Orfevre stakes Arc claim
Sunday 16 September 2012
Japan's Triple Crown winner Orfevre advertised his Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe credentials with victory in the Qatar Prix Foy at Longchamp.
Aventino acted as a pacemaker for the Christophe Soumillon-ridden winner, but he did not go much of a gallop, and Andre Fabre's Meandre and Sir Michael Stoute's Fiorente were both pulling furiously in the early stages, with Joshua Tree sitting just behind the pace.
When Orfevre quickened he soon put the race to bed and Meandre stayed on to take second, with Joshua Tree not beaten far in third.
Soumillon said: "I was very happy with the performance. The pace was a bit slow and he was a bit fresh, but I just wanted to keep track of him on his first time at Longchamp.
"In two strides I got exactly what you need from an Arc de Triomphe horse. Hopefully he can improve a bit as he needs to improve to win an Arc, but the trainer has done a perfect job so far."
William Hill reacted by making Yasutoshi Ikee's star their new 4-1 favourite (from 5-1) for the Arc.
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