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Meydan round-up: Facteur Cheval delivers in Dubai Turf thriller

Updated / Saturday, 30 Mar 2024 16:53
Facteur Cheval gets the better of the hooded Namur in the Dubai Turf
Facteur Cheval gets the better of the hooded Namur in the Dubai Turf

Facteur Cheval just held off the late lunge of Japanese challenger Namur to win the Dubai Turf, in which Lord North was unplaced in search of his fourth win in the race.

Trained in France by Jerome Reynier, the winner was last seen finishing second to his compatriot Big Rock in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day.

It has previously been suggested that Facteur Cheval needed soft ground to be seen at his best, as he arguably showed his top form in testing conditions when second to Paddington in the Sussex Stakes, but he showed his versatility on this occasion.

Hollie Doyle somehow managed to get Nashwa to the front from her wide draw in stall 14 but with a furlong to run, she had run her race.

Her John and Thady Gosden stablemate Lord North looked threatening at one point but age may have finally caught up with the eight-year-old as he found disappointingly little.

Measured Time burst through with a challenge on the inside and briefly hit the front but Facteur Cheval and Namur came powering down the centre of the track.

The pair crossed the line together but it was 22-1 shot Facteur Cheval and Maxime Guyon who got the verdict on the nod.

"He's amazing because he's just as good when the ground is heavy or soft," said Guyon

"But he’s never been the same as he was today. The turn of foot he showed was better than he’s ever shown."

In the closing stages, Christophe Lemaire suffered a nasty fall from Catnip and was stretchered off the track and taken to hospital for observation.

Tower Of London (2-1F) once again displayed a smart turn of foot to win the Dubai Gold Cup.

Aidan O'Brien’s four-year-old had come from the back of the pack to win in Saudi Arabia last time out and once again Ryan Moore dropped him out at the rear.

His task was made somewhat easier as Roger Varian’s Eldar Eldarov was withdrawn at the start on veterinary advice.

The field only went at a sedate pace and it might not have looked the right place to be, especially with John and Thady Gosden’s Champions Day winner Trawlerman helping to dictate matters.

When Kieran Shoemark kicked on early in the straight it briefly looked as if he may have slipped the field.

However, his backers soon knew their fate as Al Nayyir loomed up on the bridle looking the likely winner.

Unfortunately for him, Tower Of London was just about to hit top gear down the centre of the track and the Galileo colt came with a sweeping run, looking a stayer very much on the upgrade.

"We’re delighted, we felt he would come on from Saudi – all the staff have been very happy with him out here," said O’Brien.

"Ryan gave him a beautiful ride, he got it spot on. What can you say about him, he’s so cool. He saved ground on him and then dropped him on the line.

"I Imagine he’s an Ascot-type horse, the Hardwicke or maybe the Coronation at Epsom."

Hong Kong star California Spangle (4-1) shattered the track record when seeing off Star Of Mystery and Diligent Harry in a red-hot Al Quoz Sprint.

Trained by Tony Cruz and ridden by Brenton Avdulla, the six-year-old has spent the majority of his career racing over seven furlongs and a mile and even finished second in the 2022 Hong Kong Derby over 10 furlongs behind Romantic Warrior.

He has locked horns with Golden Sixty on many occasions but having his first start over six furlongs since January 2022, he displayed blistering speed.

The winner was never far from the pace but had Clive Cox's Diligent Harry for company for most of it.

California Spangle’s superior stamina kicked in close home as he stamped his authority on the contest, as Charlie Appleby’s three-year-old filly Star Of Mystery made late headway under Frankie Dettori to beat Diligent Harry for second.

"We came here knowing we had a good chance," said Cruz.

"But we also knew that giving 13lb to Star Of Mystery would be tough. When he hits the front, nothing can catch him, and we were all over the moon when he took the lead.

"He broke a record on his debut over 1,000 metres, then we stretched him out to a mile, but in this 1200m you have to run at 1400m to win it.

"He’s a horse I think that can go places. I believe his ability is better than the others. It’s 10th time lucky for me in Dubai."

Forever Young (8-11F) booked his ticket for the Kentucky Derby with a smooth success in the UAE Derby.

Advertising once again Japan's standing on the world stage, Forever Young was following up his victory in the Saudi Derby last time out.

His sights will now be set on the Race For The Roses after he wore down Auto Bahn close home to win with authority for Yoshito Yahagi, no stranger to winning on Dubai World Cup night after his treble two years ago.

Yahagi explained how it was a poignant success: "This is after my master trainer, my father, passed away this morning.

"He is potentially very high class and he did not enjoy the travel to Saudi but he still performed very well.

"He travelled better to Dubai. I really believe my team will keep him in good order to go for the Kentucky Derby."

Ryan Moore almost pulled up Henry Adams, who failed to face the kickback, while stablemate Navy Seal finished fifth under Wayne Lordan.

The Godolphin Mile went the way of outsider Two Rivers Over (33-1) for Doug O’Neill and Edwin Maldonado, in which Simon and Ed Crisford’s Swing Vote finished eighth.

"Turning for home, I was trying to get him out and in the clear," said Maldonado.

"This means such a lot, I’m super grateful to the owners and couldn’t ask for more."

Tadhg O’Shea was seen to great effect on Tuz (10-1) in the Golden Shaheen.

O’Shea, who has made a great career for himself in the UAE, won the race two years ago on Switzerland and was a nose from victory last year on the same horse when beaten by Sibelius.

Japan’s Don Frankie made a bold bid but O’Shea spied a gap up the rail and Tuz quickened up in impressive fashion to run out a wide-margin winner.

"This makes up for a narrow defeat last year in a race that’s been lucky for me," said the jockey. "He needed his race last time but put this to bed in a matter of strides. Back in his own back yard, he was a different horse tonight."

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