The French trainer Jérôme Reynier is aiming for another Dubai Turf victory with Facteur Cheval

The Ribchester colt will face Romantic Warrior in his return to turf after running in the Saudi Cup (G1) in Saudi Arabia

The flashy Facteur Cheval is among those looking to defend his title / DRC

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – (Special to Turf Diario) – It wouldn’t be entirely fair to say that the team behind Facteur Cheval went unnoticed in the days leading up to the 2024 Dubai Turf (G1, 1800m, turf, US$ 5,000,000), sponsored by DP World.

With his striking white star, matching legs, and playful attitude every morning during training, the Ribchester colt certainly didn’t go unnoticed by photographers. However, not many journalists or specialized media paid him much attention.

But everything changed after his first G1 victory, when he defeated none other than Namur (Harbinger) and a field full of stars. This year, his preparation was unorthodox, with two performances on the dirt, but the flashy French chestnut has undoubtedly earned a prominent spot among the names capable of challenging the heavy favorite, Romantic Warrior (Acclamation).

“There were a lot of doubts last year about whether he could adapt to firm turf and about the quality of the competition. Essentially, he wasn’t considered a major threat," recalled trainer Jérôme Reynier at Friday’s press conference, with a hint of irony. "This year, we’ve arrived in a very different situation. There’s more certainty, especially considering he won his only appearance on this track after a five-month break.”

He continued, “Today, he’s the defending champion, and although the field is small, the quality is extremely high, with champions like Romantic Warrior and Liberty Island (Duramente). Last year, we started from the 8th post position out of 16, but Maxime Guyon had already proven he could win this race, as he did with Solow (Singspiel) starting from the 10th post.”

On the contrasts with last year’s edition, Reynier added, “This year, there’s a lot more attention on him, which brings extra pressure. Last year, he wasn’t among the top contenders, and if he finished in the top eight, it wouldn’t have been a bad result. Now, if he’s not in the top three, I’ll be disappointed. He’s a horse that never lets us down and did the first part of his preparation right here.”

“The hope is that his return to turf will propel him once again, and that he can be part of the final push,” he concluded.

Facteur Cheval has developed a close bond with Gregory Tavignot, his work rider, during the months he’s been stationed at Meydan. This week, in a light exercise on the dirt, both showed perfect synchronization, glued to the rail, as if they knew every inch of the track.

“The exercise on Wednesday was very satisfying. He already considers this place his home,” explained the trainer. “Last year, we had good feelings, but there were a lot of uncertainties. This year, with an extra week between the Saudi Cup and the Dubai Turf, we were able to lower the intensity for ten days and then build him back up. Physically and mentally, I think we couldn’t have him in better shape.”

Reynier concluded, “He’s been here for three months, without a stable mate, and he’s never shown any signs of discomfort. When Gregory is on him, he’s always a happy horse. We know exactly how to manage his workload. Whatever happens, after this, he’ll get a break, and then we’ll focus on Royal Ascot, where he’s entered in both the Queen Anne and the Prince of Wales's Stakes.”

A year ago, Facteur Cheval was part of the “almost” group, the ones who brushed with glory but didn’t quite reach it. Today, he’s a serious contender aiming for a double as prestigious as it is challenging.