Orfevre reigns as Japan's new superstar

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Orfevre reigns as Japan's new superstar in Arima Kinen

Japanese Triple Crown hero Orfevre mowed down a world-class field of older horses in Sunday's Grade 1 Arima Kinen, stamping his passport for the world stage in 2012. In a symbolic passing of the torch, reigning Horse of the Year Buena Vista could do no better than seventh in her career finale, and was regaled at a poignant retirement ceremony following the Christmas racing at Nakayama. Orfevre was making his first start against his elders in the season-ending "Grand Prix," but had no difficulty in racking up his sixth straight victory. In the process, he handed trainer Yasutoshi Ikee a JRA record-equaling fifth Grade 1 win in a single season. While the Sunday Racing Co. colorbearer was responsible for four of them -- his Triple Crown sweep along with the Arima Kinen -- his stablemate Tosen Jordan also contributed through his score in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho Autumn on October 30.

Orfevre's victory was historic in other ways as well. He is a full brother to 2009 Arima Kinen winner Dream Journey, also trained by Ikee. Both were sired by Stay Gold from the winning Mejiro McQueen mare Oriental Art, who now ranks as the only mare to produce two different winners of the Arima Kinen.

Moreover, Orfevre became the third Japanese Triple Crown winner to capture the Arima Kinen in the same year. The first to record such a grand slam was Symboli Rudolf (1984), the recently-deceased Japanese legend. In the interim, only Narita Brian (1994) was able to follow in his hoofsteps. Even Deep Impact failed in his quest in 2005.

Orfevre, dispatched as the 6-5 favorite, wasn't helped by the way the Arima Kinen unfolded. Loping along near the rear after the start, the chestnut lagged farther behind than regular rider Kenichi Ikezoe would have preferred. But the in-form jockey didn't panic, or rush the colt, and let him settle where he was comfortable.

Up front, Earnestly was waltzing through slow fractions. Defending champion Victoire Pisa stalked in second, and Buena Vista was uncharacteristically close in a rail-skimming third. She raced in tandem with Tosen Jordan, so the respective top two from the Grade 1 Japan Cup looked ready to engage in another battle. As it turned out, neither could raise their game when the race started in earnest entering the homestretch.

Earnestly and Victoire Pisa tussled at the top of the lane, but despite their early crawl, they had surprisingly little left to withstand the closers. Eishin Flash, who had been well placed just off the pace, was the first to join them. Wider out, however, erupted Orfevre.

Having circled the bulk of the field on the final turn, Orfevre continued his momentum into the stretch and rolled past Eishin Flash. His winning margin was just three-quarters of a length, but his manner of victory was decisive. The final time was a pedestrian 2:36 for the about 1 9/16 miles on firm turf, reflecting the lack of any sensible pace. Orfevre's tr

Source: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/article.cgi?id=25828

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