"If he were a man, he would be called an eccentric" said French-based trainer John Hammond of his extraordinary charge - the late Montjeu IRE (Saddler's Wells USA).

The tall, imposing colt was always skittish and fearful of crowds prompting the French to call him a "coward", that is, until he started to produce impressive victories at two onwards which were credited to France.

He was often walked around the paddocks before other horses entered. 

He repeatedly reared and spooked with his male lad, but seemed much happier with the woman who occasionally accompanied him.

I remember his rearing in Longchamp's paddock.  His lad could not manage and was angry.

It looked like a disaster.

I walked over to the massive Montjeu and motioned for him to get down - firmly and sweetly.

He did - leaving his lad in shock.  I stayed with the horse until his jockey came and he behaved beautifully. 

Whatever fears Montjeu had, the moment jockey Michael Kinane (Sea The Star's jockey) got on his back he was happy and ready to race.

I doubt that any other jockey could calm and nurse the colt into his ruthless stalking pace readying him for the signal to dig that toe in the ground and take off in his characteristic overwhelming cut-down speed.

It was the explosive moment in every race that his fans waited for.

He was a great international champion, the most successful son of the great Saddler's Wells (who died in 2011 at 30), produced three Derby winners, endless numbers of Group winners and his youngsters are favourites for England's Guineas, Oaks and Derby this year.

Sixteen was too soon to lose him.

Beloved Montjeu:  Rest In Peace.

Racing International http://www.racingint.com

"The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), Daily Racing Form, and the National Turf Writers And Broadcasters (NTWA announced Wednesday that Rapid Redux, a winner of 19 consecutive races in 2011, will be honored with the Special Eclipse Award."

 "The Special Award honors extraordinary service, individual achievements in, or contributions to the sport of Thoroughbred racing." Daily Racing Form

The five-year-old gelding of Pleasantly Perfect USA, Rapid Redux USA, may only run in $5,000 starter-allowance races, but he has won 20 of them consecutively - 19 of which were in 2011.

His 20th was at Mountaineer Ractrack in Chester, WV, in January.

Rapid Redux has bested Zenyatta and Peppers Pride's 19 straight victories.

Over 115,000 shouted home Japan's "Golden Horse" Orfevre to victory in the Grade 1 Arima Kinen, 1m4½f (1-9/16m, 2500 meters) on Turf, at Nakayama on Christmas Day.

As Japan's first Triple Crown winner since Deep Impact JPN (Sunday Silence USA) in 2005, the spectacular three-year-old chestnut was sent out 6/5 favourite over 12 older horses - many of whom are multiple Grade winners.
 
Those Grade winners included the five-year-old mare Buena Vista JPN (Special Week JPN), winner of the 2011 Japan Cup, who was feted at her retirement after the race known as Japan's "Grand Prix" which is equivalent in national popularity to the Kentucky Derby, Grand National or Melbourne Cup.

The Arima Kinen purse is 416 million yen (£3.41 million or $4.9 million).

The three-year-old son of Stay Gold got a slow start in a slowly-run race and was second last for most of the first 10 furlongs when his jockey, Kenichi Ikezoe, pulled him five wide on the outside round the bend. 

Orfevre dug that amazing toe in, gearing up slowly about two furlongs out, and ground down the opposition Eishin Flash by ¾ length and To The Glory third in a sprint finish.

Buena Vista finished eighth and this year's Dubai World Cup winner, Victoire Pisa, behind her.

Ikezoe said "the colt stretched really well.  He's still a young horse - he was born later than the horses of the same age group (May 14, 2008) - but he is growing and getting better day by day."

Once unleashed, again and again, Orfevre has proven himself progressive if not invincible at longer distances. 

He lost his first three career races (a 10th 7f in a Grade 3, second and third in Grade 2s) and won his last six on a trot - four Grade 1s and two Grade 2s.

His trainer, Yasutoshi Ikee, equalled Japan's trainer record with five Grade 1 successes (four of which are Orfevre's) in one season.

Ikee said, "We are aiming for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but we are also examining the possibilities of racing him in Dubai in March".

The Dubai World Cup would probably be too short a trip for him now.

This is the horse who can finally bring the Arc cup home to Japan. 

As one of the world's best racehorses, Deep Impact should have won it, but did not because of poor race tactics.

Whatever races precede the Arc, they will be carefully chosen to enhance Orfevre's chances to win it and his career-long jockey primed to snatch Japan's coveted prize.

England has Frankel, Australia Black Caviar and Japan has its "Golden" boy - the three greatest horses racing on the Flat today.

©Posted December 26, 2011

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