Orfevre's Final Race Sunday
Dec 21, 2013 0:52:10 GMT -5
Post by Jon on Dec 21, 2013 0:52:10 GMT -5
Orfevre marks career finale in Arima Kinen
Sunday's Grade 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse will mark the end of an era for Japanese racing fans as they bid farewell to 2011 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Orfevre, who will step onto a racecourse for the final time.
One of that country's modern greats and the winner of this race when he last contested it in 2011, Orfevre has overcome some stellar opposition, perhaps first and foremost his quirky personality, to thus far collect five Grade 1 victories, two Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up finishes, and earnings of more than $17 million.
After wrapping up his four-year-old campaign last year with a nose second to Gentildonna in a controversial finish in the Grade 1 Japan Cup, Orfevre's connections made this year's campaign all about his second Arc assault, and the plan appeared to be working, as the strapping chestnut son of Stay Gold took down the local Grade 2 Sankei Osaka Hai, followed by a repeat victory in Longchamp's Group 2 Prix Foy three weeks before the main event.
Unfortunately for Orfevre, the Arc also ended as a deja vu of last year's effort. He finished second again, with only the mighty French filly Treve too good for him.
Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee noted that Orfevre has rebounded from his Arc exploits better than 12 months ago.
"Last year, he flew back two days after the Arc, and I thought there was just no way he was going to be ready for the Japan Cup," Ikee explained. "That's the kind of form he was in at the time. This year, he had plenty of time to recover before boarding his flight. The time he's been given to recover has made a huge difference for this race."
Ikee also expressed satisfaction in Orfevre's final work.
"His action was good, and he showed a lot of aggressiveness," the conditioner noted. "He may have been a bit too eager, but you can't fault him for that; you want a little spirit ahead of the competition. There's no comparing his condition to what it was a year ago at this time.
"He almost retired last season, but I begged the owners to put it off a year," Ikee said in regards to bidding his champion farewell. "Win or lose, this will be his last race. But I don't think I'll have the luxury of dwelling in the emotions on the day of the race. I've got four other horses who will be in the race and to look after."
The Arima Kinen suffered a blow Thursday when Eishin Flash, also due to make his last run, was withdrawn due to a sprained fetlock. Nonetheless, the race also features defending champion and dual classic winner Gold Ship, who took the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen in June, and will look to rebound from a recent 15th-place finish in the Japan Cup on November 24. He gets the services of Ryan Moore, who has enjoyed a stellar autumn in Japan with a pair of Group 1 victories.
A pair with potential to hit the board at long odds are Tosen Jordan and Admire Rakti. The former was the winner of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho Autumn in 2011, but has yet to win since, and struggled to get back on track this summer when returning from a nine-month layoff. His last out third, beaten a neck, in the Japan Cup, however, indicates the seven-year-old still has some spark.
While Tosen Jordan seeks to regain his best form, Admire Rakti seems to be just coming into his. He recorded his first graded victory in his 18th start in the Grade 3 Diamond at Tokyo in February, and has since finished fourth in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho Spring and the Japan Cup last out.
Australian jockey Craig Williams, who partnered Admire Rakti for the first time in the Japan Cup and again in his final work for the race, expressed confidence in his charge.
"When I gave him a little nudge in the workout, he accelerated just like that," Williams said. "It was a great reaction from him and I think he'll thrive on the big stage. I've been told he was even being considered for the Melbourne Cup at one point but had he come, I think he would have had a great chance of winning.
"I rode (the Japan Cup) with confidence because I definitely felt we had a shot. We took position a bit more toward the back than I had hoped, but we managed to travel on the inside. We ran into traffic on the straight but once we found space, he ran really well. That fourth place meant something, and I knew then and there that he would have a good chance in the Arima Kinen."
Underscoring the significance of the event itself, Williams added, "When I first rode in the race three years ago, I was shocked by the huge roar from the crowd. It's the biggest race in Japan without question. As a jockey, it goes without saying that I want to win it."
Brisnet
Sunday's Grade 1 Arima Kinen at Nakayama Racecourse will mark the end of an era for Japanese racing fans as they bid farewell to 2011 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Orfevre, who will step onto a racecourse for the final time.
One of that country's modern greats and the winner of this race when he last contested it in 2011, Orfevre has overcome some stellar opposition, perhaps first and foremost his quirky personality, to thus far collect five Grade 1 victories, two Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up finishes, and earnings of more than $17 million.
After wrapping up his four-year-old campaign last year with a nose second to Gentildonna in a controversial finish in the Grade 1 Japan Cup, Orfevre's connections made this year's campaign all about his second Arc assault, and the plan appeared to be working, as the strapping chestnut son of Stay Gold took down the local Grade 2 Sankei Osaka Hai, followed by a repeat victory in Longchamp's Group 2 Prix Foy three weeks before the main event.
Unfortunately for Orfevre, the Arc also ended as a deja vu of last year's effort. He finished second again, with only the mighty French filly Treve too good for him.
Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee noted that Orfevre has rebounded from his Arc exploits better than 12 months ago.
"Last year, he flew back two days after the Arc, and I thought there was just no way he was going to be ready for the Japan Cup," Ikee explained. "That's the kind of form he was in at the time. This year, he had plenty of time to recover before boarding his flight. The time he's been given to recover has made a huge difference for this race."
Ikee also expressed satisfaction in Orfevre's final work.
"His action was good, and he showed a lot of aggressiveness," the conditioner noted. "He may have been a bit too eager, but you can't fault him for that; you want a little spirit ahead of the competition. There's no comparing his condition to what it was a year ago at this time.
"He almost retired last season, but I begged the owners to put it off a year," Ikee said in regards to bidding his champion farewell. "Win or lose, this will be his last race. But I don't think I'll have the luxury of dwelling in the emotions on the day of the race. I've got four other horses who will be in the race and to look after."
The Arima Kinen suffered a blow Thursday when Eishin Flash, also due to make his last run, was withdrawn due to a sprained fetlock. Nonetheless, the race also features defending champion and dual classic winner Gold Ship, who took the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen in June, and will look to rebound from a recent 15th-place finish in the Japan Cup on November 24. He gets the services of Ryan Moore, who has enjoyed a stellar autumn in Japan with a pair of Group 1 victories.
A pair with potential to hit the board at long odds are Tosen Jordan and Admire Rakti. The former was the winner of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho Autumn in 2011, but has yet to win since, and struggled to get back on track this summer when returning from a nine-month layoff. His last out third, beaten a neck, in the Japan Cup, however, indicates the seven-year-old still has some spark.
While Tosen Jordan seeks to regain his best form, Admire Rakti seems to be just coming into his. He recorded his first graded victory in his 18th start in the Grade 3 Diamond at Tokyo in February, and has since finished fourth in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho Spring and the Japan Cup last out.
Australian jockey Craig Williams, who partnered Admire Rakti for the first time in the Japan Cup and again in his final work for the race, expressed confidence in his charge.
"When I gave him a little nudge in the workout, he accelerated just like that," Williams said. "It was a great reaction from him and I think he'll thrive on the big stage. I've been told he was even being considered for the Melbourne Cup at one point but had he come, I think he would have had a great chance of winning.
"I rode (the Japan Cup) with confidence because I definitely felt we had a shot. We took position a bit more toward the back than I had hoped, but we managed to travel on the inside. We ran into traffic on the straight but once we found space, he ran really well. That fourth place meant something, and I knew then and there that he would have a good chance in the Arima Kinen."
Underscoring the significance of the event itself, Williams added, "When I first rode in the race three years ago, I was shocked by the huge roar from the crowd. It's the biggest race in Japan without question. As a jockey, it goes without saying that I want to win it."
Brisnet
