Orfevre: a top-priced 16-1 for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
PICTURE: Masakazu TakahashiSoumillon booked to ride Japanese raider Orfevre
France: Connections of Japanese Horse of the Year Orfevre have moved swiftly to engage the services of dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe-winning rider Christophe Soumillon for the four-year-old's European campaign.
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Japanese jockey Kenichi Ikezoe has ridden Orfevre in all of his big-race wins, including six successes at the highest level, but owner Shunsuke Yoshida has revealed that he has booked Soumillon to ride him in Europe.
Orfevre will head to France to challenge for Europe's most valuable race on October 7. He is first expected to line up in one of the Arc trials at Longchamp in September.
Speaking at a party in celebration of Orfevre's win in the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen, trainer Yatsutoshi Ikee said that an agreement had been made for Soumillon to take the ride.
"We had been worried about various objections from various people but changing jockey is the result of much discussion," Ikee said. "I am sure it will be the best for Orfevre. I want to go to the Arc to be a winner."
Orfevre is a top-priced 16-1 for the Longchamp feature with the betting for the race likely to be shaken up at the end of the week with leading fancies St Nicholas Abbey, Nathaniel and Sea Moon set to clash in the Betfair-sponsored King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
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