Croix du Nord, winner of the June 1 Japanese Derby (G1), and Byzantine Dream, second-place finisher in the May 4 Tenno Sho Spring (G1), were shipped from Narita Airport Aug. 29 and arrived at Le Bourget Airport in France the next evening.
This is the first international trip for Kitasan Black's Croix du Nord, while Epiphaneia's Byzantine Dream has been to Saudi Arabia and won the Red Sea Turf (G2T) Feb. 23.
Both of them hold an entry for the Prix de I'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at Longchamp Oct. 5. While Byzantine Dream will prep in the Prix Foy (G2) at Longchamp Sept. 7, Croix du Nord is entered in the Prix Prince du d'Orange (G3) at Longchamp Sept. 14. The Prince du d'Orange is open for older horses for the first time in many years and the Japanese classic winner may face Calandagan, winner of the Grand Prix Saint-Cloud (G1) and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1).
Croix de Nord and Byzantine Dream are accommodated at Satoshi Kobayashi's stable at Chantilly where they are joined by Alohi Alii, who has been there since the end of July and won the Guillaume d'Ornano (G2) at Deauville Aug. 16.
The Japanese quartet in Prix de I'Arc de Triomphe is completed by Shin Emperor, who will prep in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown Sept. 13.
