English/Ire
Facteur Cheval ready for Neom Turf Cup challenge
Jerome Reynier feels that Facteur Cheval is well-placed to run a good race when he returns to action in the valuable Neom Turf Cup at Riyadh on Saturday.
A breakthrough Group 1 winner for Reynier in the 2024 Dubai Turf, the Team Valor International and Gary Barber-owned gelding has not been seen since finishing ninth when bidding to go one spot better in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day.
"The Queen Elizabeth was very tricky," said Reynier. "We were behind the favourite (Field of Gold), and we thought we were traveling well, but the ground was a bit tricky that day."
The son of Ribchester may not have found the winners' circle in 2025, but he ran some solid races in defeat, finishing third on the dirt in the Al Maktoum Challenge before a seventh-place finish behind Forever Young in the Saudi Cup preceded respectable efforts in both the Dubai Turf and Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He will now step up to beyond ten furlongs for the first time, with Reynier confident that his seven-year-old has the temperament and ability to stay the trip.
He said: "The Neom is a good race for him. He's been running over longer distances than the nine furlongs having had a run in the Prince of Wales's last year at Royal Ascot, but everything went wrong that day.
"He was sent too early to the front and it's very hard to do that going ten furlongs at Ascot. You need a lot of stamina. On the flat track in Riyadh, on good ground, I'm very sure he can stay the trip, especially now that he's a seven-year-old and very easy to handle.
"He looks great and has been working well, so we are quite confident he will run a good race. Mickael Barzalona has ridden him very well and will ride him again."
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