Japanese jockey Yutaka Take is set to ride Al Riffa in this season's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, according to reports from the Japanese media. Al Riffa's part-owner, Masaaki Matsushima, is keen to see the legendary jockey achieve victory in Europe's premier middle-distance race.

Matsushima has expressed that winning the Arc with Take has always been his dream. Earlier this year, he joined the ownership syndicate for the Wootton Bassett colt and was briefly a registered part-owner.

At 55, Take was originally scheduled to ride Al Riffa in the Grosser Preis von Berlin at Hoppegarten on Sunday but was unable to finalize the arrangements in time. Instead, regular rider Dylan Browne McMonagle stepped in, guiding the four-year-old to an impressive victory in his first race over a mile and a half.

Trained by Joseph O'Brien, Al Riffa is currently listed as a 12-1 shot for the Arc, set to take place at Longchamp on October 6.

Speaking before Sunday's race, Take told NetKeiba: "I received an offer to ride in the Grosser Preis von Berlin, but the notice was too short. If all goes well, we're targeting the Arc.

"There's also talk of participating in a trial race beforehand, which excites me. It's a significant opportunity, and I'm really looking forward to it."

Take, Japan's most successful jockey, has won over 100 top-level races since beginning his career in 1987. His ambition to win the Arc has kept him in the saddle, and this will be his 11th attempt at the race. He previously rode Do Deuce, owned by Matsushima's Kieffers Co Ltd, who finished down the field in the Arc two years ago.

Take has been closely following Al Riffa's form, describing the horse's second-place finish to City Of Troy in the Eclipse as "impressive."

Christophe Soumillon rode Al Riffa last August, finishing three-quarters of a length behind eventual Arc winner Ace Impact in the Prix Guillaume d'Ornano. John Velazquez was aboard when Al Riffa finished sixth in the Manhattan Stakes at Saratoga.

The Prix de l'Arc De Triomphe is a Breeders' Cup challenge series race with the winner automatically allowed to compete in the Longines Turf.