Orfevre becomes the latest Japanese star to embark on the route towards the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with an outing in one of the trials at Longchamp this Sunday.
With the help of his pacemaker Aventino, last year’s Japanese Triple Crown winner tackles Andre Fabre’s triple Group One winner Meandre in the Prix Foy.
The Far Eastern racing nation have developed a keen interest in attempting to claim Europe’s great prize, from when El Condor Pasa took the Foy and then finished second in the 1999 Arc.
Others like the legendary Deep Impact and Nakayama Festa have tried and narrowly failed, but hopes are high for the ebullient chestnut Orfevre, who concluded his preparation under big-race rider Christophe Soumillon in a piece of work this week at Chantilly’s Les Aigles gallops.
“Christophe Soumillon said that the horse had more speed and showed better movement than a week before,” trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said.
“I am sure that Christophe and Orfevre are getting along well together, it’s his first time at Longchamp but I hope he can handle it in a good manner.”
Two British raiders, Princess of Wales’s Stakes winner Fiorente and Joshua Tree, recently brought across the Channel to land the Prix Kergorlay by Marco Botti, are also in Sunday’s line-up.
