Has ORFEVRE got an early engagement?

not sure....but usually a pre summer race they can slip him into before they ship him over to Paris.

fancy him big time for the Arc btw so will be looking to antepost early on him.

...or non-runner-no-bet of course

C'mon Bazz, we're teasing you. Harmless fun.

Info from Racing Post.

JAPANESE Triple Crown winner Orfevre (Yasutoshi Ikee/Kenichi Ikezoe) is set for his seasonal debut on Sunday at the start of a four-year-old campaign where all roads lead to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

After Orfevre beat older horses in the Arima Kinen, Japan's end-of-season grand prix in December, a trip to Dubai was abandoned to ensure the perfect preparation for Longchamp.

Although he came back into his trainer's yard only on February 24, the son of Stay Gold has been clocking fast times at the Ritto Training Centre ready for Sunday's race, after which he will run in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) on April 29.

1 Gustave Cry(JPN)   
2 Hiruno d'Amour(JPN)   
3 Tokai Trick(JPN)   
4 Jaguar Mail(JPN)   
5 Cosmo Helenos(JPN)   
6 Namura Crescent(JPN)
7 Piena Fantast(JPN)   
8 Copano Jingu(JPN)   
9 Rikka Royal(JPN)   
10 Beat Black(JPN)   
11 Oken Bruce Lee(JPN)   
12 Orfevre(JPN)

This fella oozes class and has the potential to be Japan's first Arc winner IMO. His ability to handle all types of ground marks him out as a real contender, if all goes to plan en route to Paris!

A big upset in Japan as Orfevre could only manage second! The link for the race is below, I don't think I've seen anything like it before. Orfevre was in the lead entering the last turn and hung badly left on the right handed track. He went from first to last position but Kenichi Ikezoe managed to pull him back and surged past nearly every horse coming into the straight but ran out of steam in the last 100 yards.


http://jra.jp/JRADB/asx/2012/09/201201090811h.asx

No problem bazzar. The more I see this horse the more I like him, his run today was remarkable considering the circumstances and he nearly pulled it off when looking impossible. It will be interesting to hear what connections have to say about what happened! He has never done this before and has won on right and left handed tracks.

Massive fan of this horse but he looked unrideable in parts there.  Next race is a biggee for him imo (and the jockey).

The monster is back this Sunday, Orfevre will be running in the Tenno Sho (Spring) at Kyoto Racecourse. The long road to Longchamp and Arc glory begins for Japans latest superstar.

Information taken from japanracing.jp

ORFEVRE: Last month's Hanshin Daishoten was supposed to be nothing more than a routine prep race for the JRA's new Triple Crown champion Orfevre, but it turned out to be one of the wildest races in years. On the backstretch of the second lap in the 15-furlong race, Orfevre lost it, shooting into the lead against jockey Kenichi Ikezoe's wishes and continued to head toward the outside rail. Once the 4-year-old snapped back into it, realizing he had fallen out of line, the Stay Gold son made a ferocious run back into the race, catching up with the pack around the final bend. Orfevre somehow finished second, half a length behind Gustave Cry, but the JRA had him tested for conduct following his bad behavior. Fortunately for trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, the JRA's reigning horse of the year passed, making him eligible for the spring Tenno Sho. "I was more nervous than I was training a favorite for a G1 race," Ikee said. "He was running fine on his own in training so I wasn't too worried, but it was still nice to see him pass the test on his first try. Ikezoe's been working hand in hand with him, and I owe him a lot. Maybe Orfevre has matured a little -- I hope." The Hanshin Daishoten ended Orfevre's winning streak at six; it was his first start since the colt won the Arima Kinen on Christmas Day for his fourth G1 title. Ikee said a lot of factors came into play in Orfevre's discombobulated run in the Hanshin Daishoten, but made no excuses for it. "Once he got out in front, he just quit on the race," Ikee said. "He'd drawn an outside barrier, and he was the last to be led into his gate. So he jumped right out and just kept going. But he needs to be able to settle, regardless of the situation." There are positives for Orfevre, however. The horse wasn't harmed in the Hanshin Daishoten and not only that, he's in improved shape for the Emperor's Cup. If Orfevre, who should be the overwhelming favorite at the morning line, can remain under Ikezoe's control, then it will be a fight for second among the rest of the field. After all, the ultimate goal for Orfevre is to become the first Japanese horse to win the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. "He wasn't tired from his last start, which was kind of shocking after the race he had," Ikee said. "He's definitely on the way up from where he was then, which was already pretty good. I expect to have him in perfect condition this time. We let a lot of people down last time, and everyone at my stable feels terrible about it. We want to make up for it this time around, and we hope people will come out to the track to watch him run." Ikezoe, who has yet to win the spring Tenno Sho, is determined to put the nightmare from the Hanshin Daishoten behind him. "I feel bad about what happened in his last race," he said. "But on the bright side, I was able to communicate with him in a way that I hadn't been able to before. His time was fast (last week), and I didn't even push him. I'd say he's improving. I think the fans want to see Orfevre at his best, and I'm hoping we can deliver. We can't let what happened in the Hanshin Daishoten happen again."

The next race was a biggee as it turned out - and unfortunately the next one's even bigger.

It just goes to show, on the Flat at least, that when you have a horse you gotta strike while the iron's hot.  2012 Arc dream in tatters it seems......

AFTER a stuttering start to his four-year-old campaign, last year's Triple Crown winner Orfevre (Yasutoshi Ikee/Kenichi Ikezoe) returned to winning ways in the Takarazuka Kinen, the climax of the Japanese spring campaign.

RELATED LINKS
Result
In beating a field full of Grade 1 winners, the son of Stay Gold put thoughts of a crack at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe back on the table.
Sent off 11-5 favourite, Orfevre took the 256 million yen (£2.04m) event by two lengths over Audemars Piguet QEII Cup winner Rulership with Shonan Mighty in third place.

Orfevre raced two-thirds back hugging the rail in the 16-runner field before making smooth headway as they approached the final turn.

As they fanned out wide across the straight in typical Japanese fashion, Orfevre was produced to challenge just outside the leader Mount Shasta and went on to claim the race with a powerful finishing kick.


Kenichi Ikezoe: redemption


PICTURE: Masakazu Takahashi

After an all-conquering 2011 campaign, Orfevre had been beaten in Grade 2 company in bizarre circumstances on his seasonal debut as he nearly ran out over 1m7f before going down by just half a length to Gustave Cry.

Next time out, though, he was well beaten at odds-on in the Tenno Sho (Spring), which was won by Beat Black, only ninth in Sunday's contest.

For winning jockey Kenichi Ikezoe, much criticised earlier this season, the victory offered a degree of redemption - and prompted tears on the winner's podium.

"He was more relaxed than last time and his reaction at the home turn was very good," added the jockey. "As long as he is okay, he will go abroad. I expect it to happen!"

Indeed, was very keen on this fella myself but dunno wat happened him last time! This was more like the old form again tho - whoosh

The last race he ran in was a complete mess and one to put in the bin. Today was his true running and he looked more settled.

No problems bazzar. There is a better quality video on You Tube but it's still in Japanese.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNMVcLZRB7w

He looks back to his best, I've had a dabble at the 16-1.

If Rulership was definitely coming over I would back him as well at 25-1. The possible easier ground will suit him and I think the trip would as well. He looks like he is improving with age.

Try this link from HKJC website, very impressive yesterday.
http://racing.hkjc.com/racing/video/play.asp?type=replay-full&date=20120624&no=s0201&lang=eng

Soumillon booked to ride Orfevre for his European campaign. Positive move IMO from the Japanese, he's got a good record in the race and normally rides Longchamp well!

The 16-1 still looks too big and I'm going to have another nibble after the latest news. The PMU will need to batten down the hatches if he lines up on the day.

Racing Post News

CONNECTIONS of Japanese Horse of the Year Orfevre have moved swiftly to engage the services of dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-winning rider Christophe Soumillon for the four-year-old's European campaign.

Japanese jockey Kenichi Ikezoe has ridden Orfevre in all of his big-race wins, including six successes at the highest level, but owner Shunsuke Yoshida has revealed that he has booked Soumillon to ride him in Europe. 

Orfevre will head to France to challenge for Europe's most valuable race on October 7. He is first expected to line up in one of the Arc trials at Longchamp in September.

Speaking at a party in celebration of Orfevre's win in the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen, trainer Yatsutoshi Ikee said that an agreement had been made for Soumillon to take the ride.

"We had been worried about various objections from various people but changing jockey is the result of much discussion," Ikee said. "I am sure it will be the best for Orfevre. I want to go to the Arc to be a winner."

sigh...not sure if its good or bad they booked soumy. guy's been driving me insane lately....at least its not yutake take. God I really hate him. would just gone into a mental LAY mode if they said they booked him for the ride.

guys....check out the japanese derby winner in the King George :o wtf that slipped under el radar.

Soumillon has been pretty wretched at times over the last few years and has become very frustrating but I'd rather have him than a Japanese jockey. I love the Japanese but the jockeys they bring over are like powder puffs in a finish.

Fingers crossed he gets over to France safe and sound!!!

Hi Gooner, I've been watching Deep Brillante's races and I'm not sure about him, he looks a bit awkward when he comes under pressure. The Japanese 2000 Guineas performance he plodded on for 3rd and in the Derby he was all out with Iwata looking like he was trying to carry him over the line (funny ride).

He doesn't look the best Japanese horse to come over IMO but he will be getting weight and the ground will not be a problem. His mom won a G3 in France on soft over 9f and came 2nd in G3 over 11f soft. The 20-1 is tempting but there are some serious horses running in this years KG.

I have been sweeping up any 20/1 or above since Oferve won the Takarazuka Kinen. Was always guaranteed to run in the Arc ( barring injury). Nakayama Festa 2010 Kinen winner, ran a blinder against Workforce in the Arc, and off course Deep Impact,was 3rd to Rail Link in 2006.The Japanese are convinced that Orfevre will give them their first Arc winner.