*Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe 2013*

About time too.

Maybe it was Nick Mordin....


ORFEVRE (41) is the sort of horse who makes an instant fan of anyone who watches him race. The sheer power and dominance of his performances is something you rarely see.

He was at it again in his 2013 seasonal debut in the Group 2 Sankei Osaka Hai against a whole bunch of solid Group 1 performers.

Held up far off the strong pace, jockey Kenichi Ikezoe kept his mount on the wide outside to avoid trouble and him along from five furlongs out to make very good progress. He swept into the lead about a furlong out and soon moved ahead despite being just nudged along. He was going so well at the finish Ikezoe was able to ease him up in the last fifty yards.

Orfevre is almost certainly the best horse on the planet. The only two I'd give a chance of beating him in a fair race would be Cirrus Des Aigles or Animal Kingdom. And it looks unlikely he'll ever meet that pair.

The big plan with Orfevre this season is to avenge his defeat in the Arc. He lost the race last year thanks to idling in front on bottomless ground. The ground will surely be faster this time around and his jockey will surely not make the same mistake of kicking on too soon. I can't wait to see what price the bookies mark him up for the race this time ante-post. Anything bigger than 2-1 would be a gift in my book.

Victory Song could be a nice curve ball from Coolmore. Late bloomer, looked genuine enough yesterday...just a bit green in a tactical race. big old galloper. could really develop in the latter stages of the season....would take the easy route to the Prix Neil and then find out...no need to push him into Derbies at this stage with the likes of Mars about....Grand Prix De Paris would be a nice option for him.

6/1 WITH BILL HILL

I will wait to see what the Aga Khan has entered. He has a serious contender in most years.

cant wait, interesting market.

Read last week Japan were likely to send 6

Orfevre, Gentildonna , Kizuna, Eishin Flash, Nakayama Knight, Denim And Ruby.



Cant find where i read it now tho

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.

Please contact us for catalogue request, travel arrangement, and all kinds of inquiries to ;
Regent Co,Ltd (JRHA's representative for international clients)

where did you get that news?(could be quite good for his arc try)

Treve looks like a contender, but I can only see a 14/1 quote from VC (cut from 20s very quickly). Suspect you'd get that on the day with British bookies, unless she destroys some colts over the summer.

Just a heads up that Criquette Head said the 2014 was more likely for Treve than this year. Trainer doesn't seem keen to supplement and says there are races for her at Deauville as well as the Opera on Arc weekend.

I'm NOT saying don't back her for the Arc - I'd just advise caution at what are relatively short prices. The Japs will make the market on the day of the race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZUT1I-1sPk



A link to Gold Ships win - very impressive

Jim Gluckson‏@BCRacingguy5h
@BreedersCup will pay US$60K entry fee and US$40K in travel for Gold Ship (JPN) to start in Breeders' Cup Turf  @santaanitapark  Nov. 2

Not relevant. Gold Ship has won over £6 million in prizemoney. A lousy $100k won't have an impact on where they run. The Arc is a more prestigious race and the major international race that the Japanese want to win. Running in the Breeders' Cup would also almost certainly preclude a tilt at the Japan Cup.

JAPANESE star Gold Ship is unlikely to be targeted at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October after his trainer stated his preference to stay at home for an autumn campaign.

Winner of the Japanese Guineas and St Leger last term, Gold Ship entered the Arc reckoning at a general 14-1 following his Grade 1 success in the Takarazuka Kinen on Sunday.
However his trainer Naosuke Sugai said: "I have not decided his plan in this autumn, but I would like to make him run in Japan this year."

"I know many people say we should go to the Arc, but I have lots of candidates to consider and I want to challenge Orfevre just in Japanese races at first."

Despite Gold Ship’s probable absence Japan is still set to be well represented in their bid for a first Arc success with Takarazuka Kinen third Gentildonna (Sei Ishizaka) and Japanese Derby winner Kizuna (Shozo Sasaki) set to to join last year’s runner-up Orfevre, who missed the Takarazuka Kinen following a setback.

The plan is for Kizuna, who will be based in Chantilly from mid-July, to run his Arc prep in the Prix Niel on September 15.

Orfevre is William Hill's 6-1 co-favourite with Intello and Ruler Of The World, while Gentildonna and Kizuna are both 14-1 chances in the ante-post Arc betting.

Flintshire certainly looks very useful.

Treve been bought by the Sheikh frankie is now retained for

With both Dubai Sheema Classic runner-up Gentildonna and new star Gold Ship ruled out, the Japanese challenge for a much coveted first Arc win is now down to two horses, with Orfevre set to be joined by Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) victor Kizuna, who is a 16-1 shot.

Gentildonna's connections were disappointed by her third-placed effort behind Gold Ship in the Takarazuka Kinen.

Trainer Sei Ishizaka said: "After a discussion with the owners, we have decided we will not send Gentildonna to France. The reason is the flop in the Takarazuka."

Last year's filly triple crown winner will now be aimed at the Tenno Sho (Autumn) and the Japan Cup, which she won last year by a nose over Orfevre.

could be they know Gentildonna would not beat the other two horses from Japan.

Treve form boosted by Chiquita..