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| Sumita Pawar |
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Facteur Cheval, ridden by Jerome Reynier, delivered a commendable performance in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, finishing ahead of all other competitors except for the impressive Paddington. Following this remarkable display, Reynier has set his sights on the prestigious Qipco British Champions Day for his talented horse, Facteur Cheval. With high hopes and a determined spirit, they aim to showcase their skills and compete against the finest in the racing world on this grand stage.
The French invader had been kept rested since finishing a close third behind Anmaat, trained by Owen Burrows, in the Prix d'Ispahan at the end of May.
Aidan O'Brien's Colt Shines Bright
Under the skillful guidance of jockey Maxime Guyon, the horse with odds of 11-1 made a strong move into contention as they approached the final furlongs. For a moment, it seemed like the favorite, Paddington, might face a serious challenge.
However, Aidan O'Brien's exceptional colt dug deep and found an extra burst of energy, maintaining his undefeated record for the season, which now stands at six victories. Despite the loss, Reynier, the trainer, was understandably thrilled with his 4YO performance.
Reynier has come close to victory on Champions Day in the past, as Skalleti finished in second place behind Addeybb in the Champion Stakes three years ago.
Additionally, Facteur Cheval is also heading to Ascot, with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes being a logical choice as the target race.
“Fingers crossed he will be coming back in good shape and we can aim for the Queen Elizabeth at the end of the year with him,” the trainer added.
Roger Varian expressed his satisfaction with the performance of Charyn, who finished in third place once again, trailing behind Paddington. Charyn had previously demonstrated commendable runs, albeit coming in behind Paddington, in both the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes.
“He ran well and he prefers better ground. He travelled into it well,” said the Newmarket handler.
“He ran very well at Royal Ascot to be third in the St James’s Palace, nearly second, and he ran very well in the Irish Guineas (finished fourth), so he’s knocking on the door at this top level.
“He doesn’t like this ground really, he wants better ground.”
John and Thady Gosden's three-time Group One winner Inspiral turned out to be the biggest letdown in the race. In a bid to outpace Paddington towards the stands rail, Frankie Dettori made an early maneuver in the straight. However, his horse quickly succumbed to the mounting pressure and gradually lost strength, ultimately finishing in the disappointing last position out of the five contenders.
Dettori said, “We tried, but it was very obvious that she doesn’t cope with this kind of ground.
“If the ground dries up and she comes out of this race, we can back her up in the race she won in France last year (Prix Jacques le Marois).
“It was obvious what was going to happen – Paddington got a lead and everything his own way, so I grabbed the fence as I had to make a race of it.”