Proud Ikee vows to return and win Arc
Japanese trainer brushes aside disappointment of Orfevre's defeat to French filly Treve in Europe's most prestigious race
Yasutoshi Ikee brushed aside the disappointment of his Japanese superstar Orfevre finishing second in Europe’s most prestigious race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the second successive year, and pledged to return and claim a victory his country craves.
The 44-year-old trainer, whose father Yasuo also failed to land the race when champion Deep Impact finished third in 2006, said he was extremely proud of Orfevre’s performance in finishing a five-length second to unbeaten French filly Treve.
It was a more comprehensive defeat than last year when the horse’s quirky temperament cost him the race, veering across the track and coming almost to a halt, allowing unheralded filly Solemia to steal the honours.
“I hoped that Treve would run out of gas but it wasn’t to be and my fellow lacked the turn of foot he had last year to reel her in.”
However, Ikee, who kept his emotions to himself unlike many of his 6,000 compatriots who flew in for the race and openly wept, said it was a greater performance as he came second in a renewal regarded by many as the best since Dancing Brave won in 1986.
“For me it was his greatest performance,” said Ikee, who in 2011 trained him to become only the seventh horse to win the Japanese Triple Crown (2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger all over different distances).
“He didn’t lose his head this year, he wouldn’t let Intello (who finished third) get past him all the way down the finishing straight, it was very impressive.
“He had got a bit excited on the bend into the final straight but he calmed down which a year ago he would not have done.”
