By Sam Turner -
So often the bridesmaid in some of the leading European pattern races, Facteur Cheval finally enjoyed his day in the sun with a thrilling victory in the G1 Dubai Turf.
Racing in the colours of Team Valour International and Gary Barber, the five-year-old son of Ribchester chased home the likes of Big Rock, Paddington and Sauterne at the top-level last summer and appeared to find improvement here for a step up to 1800m.
Jerome Reynier’s trainee needed to be tough to register his first G1 win though with the Cristian Demuro-ridden Namur tenacious in defeat as the duo dueled down the Meydan straight.
After a pulsating battle, Maxime Guyon forced Facteur Cheval’s head in front at the line to deny his Japanese rival a second success for his country on the night.
The strongly fancied Do Deuce found everything happening too quickly, but stayed on strongly into fifth in the straight with connections perhaps ruing the fact he was in this race and not the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic.
There was a sad postscript to the race when the Michael Stidham trainee Catnip came down in the straight, causing rider Christophe Lemaire to take a nasty fall.
The Frenchman was due to ride Derma Sotogake in the Dubai World Cup but was taken to hospital for observation with Oisin Murphy coming in for the ride.
“It’s just amazing, I have no words. You know 16 years ago we were here with (Darley) Flying Start and that was at Nad Al Sheba. I see a horse here that has been prepared the best way possible by Gregory (Davignon, work rider) and it’s just amazing, I can’t believe it,” trainer Jerome Reynier beamed.
“I said to Maxime I’ve never seen this horse go backwards at the finish, he is always going forward and giving his best. I had no doubts about the distance and Maxime has given him a perfect ride, he had Lord North to follow and he switched off during the race.
“He switched him to the outside and then waited long enough to save something for the end and that’s just amazing. I am so happy for all my team,” added a delighted handler.
“It depends how he recovers but he can stay here and take it easy. He’s adapted very well here and seems very happy so maybe we could try Hong Kong next for the QE II Cup at the end of April.”
