Facteur Cheval (Ire)

Multiple Group 1 winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is now the highest rated filly or mare in the world at 127 on the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings, which were released on Thursday. A winner of the G1 Turnbull Stakes and G1 Cox Plate in October, she added the G1 Champions Stakes in November and is equal to G1 Derby/G1 International Stakes/G1 Eclipse winner City Of Troy (Justify). The highest rated horse in the world is Laurel River (Into Mischief) at 128. Next in the rankings are the...

Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) is being targeted at the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge at Meydan on Friday, January 24, according to Fred Heyman, who was recently named president of Team Valor International. Trained by Jerome Reynier for Team Valor, Facteur Cheval is no stranger to Meydan, having made the breakthrough at the top level when winning the $5-million Dubai Turf back in March. He was last seen filling the runner-up spot in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, pushing the outstanding miler Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire})...

There was a sense of inevitability in the lead-up to Saturday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and for the vast majority of the mile feature as Nurlan Bizakov's Charyn (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}--Futoon {Ire}, by Kodiac {GB}) capped a near-perfect season at Ascot. Adding to his G1 Queen Anne Stakes and G1 Prix Jacques le Marois successes, the 13-8 favourite had only Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) to concern him late on but ultimately subdued his latest challenger to record a two-length success. Needing the occasional niggle from Silvestre De...

His Highness The Aga Khan's homebred Calandagan (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) is progressing well toward a start in the G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot on Oct. 19, according to trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. The gelding, a winner of the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot and a strong second in the G1 International Stakes behind City Of Troy (Justify) at York, is fresh and well ahead of his QIPCO British Champions Day assignment. He will likely face William Haggas trainee Economics (GB) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) the winner of...

Putting his G1 St James's Palace Stakes flop firmly behind him, Godolphin's Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}--Swift Rose {Ire}, by Invincible Spirit {Ire}) rattled home in style to dominate Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, a "Win and You're In" for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. On the limit in William Buick's hands following the pace set by Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the Charlie Appleby-trained G1 2,000 Guineas hero was able to relax once placed in a pocket behind that 11-10 favourite and Sonny Liston (Ire) (Lawman {Fr})....

Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and G1 St James's Palace Stakes hero Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) will be tackled by five rivals in Wednesday's G1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood after Monday's confirmation stage. Ballydoyle's G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes winner Henry Longfellow (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) re-opposes after finishing second at Royal Ascot, while Godolphin's G1 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) bids to bounce back having been seventh there. The older horse contingent is headed by Team Valor International and Gary Barber's G1 Dubai...

Facteur Cheval (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) will be given the chance to gain compensation for his "nightmare" run in the G1 Queen Anne Stakes when he makes his next intended appearance in the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, a race in which he filled the runner-up spot behind Paddington (GB) in 2023. Trainer Jerome Reynier was optimistic of a prominent showing at Royal Ascot from his stable star, who was having his first start since winning the G1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in March. In the event, however, Facteur Cheval never...

One of the UK's biggest weeks is upon us and with perfect good-to-firm ground, Royal Ascot is set to welcome true summer Flat racing. That of the purest variety, favouring the faster of the breed, offering the opportunity for records to be threatened and broken. Two or three big names fell by the wayside on Monday, but most of the ones that matter in Europe will be here over the next five days as well as a select few from further afield. This meeting should be about the ability to...

Sunday saw the confirmations for 2024 Royal Ascot's opening day fixture, where the G1 St James's Palace S. is the rightful stage for the coming together of the 2,000 Guineas, Irish 2,000 Guineas and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches heroes Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) and Metropolitan (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}). The latter has been supplemented for the mile contest and is joined by fellow French raider Darlinghurst (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), while Ballydoyle rely on last year's G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. hero Henry Longfellow (Ire)...

Following Wednesday's confirmation stage, G1 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is one of 11 possible runners in the G1 St James's Palace S. on the opening day of Royal Ascot on Tuesday, June 18. Unbeaten in four starts for Charlie Appleby, Notable Speech will be tasked with trying to confirm his Newmarket superiority over runner-up Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), who also has Ascot firmly in his sights having resumed winning ways with a determined victory in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh last time....

The G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood, which will be run for total prize-money of £1 million on Wednesday, July 31, has attracted 39 horses at the first entry stage. Unbeaten colt Notable Speech (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Rosallion (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}) are the early standard-bearers for the Classic generation, with the duo having dominated the finish of the G1 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. Rosallion then went one better in the G1 Irish 2,000 Guineas at the Curragh last weekend, overhauling stable-mate Haatem (Ire) (Phoenix Of Spain {Ire}) to...

At least seven countries are set to be represented for the Group 1 races and early-closing Group 2 contests for Royal Ascot, the racecourse announced on Tuesday. Worth a record £10 million in prize-money this year, the meeting boasts purses of at least £650,000 for the Group 1 races, and all races are worth at least £110,000. Aussie sprinter Chain Of Lightning (Aus) (Fighting Sun {Aus}) is one of the leading lights for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee S., and her co-trainer, Peter Moody, won the race in 2012...