Orfevre’s Brother Goes For The Gold

ORFEVRE’S BROTHER GOES FOR THE GOLD 
Shadai’s Ash Gold (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) has some lofty hoofprints to fill, being a full-brother to Triple Crown hero, Horse of the Year and four-time champion Orfevre (Jpn) and dual champion and triple Group 1 winner Dream Journey (Jpn)–who won this in 2006–and the juvenile could take a big step towards fulfilling expectations in today’s G1 Asahi Hai Futurity S., Japan’s crowning jewel for 2-year-olds. A debut sixth July 26, Ash Gold was off the mark after a three-month holiday at Kyoto Oct. 26 and finished second, beaten a half-length, in the G2 Daily Hai Nisai S.–a key prep for this–Nov. 15. The winner that day was Tagano Espresso (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}), who had previously broken his maiden at third asking at Kyoto Oct. 11 and who has never finished off the board. Clarity Sky (Jpn) (Kurofune) looks to extend his win streak to three. After finishing fourth on debut July 5 and second a week later, the bay graduated by two lengths over this course Sept. 27 and took the Icho S. at Tokyo by the same margin Oct. 11. Bright Emblem (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) has been slow from the gate in both his starts, but that didn’t stop him from winning either, the latter victory coming when he swooped six-wide to take the G3 Sapporo Nisai S. Sept. 6. While Bright Emblem will have to defy a near four-month layoff, Danon Platina (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will be wheeling back off 20 day’s rest. The grey has gone two-for-three, breaking his maiden by four lengths Oct. 13 before taking a Tokyo allowance Nov. 30. Ryan Moore won this last year aboard Asia Express (Henny Hughes), and the recent Longines World’s Best Jockey recipient looks for another international big-race win aboard the unbeaten Peptide Warhead (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}).