Can Croix du Nord open the door to the Arc, a prize that has eluded Japanese horses?
Thursday, 02 October, 2025 19:59
Croix du Nord (Photo: Yuki Shimono)
On October 5th, Croix du Nord will contest the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Paris-Longchamp. No Japanese-trained horse has ever won Europe's most prestigious race, and the Japanese Derby winner now bids to carry national pride into battle.
By Kitasan Black out of Rising Cross, with Cape Cross as the damsire, and bred by Northern Farm in Abira, Hokkaido, Croix du Nord boasts an almost flawless record of 6 starts, 5 wins, and 1 second. His four graded victories include the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes, the G1 Hopeful Stakes, the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), and most recently the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange.
In that latest start, he held off a late surge from Daryz to score his first overseas graded win. Despite it being his first race abroad, he sat fourth through the trip and stuck to his trademark style of pressing forward and controlling the pace before digging in for victory.
His only defeat came in this spring's Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), where, despite racing prominently, he was collared in the stretch by Museum Mile and had to settle for second. That race suggests his most likely vulnerability could be against rivals with a sharper late kick.
Still, his consistency and composure in running are remarkable, and with only six career starts, he remains open to further progress. Challenges remain-such as coping with potential pacemakers sent by rival connections-but his ability to handle testing European turf and undulating tracks was proven in his last run. Expectations are high that Croix du Nord can shoulder Japan's long-held dream and deliver a historic breakthrough in the Arc.
By Kitasan Black out of Rising Cross, with Cape Cross as the damsire, and bred by Northern Farm in Abira, Hokkaido, Croix du Nord boasts an almost flawless record of 6 starts, 5 wins, and 1 second. His four graded victories include the G3 Tokyo Sports Hai Nisai Stakes, the G1 Hopeful Stakes, the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), and most recently the G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange.
In that latest start, he held off a late surge from Daryz to score his first overseas graded win. Despite it being his first race abroad, he sat fourth through the trip and stuck to his trademark style of pressing forward and controlling the pace before digging in for victory.
His only defeat came in this spring's Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), where, despite racing prominently, he was collared in the stretch by Museum Mile and had to settle for second. That race suggests his most likely vulnerability could be against rivals with a sharper late kick.
Still, his consistency and composure in running are remarkable, and with only six career starts, he remains open to further progress. Challenges remain-such as coping with potential pacemakers sent by rival connections-but his ability to handle testing European turf and undulating tracks was proven in his last run. Expectations are high that Croix du Nord can shoulder Japan's long-held dream and deliver a historic breakthrough in the Arc.