No year-end Arima Kinen is complete without this man. Christophe Lemaire has created many dramas at Nakayama, including 2005 with Heart's Cry, which was the first horse to beat Deep Impact. Many horses eagerly await the partnership of this famous jockey, and this year he will be paired with Kikuka Sho winner, Urban Chic. With the lively three-year-old, he has his sights firmly set on beating Do Deuce. We caught up with him as he prepared for the big race.

Interviewer - You will be riding Kikuka Sho's Urban Chic this year. Take a look back at his last race.

Jockey Lemaire - I was confident he would win the Kikuka Sho. It was a very good race. I was able to travel smoothly, and he became a G1 horse.

Interviewer - You have won two races together, what do you think of his current form?

Jockey Lemaire - He is three years old, so I think it will be difficult for him to compete with older horses. He needs to improve, but he has the ability. I think he is getting stronger with every race, so he has a chance. He has improved even more since the autumn. He has become easier to ride and I feel he has matured.

Interviewer - What about the Nakayama track?

Jockey Lemaire - I like the fact that he has experience of Nakayama. He has stamina and I think the 2500 metre distance is just right for him.

Interviewer - What do you think of Do Deuce?

Jockey Lemaire - He's a great horse and will be hard to beat. Will he run ahead of Do Deuce? Urban Chic is also a horse that runs from behind in the pack. I don't have an idea of the race yet, but I think he will run close with Do Deuce. Do Deuce is my main rival.

Interviewer - You have won the Arima Kinen three times, including with three-year-old colt, Satono Diamond.

Jockey Lemaire - It's a special race and it takes a tough horse to win as a three-year-old, like Satono Diamond did in 2016. I think Urban Chic is also a good enough horse to win the Arima Kinen. The Kikuka Sho also goes around twice, so we have the same rhythm.

Interviewer - What else will be important in the race?

Jockey Lemaire - The most important thing is the gate. Last year, I had the outermost gate, but I got a good start and was able to go inside. If I get the outermost gate, we'll have to race on the outside track, which will be very difficult for me. This year, I am waiting to see what kind of gate we get in the lottery. I hope for an inside gate.

Interviewer - Looking back on your own year.

Jockey Lemaire - It's still early. It's too early to tell (laughs). I was injured in Dubai. I fell off a horse and broke my collarbone and my ribs. I also punctured my lung and was out for about a month. I took the summer off...but I am still leading. If I keep this up, it will be the seventh time I have been the leading jockey, right? I am very happy.

I missed the Equinox, it became difficult to win the G1 races, but I won the Japanese Oaks and the Shuka Sho with Cervinia, and I also had a lot of good horses to ride. So it was a good year. I am grateful. Now all I want is a good result in Arima Kinen and maybe even in the Hopeful Stakes.