Champion Orfevre’s progeny have plenty in their favour

The first offspring of Japanese Triple Crown winner Orfevre seem to stride past in every size and colour, but Japanese breeders are hoping that they consistently inherit their sire's electric acceleration - and make him next top progenitor from the fabled Sunday Silence line.

"He has had some good mares sent to him, so he has a good chance to succeed," observed Teruya Yoshida, owner of Shadai Farm and confederate with his brothers of the Shadai Stallion Station. It was there that Orfevre covered about 190 mares this spring, his fourth season of stud duty, at an advertised fee of ¥6 million (about £40,885).

"We have seen some good ones, but not all of them are precocious. He was a stayer, so it is not surprising his foals are not quick to mature," said Yoshida of Orfevre's first juveniles, who are now beginning their racing careers. "We don’t need to hurry."

Yasutoshi Ikee, the trainer who turned a headstrong young colt (who dumped his rider after his maiden win) into a dual Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up, expects that Orfevre's sons and daughters will also distinguish themselves in "worldwide competition."

"Many of his offspring are a very strong type of horse, like their father, with good muscle," Ikee said during the recent Japan Racing Horse Association select sale in Hokkaido, where Orfevre ranked as the fifth leading sire overall by turnover, with 22 yearlings and foals sold for a combined ¥765.5 million (£5,216,275) at an average of ¥34.8 million (£237,134).

"I have five or six of his offspring in my stable and they are training very well," continued Ikee, currently Japan's leading trainer by earnings. "Most of them may debut in the autumn and they may take time. But they are Classic-type horses and they will be aimed at next year's Classic races."

Since Orfevre is by Sunday Silence's fiery-natured son Stay Gold, who did not win his first Group 1 until he took the Hong Kong Vase at the age of seven, it is not surprising that the first offspring of the now nine-year-old have not jumped quickly from the gate. To date, he has one winner from eight starters: the colt Kurino Kooning, who set a Hakodate racecourse record for debuting juveniles when covering 9f in 1:49.70 on July 9.

Himself a striking blondish chestnut with a blaze, standing just over 16 hands, Orfevre can get any kind of physical. His offspring at the JRHA sales have included tall and rugged individuals, as well as somecompact types. Some have displayed spirited characters.

Orfevre has been generously supported by the Yoshida family and other breeders, and he has 154 registered offspring in his initial crop; plus 160 yearlings from matings that rival those afforded the world's best sires. The mares that have visited him come from all over the globe.

Just look at some of the pedigrees in his first crop, on the accompanying table. Among those who have signed tickets for Orfevre foals and yearlings at JRHA sessions, meanwhile, are leading Japanese owners Riichi Kondo, Takaya Shimakawa, Koji Maeda, Makoto Kaneko, Big Red Farm and Mizuki Noda, as well as Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse.

At least one Orfevre colt, a juvenile son of Irish Group 3 winner Miss Emma, has been sent to Britain. Named Developed, he was sold as a yearling for ¥40 million at the 2016 JRHA sale to Hong Kong-based Hung Kwok Hing Little.

Orfevre’s second crop features a half-brother to Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) winner Deep Brillante, as well as other colts out of Argentine Oaks winner Caldine, Italian Group 1 winner Charity Line, American Grade 1 winner Hilda's Passion and Australian champion Shamrocker.

Orfevre's yearling fillies include a half-sister to champion Mikki Queen and daughters of Grade 1 winners Buy The Sport, Franny Freud, Gabby's Golden Gal and Weemissfrankie, as well as a daughter of My Sweet Baby, a Premio Regina Elena winner who is a half sister to Group 1 winner Gladiatorus from the family of Haafhd and Red Cadeaux.

Highlight of Orfevre's first crop of two-year-olds

Wicked Eyes, a filly out of American Grade 1 winner Wickedly Perfect

Mystic Glow, a colt out of Preis der Diana (German Oaks) winner Mystic Lips

Alquimia, a colt out of Grade 1 winner C. S. Silk

Unnamed filly out of Galileo's Prix de l'Opera winner Lily Of The Valley

Marchesa, a half-sister to champion Satono Diamond

Alumbrera, a son of Argentine champion Cursora

Primera Vista, a half-sister to Japanese Horse of the Year Buena Vista

Sierra, a filly out of Santa Anita Oaks winner Golden Doc A

Spada d'Oro, a colt out of Grade 1 winner Gorella

Argentino, a filly out of Grade 1 winner Evita Argentina

Eikai Victoria, a filly produced by Italian highweight Exhibit One

Solace, a filly out of Tapit's Grade 1 winner Laragh

Unnamed colt out of two-time Sun Chariot Stakes winner Sahpresa

Sinharaja, a colt out of Del Mar Oaks winner Singhalese

Couronne d'Etoile, a filly out of Deep Impact's half-sister Stars In Her Eyes

Unnamed colt out of Japanese champion Sweep Tosho

Oath of Gold, a filly out of Grade 1 winner Ticker Tape

Toshin Kaiser, a colt out of Premio Regina Elena (Italian 1,000 Guineas) winner Xua

Satono Teras, a half-brother to 2106 Japanese juvenile champion Satono Ares.