Orfevre Elected to JRA Hall of Fame

Orfevre | JRA

Japanese Horse of the Year, 2011 Triple Crown hero and dual G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Orfevre (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) was elected into the Japanese Racing Association Hall of Fame Sept. 18. The 7-year-old, who raced for Sunday Racing Co. Ltd until retirement to Shadai Stallion Station in 2013, beat out Japanese champion sprinter Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) to join the hall, with 95.9% of the votes, the JRA announced Friday.

Victorious six times at the highest level in Japan, the chestnut swept the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), and G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger), as well as the G1 Arima Kinen Grand Prix during his 2011 Horse of the Year campaign. He added a further two Group 1's en route to champion older horse titles in his native land, taking the 2012 G1 Takarazuka Kinen and 2013 G1 Arima Kinen. Overseas, the quirky runner also landed two editions of the G2 Qatar Prix Foy at Longchamp in 2012-13, prior to his near misses in the 'Arc'. Upon retirement, Orfevre's record stood at 21-12-6-1, with earnings of $19,005,276.

“I want to express my thanks for Orfevre being selected as a Hall of Fame inductee,” said Shunsuke Yoshida of Sunday Racing Co. Ltd. “It is a great honor to have him inducted into the Hall of Fame to stand alongside other Triple Crown champions that have come before him. I would like for all those who contributed, to all connections, firstly trainer [Yasutoshi] Ikee, and the fans who cheered him on, to bask together in this glory.”

Bred by Shadai Corp., Orfevre is out of the winning Oriental Art (Jpn) (Mejiro McQueen {Ire}). His full-brother is Japanese champion and MG1SW Dream Journey (Jpn).

Added trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, “For me, it is a huge honor to have Orfevre selected as a member of the Hall of Fame. And at the same time, I want to give my heartfelt thanks to all those fans who gave Orfevre their support. There was his perfect conquest of the Triple Crown as a 3-year-old but also his headstrong move in the backstretch of the G2 Hanshin Daishoten. He was a horse that gave us many varied memories. But, I think the memories that most stay with us are his 2012 run in the Prix l'Arc de Triomphe when he came so close to achieving the pinnacle of racing and his last run Arima Kinen, a performance that [showed] just how big a cut above he was.”

“He wasn't able to realize our dream of winning the Arc, but it is my belief that his children will carry on that dream,” concluded Ikee.

An induction ceremony will be held in the Kyoto Racecourse winner's circle Monday, Oct. 12.

 

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