PARIS: Orfevre can lay his own demons to rest and fulfil Japan’s 44-year-old quest to win Europe’s most prestigious race the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe yesterday.
Orfevre -- only the seventh horse to win Japan’s Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger) in 2011 -- is one of two top class entries from Japan, Japanese Derby winner Kizuna the other, in an Arc termed by Italian riding great Frankie Dettori the best since Dancing Brave’s in 1986.
That Arc is commonly regarded as the greatest of modern times.
Orfevre, who is all but certain to start favourite after an impressive second successive win over a fortnight ago in the Prix Foy at the same Longchamp track where the Arc takes place, could well have returned to Paris as the defending champion.
However, his contrary temperament bubbled to the surface at the most inopportune time last year when having burst clear under Christophe Soumillon he veered across the track, hit the rails and almost came to a standstill -- outsider Solemia passed him to win by a neck.
It is that quirkiness more than the fact he bled -- when the horse’s lungs fill with blood -- in a race earlier this year that has most preoccupied his trainer Yasutoshi Ikee.
“I don’t fear any of his rivals on Sunday,” said Ikee on Wednesday.
“I fear Orfrevre, for he is his biggest rival.”
However, Ikee and Soumillon -- who described Orfevre after the Foy win as a ‘war machine’ -- believe this time round Orfevre will behave himself especially after a pleasing gallop on Wednesday.
For 44-year-old Ikee, whose father Yasuo also suffered Arc disappointment as a trainer with his Triple Crown winner Deep Impact in 2006, it is his chance to put matters right after last year’s huge disappointment.
AFP
