By Anthony Manton
Orfevre (JPN) (Stay Gold {JPN}) is widely regarded as one of the best horses of his generation in Japan. A six-time Group 1 winner, Japanese Triple Crown winner and awarded Horse Of The Year and Best 3-year-old Colt in Japan in 2011, and Best Older Horse in 2012/13. He was inducted into the JRA Racing Hall of Fame in 2015.
Who could forget the Group 1 Prix De L’arc De Triomphe of 2012 when Orfevre went agonisingly close finishing 2nd after seemingly having the race all but won. He was 2nd again in 2013, and the race still eludes the Japanese.
Sent to stud in 2014, Orfevre was an immediate success. He sired a Group 1-winner in his first season with Lucky Lilac (Orfevre {JPN}), who was awarded Best 2-year-old Filly in Japan in 2017 and he backed it up in 2018 with Epoca D’oro (Orfevre {JPN}), winning the Group 1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas), the same race Orfevre himself won in 2011.
Orfevre has had just one runner in Australia, Hokkaido Miss (JPN) (Orfevre {JPN}) a French-import trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and is yet to sire a winner down under.
At Taree on Monday, Developed (JPN) (Orfevre {JPN}) trained by Kim Waugh will be just the second runner in Australia for Orfevre, when he kicks off his career in a 1400m maiden.
A 4-year-old by southern hemisphere standards, Developed first trialled at Newcastle on April 17, racing handily to the speed and accelerating when asked to win the heat by nearly 2 lengths.
At his second trial at Gosford on April 29, Developed was trapped three-wide throughout but despite the wide run showed toughness to knuckle-down and win again.
Developed was purchased at the JRHA Sale for ¥43,200,000 (AU$558,000), on account of Symboli Stud. Bloodstock agent Justin Bahen selected the horse for Hong Kong-based Little Kwok Hing Hung on behalf of Orbis Bloodstock.
“He was purchased out of a sale in Japan. At this sale all the yearlings on offer are in a paddock and you bid on them from there. They do things a little differently in Japan,” said Paul King, Director of Racing & Bloodstock for Orbis.
Developed is from the mare Miss Emma (Ire) (Key Of Luck {USA}), a four-time stakes-winner in Ireland and France. He is a half-brother to Kagura (USA) (Vindication {USA}), a stakes-winner in France as a 2-year-old, and Symboli Empire (USA) (Empire Maker {USA}) and Symboli Tapit (USA) (Tapit {USA}) both well-performed Japanese milers.
Purchased in Japan, reared in the UK and now trained at Wyong, Developed has taken the long route to get to where he is now.
“He was originally purchased to race in the UK and spent a good bit of time over there, then Orbis decided to close down their UK operation to focus on the Australian side of the business and all the horses were imported to Australia,” said King.
King, who rides all the Orbis Bloodstock horses in trackwork and gives recommendations on where to place them, has always believed Developed was worth persevering with.
“As part of my role with Orbis, I ride all of their horses and always thought he had the ability. I suggested we keep him and it was just a case of turning his attitude around”.
“As part of my role with Orbis, I ride all of their horses and always thought he had the ability. I suggested we keep him". - Paul King
“He took a long time to find his feet in Australia, he’s a very strong-willed horse and it’s taken a lot of work with him to behave,” said King.
Trainer Kim Waugh has also been impressed with the progression of Development, and expects he will be much better next preparation and once he gets to a mile and beyond.
Paul King, Kenny Au (Orbis Bloodstock) and Kris Lees
“He was very uneducated when we got him, he’d basically done nothing during his time in the UK and he’s come a long way since. Kim likes him and believes we won’t see the best of him until next preparation and once he gets to a mile and beyond,” said King.
Developed has drawn barrier 1 for jockey Serg Lisnyy, and King believes Taree looks an ideal starting point for Developed.
“We scratched him from Scone on Friday when he drew wide and saved him for Taree, and it looks a good race for him to kick off with. He’s bred to get a mile and beyond so 1400m for his first start will be ideal, and from gate 1 he’s going to get every chance,” said King.
“He’s bred to get a mile and beyond so 1400m for his first start will be ideal, and from gate 1 he’s going to get every chance,” - Paul King.
Just last month, Orbis Bloodstock had a winner at Taree with Bellum (GB) (Battle Of Marengo{Ire}), trained by Kris Lees, who was among the same group of horses exported from the UK with Developed.
