Almond Eye

Christophe Lemaire has hailed Japanese superstar Almond Eye as a "horse of a lifetime" and believes she can do for him what Winx has done for Australian jockey Hugh Bowman.

Almond Eye's first step on the road to Longchamp, where she will bid to end Japan's well-publicised Arc hoodoo, comes in the Dubai Turf at Meydan on Saturday and connections have unwavering faith the filly has what it takes to go down as a true great.

Lemaire said: "She can become a horse of a lifetime for me. Like Winx is for Hugh Bowman, Sea The Stars was for Mick Kinane, or Zenyatta was for Mike Smith. I feel blessed to ride her.

"I think all racing lovers feel she has something special and that she can become unique in the sport's history – that's why so many people are supporting her."

Almond Eye captured the imagination of racegoers in Japan by winning the Fillies' Triple Crown before shattering the course record in the Japan Cup last time. Ominously for her rivals Lemaire believes there is even more to come.

He said: "She's already shown a lot of class but we don't yet know her limits. Every time we give her a challenge she does it well. She was especially impressive in the third leg of the Triple Crown. There was a short straight and she was towards the rear, but down the straight she was just unbelievable.

"The next challenge was against older horses and males [in the Japan Cup] but she won quite easily and was not exhausted after passing the winning post."

That devastating Japan Cup success was achieved over a mile and a half but Lemaire does not anticipate the drop in trip to nine furlongs in Saturday's Dubai Turf being an issue.

He said: "I have no fear over the trip. She's won over a mile, ten furlongs and a mile and a half. Every time she has shown the same acceleration and class.

"I think nine furlongs will be a good trip for her, especially for a first run this year as she may be a little bit fresh."

Lemaire was on Wednesday reunited with Almond Eye when putting her through her paces on the turf course, and was pleased with the feel she gave him.

The jockey added: "She worked very well as usual. She was very relaxed and focused. Her footwork was good and she felt comfortable on the track. The cushion was good, not too firm."

A large media contingent from Japan has accompanied Almond Eye to Meydan and the buzz surrounding the filly will only grow if she dazzles on the international stage for the first time.

Trainer Sakae Kunieda has tried to avoid making firm commitments beyond the Dubai Turf – a trip to York's Ebor meeting is being considered – but could not deny the Arc was the big target.

Despite a number of agonising near-misses, most notably with Orfevre in 2012, no horse trained in Japan has ever won the Arc. Frenchman Lemaire has also never won the race, but has gone close too, notably when runner-up on Pride in 2006.

The rider hopes Almond Eye can fulfil a dream for him and a nation at Longchamp on the first Sunday in October.

He said: "The Japanese fans will be very excited to see Almond Eye run in the Arc. A Japanese horse has not won the race yet so they will be really looking forward to cheering a victory.

"As a French jockey I dream of winning the Arc. This is the race for us and winning with a Japanese horse would be magic. I really want to bring this victory to Japan."