 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |
Facteur Cheval is being lined up for a potential tilt at the Gr.1 Hong Kong Cup following his sterling second to Charyn in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. The 5YO, trained by Jerome Reynier, continues showing remarkable consistency at the highest level, adding another prestigious placing to his growing collection.
Facteur Cheval's finest hour came in the Gr.1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in March, where he showcased his class with a commanding performance under Mickael Barzalona. Always travelling strongly, the son of Ribchester powered clear in the final furlong to score by two lengths from Japanese raider Schnell Meister, with Nations Pride back in third. The victory, worth US$3.6 million, marked his first success at the highest level and vindicated his trainer's global ambitions. Prior to that breakthrough, he had shown his potential with a Gr.3 success in the Prix Edmond Blanc at Saint-Cloud, defeating subsequent Group One winner The Revenant.
The French raider's previous Ascot visit saw him chase home Big Rock on Champions Day 2022. His impressive 2023 campaign includes breaking through at the highest level in the Gr.1 Dubai Turf at Meydan, followed by a creditable third in the Gr.1 Sussex Stakes behind Paddington.
Previous Hong Kong Cup winners include A Shin Hikari (2015), who later captured the Prix d'Ispahan, and Romantic Warrior (2022), who went on to claim the QEII Cup.
"He arrived back in the south of France on Monday and I'm very happy with him," Reynier reported. "He's so consistent at the highest level and he deserves to win a race like that. Maybe next year he'll back for the Lockinge, Queen Anne, Sussex or Queen Elizabeth and he'll be able to win one of them."
The versatile campaigner's immediate future could involve an ambitious international programme. "He's been entered in Hong Kong, so let's see how he feels. He could arrive early in Dubai to run at the Carnival as well, so we'll see," Reynier added.
The trainer is contemplating stepping his stable star up in trip for the Hong Kong assignment. "Hong Kong is a very special place for horses mentally, but he's getting more and more mature and maybe he will be able to cope with this long journey. If he does go to Hong Kong, he will be running over a mile and a quarter in the Hong Kong Cup as it's a flat course and I think he would be better suited by 2,000 metres."
Meanwhile, Reynier's attention turns to Australia, where his unbeaten 3YO Lazzat contests the Golden Eagle. "He's travelled really well and is in very good shape, so it will be a very interesting gamble to try him against the best horses over there and the Japanese filly (Ascoli Piceno), who is the favourite on paper. It will be an interesting race and I'm looking forward to going – I can't miss that!"