We spoke to Ichiro Tsuji, an editor for the Thoroughbred Pedigree Centre, to find out a little more about Orfevre, the Japanese trained favourite for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Sky Sports: Orfevre was the seventh horse to have won the Japanese Triple Crown despite being beaten on his first two starts of 2011; were last year's three year olds a decent crop and how does he compare to previous Triple Crown winners?
Ichiro Tsuji: I think last year's three year olds weren't an outstanding crop. Comparing them to other years, last year's four year olds, for example (Victoire Pisa, Rulership, Rose Kingdom, Hiruno d'Amour and so on), were superior to Orfevre's generation.
Orfevre is comparable to Narita Brian, the 1994 Triple Crown winner by Brian's Time.
Sky: What can you tell us about his trainer, Yasutoshi Ikee?
IT: His father Yasuo Ikee is already retired but is still well known as a famous ex-trainer with many brilliant performers such as Deep Impact, To The Victory, Stay Gold and Mejiro McQueen to name but four and his son is a talented young trainer.
Now 43, Yasutoshi Ikee started his training career in 2004 (licenced the previous year). Before that he used to work as an exercise rider for his father and also gained experienced around the world with the likes of Sir Michael Stoute (1995 to 1996) and Neil Drysdale. In 2008, he became the leading trainer in the JRA. Notable horses that he has trained include Dream Journey (full brother to Orfevre), Tosen Jordan and Trailblazer (a Breeders Cup Turf challenger this year).
Sky: He was beaten on his first two starts of 2012, throwing the race away on his reappearance and then showing little next time. Is his temperament a concern for the Arc and how will he cope with the atmosphere on a big race day?
IT: Orfevre's temperament is his very own personality; it's double edged. It's a little bit of a concern but I am optimistic for the Arc. He will cope with the atmosphere on a big race day. In Japan, he has already experienced it with an audience of over 80,000 on Japanese Derby day and 115,000 audience on Arima Kinen day. It's no problem.
Sky: Connections have decided to use Christophe Soumillon for his European campaign. How was the news that Kenichi Ikezoe had lost the mount greeted?
IT: In general, Japanese fans have total confidence in foreign jockeys. Ikezoe losing the mount was big news but not a shock. Soumillon is very popular here and has ridden in the same owners' silks on the likes of Buena Vista amongst others.
Sky: Soumillon recently described Orfevre as being "on a level with Frankel"; is this a fair claim or was he just playing to the media?
IT: Frankel is a freak. I think it was playing to the media but I believe Orfevre is one of just a few horses who could beat Frankel at 2000m or beyond.
Sky: The Prix Foy was a slowly run race - would that have suited Orfevre and how impressed were you with his performance?
IT: It was too slow and, with only 5 runners, the Prix Foy wasn't a suitable test for Orfevre but he produced an almost perfect prep run. Even if that was something like schooling level, he proved himself to be on a higher level than two other Group One winners.
Sky: What do you believe is Orfevre's greatest asset?
IT: Explosive acceleration.
Sky: Orfevre's sire, Stay Gold, is a son of Sunday Silence whose produce have been in great demand in Japan - what impact would victory in the Arc have on the Japanese breeding industry?
IT: Sunday Silence's progeny are more or less elite runners but Stay Gold, in his racing days, was called a silver medal collector here in Japan, that is to say he is like a blue colour runner because he ran 50 races, and at 7 years old he won the Group One Hong Kong Vase - that was his final race. He didn't win any domestic Grade One events.
In his early days as a stallion, his reputation wasn't so good because his progeny are rather small. However, he sired Dream Journey, Nakayama Festa and recent Japan 2000 guineas winner Gold Ship.
The Stay Gold by Mejiro McQueen mare mating is called 'Golden Nic' as Orfevre, Gold Ship and other stakes winners appeared on that crossing. As you may be aware this Nic happens to be related to Yasuo Ikee trained horses.
His stud fee (2002) started as 1,500,000 yen (payment on confirmation of conception) and it has risen to 6,000,000 yen. This is the second highest fee this season. His nomination has been fully booked over recent seasons.
We call the Arc the Gaisenmon Sho in Japanese. Gaisenmon is Arc de Triomphe and Sho means Prix. Anyway the Arc is the Japanese horseman's ultimate goal. Just look at the list of Arc winners who have been exported to Japan from the 1959 winner Saint Crespin through to Workforce, there are 16 winners that have headed to Japan.
If a Japanese trained and bred horse were to win the Arc, then Japanese dreams would have come true. As the Japanese breeding industry needs foreign customers year by year, a victory in the Arc would definitely have a great impact not only in Japan but also in other major countries.
Sky: Deep Impact, another son of Sunday Silence, has made a flying start to his career as a stallion. Could Stay Gold rival his popularity and success?
IT: Quality over quantity. Some say Stay Gold is the former, Deep Impact the latter. As I mentioned before Stay Gold is already a very popular stallion but he is 18 years old now. Stay Gold is not one of the leading sires (sixth was his highest rank so far) but it's very admirable to go through the ranks as a stallion too.
Sky: Deep Impact, of course, ran in the Arc - how does Orfevre compare with the previous Japanese challengers?
IT: I think Deep Impact's failure in the Arc was a one shot deal. His connections decided not to run him in a prep race. I don't think Orfevre is on an equal level with Deep Impact but the possibility of him winning the Arc is greater than Deep Impact. The Japanese comparison is very difficult but Deep Impact (3rd but disqualified), El Condor Pasa (2nd), and Orfevre are Japan's super horses.
Sky: Do you think that he can win the Arc and who do you view as his biggest danger?
IT: Yes, he can. The biggest rival is Snow Fairy and, if she doesn't run, then another danger is Saonois.