Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: Meet the world’s richest jockey you’ve probably never heard of who’s back to win huge race
WORLD’S richest jockey Yutaka Take is aiming for glory at this weekend’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The Japanese veteran, 55, is said to have earned around £700million in prize money during his storied career.
While money is no object, the man described as having “god-like” status back in Japan would love nothing more than to claim victory in Paris on Sunday.
Take will be riding Al Riffa at Longchamp, a horse previously ridden by Irishman Dylan Browne McMonagle – who at 21 is 34 years his junior.
An ownership change has afforded Take the opportunity to ride Al Riffa, one that he doesn’t intend to waste.
Despite several previous attempts, Take has never won France’s most prestigious race.
But this weekend he hopes to do just that – and become the first Japanese to ever win the Arc.
Earlier this week, Paddy Power spokesperson Paul Binfield said: “Al Riffa has attracted some cash on the back of Joseph O’Brien having legendary Japanese pilot Yutaka Take come into his Kilkenny nerve centre last week to get a feel of the Eclipse runner-up ahead of Sunday’s European middle-distance showpiece.”
At the time, Al Riffa was given 11-1 odds of triumphing.
Take may not be well known in the UK, but he comes from an incredible family of jockeys in Japan.
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His dad, Kunihiko, was a jockey nicknamed “the wizard of his turf”.
While his brother, Koshiro, was also a jockey, although he now works as a trainer.
Take’s amazing career began in 1987, when he rode an astonishing 69 winners as a rookie.
He has consistently been among Japan’s best riders, but has not had so much success in Europe.
His biggest win on UK soil came all the way back in 2000, when he won the July Cup aboard Agnes World.
During his prime, Take was given pin-up status in Japan, enjoying the same level of fame as some pop stars.
In 1995, at the height of his stardom, he even married actress Ryoko Sano.
‘ALMOST A GOD’
Back in 2006, expert of Japanese racing Jane George explained Take’s commercial success while speaking to The Guardian.
She said: “He is almost a god over there.
“A lot of the jockeys in Japan have fan clubs, but he is the only one whose face will be held up on posters all around the paddock.
“The average age of racegoers in Japan is quite young, and there are plenty of good jockeys, but he is still the pin-up.
“It’s like pop-star status, and since he married Sano Ryoko, they are like a Golden Couple.
“He is the only jockey that frequently appears on TV shows, and he always looks good, like a pop star, and he is very relaxed, very polite, always trying to be precise when he answers a question and trying to entertain people.”
‘SO FORTUNATE’
At 55, Take remains in great physical condition, and will hope to roll back the years at the Arc this weekend.
Explaining his longevity after more than 30 years in racing, he said: “My first thing is just enjoyment, enjoy my career being a jockey.
“I am so fortunate that I don’t have to struggle with the weight or anything. Those are two things.
“The third one would be less stress. I try not to have stress from a relationship or whatever it might be.
“I do training and conditioning almost every day. Whenever I have no races, I go to the gym.”
With his rider possessing that kind of dedication, perhaps Al Riffa could be a winner this weekend.