Orfevre Wins Arima Kinen at Nakayama

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Photo: Kate Hunter

Orfevre wins the Arima Kinen.

Sunday Racing Co.’s Orfevre, who this year became the seventh winner of Japan’s Triple Crown, won the $4.89 million Arima Kinen (Jpn-I) at Nakayama Racecourse Dec. 25.

The winning time for 2,500 meters, or about 12.5 furlongs on firm turf, was 2:36, according to the Japan Racing Association. Orfevre won by three-quarters of a length over Eishin Flash, with To the Glory third.

All 13 starters were bred in Japan. The Arima Kinen is designed to serve as an “all-star” event as the runners are selected by fans through various polls.

Orfevre, a 3-year-old colt by Stay Gold out of the Mejiro McQueen mare Oriental Art, was bred by Shadai Corporation Inc. He is trained by Yasutoshi Ikee and was ridden by Kenichi Ikezoe.

The JRA reported attendance of 115,065 at Nakayama and total handle of more than $48.2 billion yen, or about $617 million in U.S. dollars.

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