(24th Dec 13)

ORFEVRE(JPN) won G1/Arima Kinen by eight lengths

A crowd of 124,782 witnessed the true ability of Orfevre(JPN), 5-y-o Horse by Stay Gold, at Nakayama Racecourse on December 22nd, when the Triple Crown winner in 2011 won G1/Arima Kinen, the year-end championship race in Japan, by eight lengths. It was the final start before retirement for Orfevre and might be the best performance in his 21 starts.
Orfevre is bred by Shadai Corporation's Shiraoi Farm and the syndication for the full brother to Dream Journey, winner of three G1s including G1/Arima Kinen in 2009, was organized through Sunday Racing Club when he was yearling for the total value of 60,000,000yen.
Orfevre's CV is illustrious. Trained by Yasutoshi Ikee at Ritto, he swept all three legs of Triple Crown at 3. In addition in Japan, he won G1/Arima Kinen in 2011 and 2013, and G1/Takarazuka Kinen in 2012. And in France, Orfevre completed the back-to-back victory of G2/Prix Foy, was runner-up to Solemia in the G1/Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at 4, and finished second again in the same race at 5, when he was beaten by Treve.
Orfevre won 12 races from 21 starts, and earned 1,344,084,000yen in Japan and 2,159,880eur in France.
Orfevre will start his stud duty at Shadai Stallion Station in 2014, and his first crop will reach at the racing age in 2017. It is very likely that the catalogue of JRHA Select Sale in 2015 will feature the first crop by Orfevre.

(2nd Oct 13)

KIZUNA(JPN) and ORFEVRE(JPN) in the quality field of Arc

Big day for Japan is coming soon, as both of Kizuna(JPN) and Orfevre(JPN) have declared to run G1/Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Sunday October 6th at Longchamp in Paris.
Kizuna, 3-y-o colt by Deep Impact, won the G2/Prix Niel on September 15th at Longchamp, which was his first start in Europe and first start since G1/Japan Derby on May 26th, beating Ruler of the World, winner of G1Epsom Derby, despite the ground was wet and soft. Bookmakers have quoted Kizuna, who will be ridden by Japanese ace Yutaka Take, as the 7 to 1 fourth choice in the betting market.
Orfevre, 5-y-o horse by Stay Gold, competed the back-to-back win of G2/Prix Foy on September 15th at Longchamp in easier style than last year, despite it was his first start since March 31st. He will try to get just one better place in the Arc than last year, when he was runner-up to Solemia. he is supported as the 3 to 1 favorite in ante-post betting market organized by bookmakers.

(17th Sep 13)

Perfect rehearsal for the Arc by KIZUNA(JPN) and ORFEVRE(JPN)

Both of Kizuna(JPN) and Orfevre(JPN) won the prep race on September 15th at Longchamp and it is confirmed both of them will head to the G1/Pris de I'Arc de Triomphe on October 6th at Longchamp as the runners supported well by punters
Kizuna(JPN), 3-y-o colt by Deep Impact, was settled toward the rear of 10 runners' field in G2/Prix Niel. Kizuna delivered very impressive challenge when Yuaka Take asked him at 1.5 furling out and collected his first victory in Europe, holding the late challenge by Ruler of the World, 3-y-o colt by Galileo who is the winner of G1/Epsom Derby, by short head. Though the margin is small, this is very encouraging performance, as this is first start for him since the end of May and first start on soft ground.
Orfevre(JPN), 5-y-o horse by Stay Gold, did not disappoint the punters who supported him as 4 to 5 favorite in G2/Prix Foy on the same card. While the pace set by Stellar Wind(JPN) was not strong, Orfevre tracked leaders from third position smoothly, and quickened very well when Christophe Soumillon pressed the button at 1.5 furlong out. Orfevre drew clear by three lengths, while Soumillion did not use his whip at all. It is awesome performance and Orfevre is now supported as favorite at the ante-post market for the Arc.

(12th Sep 13)

ORFEVRE(JPN) and KIZUNA(JPN) prepped for the Arc this weekend

Orfevre(JPN) and Kizuna(JPN), Japanese representatives in this year's G1/Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, European Championship over 2,400m on turf on October 6th at Longchamp, will be prepped at on September 15th.
Kizuna(JPN), three-year-old colt by Deep Impact(JPN), who won G1/Japanese Derby at Tokyo in May, will be in the field of G2/Prix Niel. It is expected Kizuna will meet Flintshire, winner of G1/Grand Prix de Paris and anti-post favorite for the Arc, there.
Kizuna, bred by Koji Maeda of North Hills and owned by Shinji Maeda, younger brother to the breeder, left Japan on August 31st and arrived at Chantilly via Amsterdam on September 1st. He has been trained there beautifully since then and Yutaka Take is going ride Kizuna on Sunday.
Orfevre(JPN), five-year-old horse by Stay Gold(JPN), who was runner-up to Solemia in the Arc 2012, will be in the field of G2/Prix Foy, which Orfevre won in prior to the Arc last year.
Orfevre(JPN), bred by Northern Farm and owned by Sunday Racing, left Japan on August 24th and arrives at Chantilly on the same day. The workout on September 4th was abandoned, as he was kicked in the nose by his lead horse, however, it was not serious at all. The training resumed on following morning and Orfevre enjoyed a good workout on September 7th. Christophe Soumillon is booked to ride Orfevre on Sunday.

(31st May 13)

Six Japanese-trained horses made entry for the Arc

Initial entries for Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 6th at Longchamp is closed on May 15th and six Japanese-trained horses made the entry.
Orfevre(JPN), 5-y-o Horse by Stay Gold, who was second to Solemia in the Arc in 2012, will try to obtain one better placing. Christophe Soumillon is already booked to ride Oefevre in G2/Prix Foy and G1/Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Gentiledonna(JPN), 4-y-o filly by Deep Impact, who on G1/Japan Cup beating Orfevre in November and was runner-up to St.Nicholas Abbey in G1/Dubai Sheema Classic, owned by the same owner as Orfevre, is also entered.
It is expected Orfevre and Gentiledonna will meet again in G1/Takarazuka Kinen on June 23rd at Hanshin, before forming strong team representing Japan in France.
The connection of Kizuna(JPN), 3-y-o colt by Deep Impact, who won G1/Japan Derby last week, has already declared to send the Derby winner to France for the Arc. He will be prepped at G2/Prix Niel., and Yutaka Take is booked to ride him both at the prep race and the Arc.
The rest of Japanese entrants are Eishin Flash(JPN), 6-y-o Horse by King's Best, winner of G1/Japan Derby in 2010 and G1/Tenno Sho Autumn in 2012, Nakayama Kight(JPN), 5-y-o Horse by Stay Gold, who traveled to France with Nakayama Festa in 2011, and Denim and Ruby(JPN), 3-y-o filly by Deep Impact, who was bought at JRHA July Sale in 2010 and finished close third in
G1/Japan Oaks on May 19th.,

The catalogue of JRHA July Sale on July 8th and 9th at Northern Horse Park includes the very best Japanese-bred yearlings and foals by Stay Gold, sire of Orfevre and Nakayama Knight, and Deep Impact, sire of Gentiledonna, Kizuna, and Denim and Ruby.

(30th Apr 13)

EISHIN FLASH(JPN), narrowly beaten in QEII C

Eishin Flash(JPN) ran bravely, but did not manage to reproduce the impressive performance of Rulership(JPN), in the G1/Queen ElizabethII Cup on April 28th at Sha Tin in Hong Kong.
It was truly international competition, as the 14 runners' field included Sajjhaa from Dubai, who was unbeaten in four starts so far this year including G1/Dubai Duty Free at Meydan on March 30th, Igugu from South Africa, who was crowned as Horse of the Year at her home nation, Treasure Beach, winner of G1/Irish Derby and G1/Secretariat Stakes, Ambitious Dragon, Horse of the Year in Hong Kong in two consecutive seasons, and California Memory, who completed the back-to-back win of G1/Hong Kong Cup in December. Eishin Flash, 6-y-o Horse by King's Best bred by Shadai Farm, winner of G1/Tokyo Yushun, Japanese Derby, in 2010 and the autumn version of G1/Tenno Sho, Emperor's Cup, in 2012, was supported as the 10 to 1 fourth favorite.
Eishin Flash, who broke from the 13th barrier, which is very unlucky draw at the 2,000m course of Sha Tin Racecourse, was settled at the rear of field by Italian jockey Mirco Demuro.
It was slowly run race and several horses seemed to have chance at the top of stretch. Demuro and Eishin Flash struggled to find room to run through on homestretch. Despite Eishin Flash used the fastest finishing speed, covering the final two furlong for 22.27 seconds, in 14 runners, he could not manage to finish better than third, beaten by the winner, Military Attack, for one and three quarters of length. It was good run and he was unlucky loser.
King's Best, sire of Eishin Flash, who has sent many great runners, such as Workforce, European Champion, has started to stand at Darley Japan in 2013, and his first Japanese crop will be born in the spring of 2014.

(28th Mar 13)

Strong Japanese team led by Gentildonna and Taisei Legend compete in Dubai on Saturday

The Dubai World Cup night, which features the 18th running of Dubai World Cup, the richest horse racing in the world, will be organized on coming Saturday at Meydan Racecourse and four runners will be representing Japan.
The team is led by Gentildonna(JPN), 4-y-o filly by Deep Impact, who is crowned as the Japanese Horse of the year in 2012. The filly who completed the triple crown for three-year-old fillies in addition to becoming the first three-year-old filly to win the G1/Japan Cup last year will run the G1/Dubai Sheema Classic which carry 5 million US dollar purse
Gentildonna will be join by Trailblazer(PN), 6-y-o Horse by Zenno Rob Roy, who finished good fourth in the G1/BC Turf at Santa Anita a few month ago in the race over 2,410m on turf at Meydan on Saturday.
Another Japanese-trained horse whom you should pay your attention in the event is Taisei Legend(JPN), 6-y-o Horse by King Kamehameha, who is going to run G1/Dubai Golden Shaheen.
Taisei Legend is bred by Katsumi Yoshida's Northern Farm and sold to Seihou Tanaka at the yearling session of 2008 JRHA July Select Sale for 33,000,000yen, US$308,411 at the exchange rate of the day. The colt traeined by Yoshito Yahagi is the smashing winner of JPN-G1/JBC Sprint, the most prestigious sprint race on dirt in Japan, on November 5th 2012 at Kawasaki Racecourse, establishing the new track record.
And Keiai Leone(JPN), 3-y-o colt by Henny Hughes, will try to become the first Japanese-trained winner of G2/UAE Derby.