Japan and Aidan Obrien King Edward Stakes

Masaaki Matsushima has a dream, as does Yutaka Take. It is the same dream.

Take yearns to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Matsushima yearns to make his friend's dream come true. All this being so, it is safe to say both men will be following the highlight of Royal Ascot's second day with the keenest interest.

It was announced in February that Japanese businessman Matsushima had bought a half-share in Japan, the Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Galileo – naturally – who became a Royal Ascot winner last season when storming to victory in the King Edward VII Stakes. He returns as hot favourite for the royal meeting's most prestigious prize, the Prince of Wales's Stakes.

It is Japan's first aim of the year. The ultimate objective is to realise those twin dreams on October's first Sunday.

Matsushima was at Longchamp when Japan followed up his course-and-distance Grand Prix de Paris success by finishing fourth to Waldgeist. "Japan is one of the best horses in the world – and I really liked him in the Arc," he said in February. Like Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor, his partners in the Ballydoyle star, Matsushima will not be at Ascot. He will presumably want to be at Longchamp. He will presumably want the 51-year-old Take to be there as well.

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