, agonisingly beaten into second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October, has returned to training following a three-month break with a view to returning to action in the Grade 2 Osaka Hai on March 31. The Japanese star spent his sojourn at Northern Farm Shigaraki near the Ritto training centre. He looked in good shape in his first gallop of the season on March 3 in preparation for the Osaka Hai, over 2,000 metres (1m2f) on turf. Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee said: "He is very fine thanks to a long break. It was just the right choice to send him to Shigaraki soon after the Japan Cup. He is very fresh and flexible. I will train him harder step by step from next week." Connections have decided to challenge for the the Arc once more as his main target this year. After the Osaka Hai, Orfevre will run in the Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m, turf) at Hanshin on June 23. They have the option of the Grade 1 Tenno Sho Spring (3200m, turf) at Kyoto on April 28. Regular jockey Kenichi Ikezoe will head to Paris this spring to experience riding at Longchamp. Last season, when ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Orfevre looked set to become the first Japanese-trained horse to win the Arc only to hang toward the rail late in the race, which allowed Solemia to beat him by a quarter of a length. He then was beaten a nose by Gentildonna in the Japan Cup when ridden by Ikezoe.