Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Tips: Chrono Genesis Profile
Steve Chambers profiles Takashi Saito's Chrono Genesis, who is bidding to become the first Japanese-trained horse to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday afternoon at Longchamp...
Chrono Genesis
- Age: 5
- Races: 13
- Wins: 6
- Trainer: Takashi Saito
- Jockey: Oisin Murphy
- Owner: Sunday Racing Co Ltd
- Notable Race Wins: G1 Shuka Sho (2019), G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2020, 2021), G1 Arima Kinen (2020)
Career Record
Five-year-old Chrono Genesis will attempt to become the first Japanese-trained horse to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday afternoon, and the Takashi Saito-trained raider could well be a notable thorn in the sides of some of the premier European challengers, who head the betting.
Saito has called upon the services of top jockey Oisin Murphy, who is hoping he can finally achieve the feat that Orfevre (twice), Nakayama Festa and El Condor Pasa all failed to do by piloting a Japanese contender to glory in one of the world's greatest Flat races.
Having been seen on the track 13 times during her illustrious career, Chrono Genesis has some top notch form on her CV, and grabbed her first Group 1 win in the Shuka Sho in 2019. She won back-to-back renewals of the Takarazuka Kinen in 2020 and 2021, while in the former of those two years she was a Group 1 winner in the Arima Kinen.
Arguably, the best piece of form to measure her up to the European contenders is the Dubai Sheema Classic form from Meydan in March, where she was narrowly beaten by the John & Thady Gosden-trained Mishriff in the prestigious Group 1 prize. That star has since gone on to win the Juddmonte International at York in tremendous fashion, but was beaten by Adayar in the King George at Ascot earlier in the season.
Heading into this race on the back of a two-and-a-half length win in the abovementioned Takarazuka Kinen, Chrono Genesis is in the form of her life, and is set to put up a bold bid for glory, but can she down the Europeans?
Positives
Multiple Group 1 winner: There have been some legendary middle distance performers trained in Japan in recent times, and Chrono Genesis certainly fits into that bracket, as she has amassed a host of Group 1 wins during her glittering career. It's hard to relate that to the European Group 1 form, but for her to sparkle on the big occasion more than once then she has to be a leading contender.
Trip: Some of her biggest wins have come over 1m 2f and 1m 3f, and having chased home Mishriff in the Dubai Sheema Classic over 1m 4f, then she should have no worries seeing out the Arc trip. She will have to see out every yard of the Longchamp event, if she is to claim glory, but she's shown stamina shouldn't be an issue here.
Negatives
Ground: A winner of a Group 2 on yielding ground, the majority of Chrono Genesis's wins have come on firm or good ground, so were the heavens to open in the days leading up to the Arc, then the Japanese raider could have heavy going to deal with. Having rarely been seen on that surface, it's questionable whether he can perform at his best, so is an obvious negative.
How will Chrono Genesis fare in the 2021 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe?
A fascinating contender in this line-up, Chrono Genesis will be flying the flag for Japan and will attempt to create history at Longchamp. A proven Group 1 winner on home soil, she showed when being narrowly edged out by Mishriff in the Dubai Sheema Classic that she oozes class, but she may just come up short against her European adversaries here, and may have to settle for the minor honours.
Verdict: Exciting performer, who may just struggle to challenge for major honours