It's been a year of highs and lows for Japan. The lows being the devastating earthquake and tsunami that caused nuclear reactor failures around the country. The highs being Victore Pisa and Transend's 1-2 finish in the Dubai World Cup, the Women's soccer team winning the World Cup (much to the chagrin of me since they defeated the US in the final), and Buena Vista's much desereved Japan Cup win (after she was DQ'ed the year before). However, for the first time since 2005 when Deep Impact was the Japanese superstar, a horse won all three legs of the Triple Crown. Orfevre made even more history on Christmas when he defeated the now retired Buena Vista in the season ending Arima Kinen.
Dubai is possibly next for the son of Stay Gold, but that is not the ultimate goal. The Japansese want to win the Arc. Nakayama Festa has been the closest Japan trained horse to the top spot (second in last year's Arc to Workforce), but no Japanese based runner has won (Danedream who is co-owned by Japanese interests is based in Germany) the race. It's too early to tell weather Orfevre can follow in the footsteps of Deep Impact, Vodka and Buena Vista and become a true international horse. One thing's for sure, he certinally has Japan buzzing about his exploits on home soil.
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