No Japanese joy for Dettori as Orfevre strikes

Report: Japan, Sunday

Tokyo: Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) (Grade 1) 1m4f, turf, 3yo

FRANKIE DETTORI was out of luck in the world's richest Derby, the Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby), as Satsuki Sho winner Orfevre (Yasutoshi Ikee/Kenichi Ikezoe) added the second leg of the Japanese Triple Crown to his Guineas victory.

Sent off 2-1 favourite, the son of Stay Gold darted between horses at the furlong marker to score by a length and three-quarters over Win Variation, the pair racing clear of their rivals in the 338 million yen (about £2.54m) contest. 

With his owner present in Japan for the first time in 16 years, Sheikh Mohammed's Debonair and Dettoricould finish only 12^th in an 18-runner field for a race run in filthy conditions as driving rain hit Tokyo racecourse.

Although Debonair seemed to be running well within himself towards the rear of the main bodyof the field, he could not raise his game after they turned for home and looked one-paced on the soft ground.

Dettori did not leave Japan empty-handed, however, as he landed the second race on the card on Princess Haya's Alberti. The son of Medicean won a 7f maiden for three-year-olds.

Orfevre is the 22nd horses to win the first two legs of the Japanese Triple Crown and the first since Meisho Samson in 2006.

His trainer Yasutoshi Ikee is the youngest Derby-winning trainer in Japan Racing Association history.

Jockey Kenichi Ikezoe settled Orfevre towards the rear, just ahead of Debonair in the early stages before being steered through a narrow gap in the straight to hit the front inside the final furlong.

Win Variation also explodedfrom the pack and the pair raced clear, with Orfevre running out an emphatic winner. Third-placed Belshazzar was seven lengths back.