Tag: Facteur Cheval (Ire)

Facteur Cheval to Queen Elizabeth II on British Champions Day

Group 3 winner Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) will likely start next in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on British Champions S. Day at Ascot if the anticipated wet weather holds, Team Valor's Barry Irwin said Sunday. The 4-year-old gelding was most recently third behind Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Prix Du Moulin de Longchamp on Sept. 3.

“It's the plan and he could run on any type of surface, but he's better with some give in the ground and the wetter the better, like when he won the Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud,” Irwin said. “We have skipped some other races he could have run in waiting for the race next weekend figuring it would be really wet again.”

“I think at this point we're looking at it as much, if not more, as a test to see how he handles that [quicker] going at this point of his life, as our goal next year is the G1 Dubai Turf. This will be a good test to see how he handles that type of track. That mile up the straight at Ascot is more like a mile and eighth and that's the distance of the Dubai Turf.”

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Kingman’s Sauterne Rules In The Moulin

Placed in three group 1s including the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches prior to Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois's hard-working homebred Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}–Salicorne, by Aragorn) had her day in the sun under Tony Piccone as she conquered the summit in the ParisLongchamp feature. Always happy using the 3-5 favourite Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) as a target, the belle of the Patrice Cottier stable mastered him 150 metres from the line before asserting for a length success at 11-1, with Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) half a length away in third.

For owner-breeder Jean-Pierre Dubois, a trotting legend in his native France and worldwide, this pinnacle triumph was understandably special. “It is a lot of fun for me to win a group 1 race on the flat,” he said. “It is so difficult to breed a good one. She is a lovely filly who has danced every dance and, except once, she has never run a bad race. She is an iron filly.”

 

Sauterne, who started her career in late November and has been kept on the go since, has raced ten times in the ten subsequent months with conditions wins in December, January and February followed by her first black-type success in this track's seven-furlong Listed Prix du Pont Neuf in April. Getting into the frame behind Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) in the Pouliches, she was held on to as she ran second to TDN Rising Star Kelina (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the G2 Prix de Sandringham at Chantilly in June, doing her best running late on. Seen to better effect under more positive tactics when second again reverting to seven in Deauville's G1 Prix Jean Prat the following month, she was denied in the closing stages when third in that track's G1 Prix Rothschild in August and seemed to have reached a limit.

What she had here was a lead and an ideal one at that, with Big Rock doing the inevitable and setting an honest tempo trying to put his rivals under pressure at a trip that on this livelier ground is on the sharp side. Sauterne was always comfortable in his wake and once Aurelien Lemaitre got serious on the leader two out the writing was already on the wall. Piccone asked the question soon after and the filly gave typically generously to forge ahead and close out with splits of 10.71 and 11.11 to seal the deal.

“She has a lovely temperament and nothing ever bothers her and that is why we could travel her so many times back and forth from our base in Marseille,” Cottier said of the winner, who was offered at the Goffs London Sale but failed to reach her reserve at £1.2million. “Every time, she has responded with guts and determination and she had done well since her last race in Deauville, she had a dream trip in the wake of the favourite and could produce her turn of foot. If all is well again, she will come back in the G1 Prix de la Foret.”

Pedigree Notes
Sauterne's unraced dam Salicorne (Aragorn) is a daughter of the listed-winning and group-placed Soignee (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}), which makes her a half to the six-times top-level scorer and Prix de Diane-winning champion Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun {Ger}). She is in turn responsible for the dual Japanese champion Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) and is the second dam of the G1 Yushun Himba heroine Stars On Earth (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), who also captured the G1 Oka Sho.

Soignee is also the second dam of Kingman's G3 Jersey S. winner and G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere runner-up Noble Truth (Fr), while the family also includes the G1 Commonwealth Cup runner-up Flaming Rib (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) and the G1 Grosser Preis von Bayern heroine Sunny Queen (Ger) (Camelot {GB}). Salicorne has the 2-year-old colt Sauvignon (Fr) (Inns Of Court {Ire}), who like Sauterne was unsold when offered at Arqana October last year.

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
PRIX DU MOULIN DE LONGCHAMP-G1, €450,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-3, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:36.76, g/s.
1–SAUTERNE (FR), 122, f, 3, by Kingman (GB)
     1st Dam: Salicorne, by Aragorn
     2nd Dam: Soignee (Ger), by Dashing Blade (GB)
     3rd Dam: Suivez (Fr), by Fioravanti
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€130,000 RNA Ylg '21 ARQAUG; £1,200,000 RNA HRA '23 GOFLON). O/B-Jean-Pierre-Joseph Dubois (FR); T-Patrice Cottier; J-Tony Piccone. €257,130. Lifetime Record: 11-5-2-3, $550,875. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Big Rock (Fr), 126, c, 3, Rock Of Gibraltar (Ire)–Hardiyna (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire). O/B-Yeguada Centurion SLU (FR); T-Christopher Head. €102,870.
3–Facteur Cheval (Ire), 130, g, 4, Ribchester (Ire)–Jawlaat (Ire), by Shamardal. (145,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; €120,000 Ylg '20 ARDEAY). O-Team Valor International LLC & Gary Barber; B-McCracken Farms (IRE); T-Jerome Reynier. €51,435.
Margins: 1, HF, SHD. Odds: 10.80, 0.60, 3.40.
Also Ran: Erevann (Fr), Belbek (Fr), Topgear (Fr), Kelina (Ire), Fast Raaj (Fr). Video, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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ParisLongchamp: Moulin Opportunity For Big Rock

   With no Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) lurking in Sunday's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, the way is clear for Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) to bag that elite contest that his portfolio demands.

Having met his match in Ace Impact (Ire) in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, Yeguada Centurion SL's G3 Prix de Guiche and G3 Prix la Force winner came up short against Cheveley Park Stud's high-class filly in Deauville's G1 Prix Jacques le Marois last month but that form looks enough in what is a winnable renewal on paper.

Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) has proven himself at this level on his last two starts, finishing third in a blanket in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan over another furlong and 55 yards before making Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) work in the G1 Sussex S.

“Even though it's back in four and a half weeks which sounds like a reasonable amount of time, in the back of my mind I'm hoping he doesn't react to that last race, it certainly knocked out Paddington,” Team Valor CEO Barry Irwin said. “We are hopeful for a good race because Big Rock likes to go off in front and we need to have a target. The races where he hasn't ran quite up to scratch this year are when he got too far behind in a paceless race.”

 

Derby Rematch At Baden-Baden

In the day's G1 153rd Wettstar.de Grosser Preis von Baden, the G1 Deutsches Derby one-two Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Mr Hollywood (Ire) (Iquitos {Ger}) resume their rivalry, with the former having to bounce back from a beating from Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the G1 Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich in late July. TDN Rising Star Mr Hollywood arrives fresh after a break since the Hamburg Classic and may offer the sternest threat to Ecurie Altima and Gerard Augustin-Normand's standard-setting G1 Dubai Sheema Classic and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud-placed Zagrey (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}).

 

Rochette Task For Beauvatier

   Back at ParisLongchamp, Philippe Allaire and Haras d'Etreham's Listed Prix Roland de Chambure-winning TDN Rising Star Beauvatier (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) bids to maintain his unbeaten record in the seven-furlong G3 Prix la Rochette, where he meets fellow TDN Rising Star Havana Cigar (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}). White Birch Farm's grey is up a furlong, having finished third in Deauville's G3 Prix de Cabourg. In the 10-furlong G3 Prix du Prince d'Orange, the exciting G2 Prix Eugene Adam winner Horizon Dore (Fr) (Dabirsim {Fr}) builds towards a major autumn target in the Gousserie silks made famous by a similar type in Sealiway (Fr).

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‘He’s Much Faster Than The Giant’ – O’Brien Lauds Ballydoyle’s New Iron Horse

As expected, Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex S. was all about TDN Rising Star Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) who was able to dictate and dominate in Goodwood's heavily rain-softened ground and register a fourth straight top-level success. While his 1 1/2-length verdict over Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) is hardly inspiring stuff, the 4-9 favourite never looked likely to surrender his admirable sequence with Ryan Moore on the stand's rail throughout the closing stages which probably made for more tense watching than the winner's connections had expected.

The time of 1:47.16 was over 10 seconds outside standard time and represented more of a “French-style” mostly slow and then quick test which is not what the eventual last Inspiral (GB) (Frankel {GB}) least wants. She was the only one to truly put it up to the Ballydoyle colt, but she was spent two out, with the minor placings filled out by Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) three lengths behind Facteur Cheval in third in this GI Breeders' Cup Mile qualifier.

“He is thriving on racing and is a very uncomplicated horse,” Moore said. “He's won on fast and very bad ground here over a mile and a mile and a quarter and you can ride him however you like, it doesn't matter. He's a very unique horse–every time he comes to the races he feels like he loves it. Some people say he's taken us by surprise, but I can assure you he hasn't because all this year he's shown he's a very good horse.”

“I had everything on my own terms early on and wanted to go as gently as I could and get to the fence, but Frankie did what he could and we started racing too early really,” Moore added. “His filly was gone at the two and look where she ended up, but he's still got plenty left. There is every chance he could stay a mile and a half, he's out of a Montjeu mare, but we've got a bit of time and we'll see how he comes out of this race. It is a hard thing to say, but he gives you the feel that he might be as good a horse as I have ridden. He is exceptional. Someone asked me yesterday if he would go on this ground and I said 'he would go on snow'.”

The tale of this race was already largely predictable even before the persistent rain, with the presence of the favourite having already scared some meaningful opposition off to Deauville. With only Inspiral on his wavelength, his task was made all the easier as it dictated how the tactics would play out. It was a case of “after you” from the start and given how rapid Paddington always is from the gates it quickly became a matter of when Frankie would attack and a play for second from the other three.

Inspiral was inclined to pull off the moderate pace, which only served to further diminish her threat already lessened by the way the ground was riding and the moment of truth came as she was placed alongside Paddington straightening for home. Forcing the favourite into a sectional of :11.58 from the three to the two, she was soon tired and backtracking with a Jacques le Marois defence in Dettori's mind as Paddington forged a :11.92 penultimate split to kill the contest. Facteur Cheval was impressively fast for most of the final three furlongs and for all that he failed to get alongside the winner, he at least made Moore employ the whip.

Where next for Paddington? With a constitution like his, turning up in Normandy in 11 days' time for the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois is not out of the question, but it seems to be all about the Giant's Causeway route with Aidan O'Brien mentioning York's Ebor Festival in the immediate aftermath. “I think the Juddmonte International definitely has to be on the cards,” he said. “It's amazing that he is getting ready to run again so quickly after each race–he was three to four kilos heavier today than the last day which wasn't that long ago.”

“Paddington is much quicker than the Giant was,” the master of Ballydoyle added. “He's tactically quick but he can quicken as well. The Giant was tactically quick and was dour after that. This horse can really turn it on when you have to, on all types of ground. He is unique.”

“You always worry about having that extra weight on him in that ground, as it makes it more of a test of endurance rather than speed and speed is his big thing,” O'Brien concluded. “The tougher the race, the better he is getting and he wasn't stressed after the race here. Everything is open to him–Tom has mentioned the option of going to Australia, so we'll maybe look at York with him next time and see then. He could do anything–he's very special, we think. We made the Arc entry also, because Ryan says there doesn't seem to be any end to his stamina.”

Peter Brant, who has an interest in Paddington, was on hand to witness the race on his first visit to Goodwood and said, “I must say this is among the greatest horses I've been proud enough to own. We won the Kentucky Derby in 1984 with a horse called Swale who was a great racehorse, but this horse has done a lot of special things that are hard to do. To win four Group 1s like this in such a short space of time and to look as grand as he does and to be gaining weight and not losing it is extraordinary.”

Jerome Reynier was understandably delighted with the effort of the runner-up, who is set to come back to England later in the year. “It's like a victory today,” he said. “We really thought he was going to beat Paddington, but he had the stands rail and we were in the middle of the track and he was stuck in the middle of traffic. He ran a great race, he was third in a Group 1 the other day and second today in a very nice group one and I hope the next time we will be able to win at that level.”

“We never thought he was going to be able to run that way, but he keeps improving mentally and physically so probably the best is yet to come,” Reynier added. “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. There are two options beforehand–the Moulin de Longchamp or the Woodbine Mile in Canada. Maybe we will wait until his is a 5-year-old for an international campaign.”

Frankie Dettori said of Inspiral, “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. It was obvious what was going to happen–Paddington got a lead and everything his own way, but I had to make a race of it.”

 

Pedigree Notes

Paddington, who was bred and raised at Monceaux for the Wildensteins, achieved the joint-second-highest price of €420,000 at the 2021 Arqana October Sale. As far as Arc claims are concerned, his dam Modern Eagle stayed 12 1/2 furlongs on heavy ground when winning the Listed Prix Belle de Nuit and was also responsible for Masterpiece (Fr) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who stayed 14 furlongs when third in the 2020 Khor Al Adaid Cup at Doha.

Modern Eagle, a daughter of the G1 Prix de Diane runner-up Millionaia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre), is also kin to Mighty Blue (Fr) by Montjeu's son Authorized (Ire) who was successful in the 14-furlong Listed Vintage Tipple S. and third in the two-mile G3 Loughbrown S. before going hurdling. The third dam is the G1 Prix Saint-Alary heroine Moonlight Dance (Alysheba), whose other descendants include the G2 Prix du Conseil de Paris scorer Ming Dynasty (Fr) (King's Best) and the G1 Melbourne Cup runner-up Heartbreak City (Fr) (Lando {Ger}).

 

Wednesday, Goodwood, Britain
QATAR SUSSEX S.-G1, £1,000,000, Goodwood, 8-2, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:47.16, sf.
1–PADDINGTON (GB), 129, c, 3, by Siyouni (Fr)
                1st Dam: Modern Eagle (Ger) (SW-Fr), by Montjeu (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Millionaia (Ire), by Peintre Celebre
                3rd Dam: Moonlight Dance, by Alysheba
TDN Rising Star. (€420,000 Ylg '21 ARQDOY). O-Tabor/Smith/
Magnier/Westerberg/Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd (GB);
T-Aidan O'Brien; J-Ryan Moore. £567,100. Lifetime Record:
G1SW-Ire, 8-7-0-0, $2,082,332. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
   *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree,
   or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Facteur Cheval (Ire), 136, g, 4, Ribchester (Ire)–Jawlaat (Ire),
by Shamardal. (145,000gns Wlg '19 TATFOA; €120,000 Ylg '20
ARDEAY). O-Team Valor International LLC & Gary Barber;
B-McCracken Farms (IRE); T-Jerome Reynier. £215,000.
3–Charyn (Ire), 129, c, 3, Dark Angel (Ire)–Futoon (Ire), by
Kodiac (GB). (250,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mr Nurlan
Bizakov; B-Grangemore Stud (IRE); T-Roger Varian. £107,600.
Margins: 1HF, 3, HF. Odds: 0.44, 11.00, 40.00.
Also Ran: Aldaary (GB), Inspiral (GB). Scratched: Chindit (Ire). VIDEO.

 

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