, but Byzantine Dream unleashed a decisive surge in the final meters, taking command without needing a single crack of the whip to win by half a length. Almaqam (Lope de Vega) completed the trifecta, relegating a game Los Angeles.

Sakaguchi was candid: “He wasn’t at his peak today; this was just a prep race. We want him perfect for the Arc.” Murphy shared the excitement: “He’s an incredible horse. If the ground stays firm, he’ll have a great chance.”

Japan has a storied history in the Prix Foy, with memorable champions such as Orfèvre (Stay Gold), Deep Bond(Kizuna), and the unforgettable El Condor Pasa (Kingmambo). Now, Byzantine Dream aims to continue that tradition and give Japan the victory in the Arc that has eluded it for decades.