Facteur Cheval triumphs for France in Dubai Turf

Facteur Cheval triumphs for France in Dubai Turf

$5,000,000 Group 1 Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World

Facteur Cheval sprang something of a surprise victory for France in the Dubai Turf, gaining a short-head verdict from the Japanese challenger Namur. 
Trained by Jerome Reynier near Marseille, Facteur Cheval carried the colours of the American-based syndicate Team Valor LLC and Gary Barber while Maxime Guyon was in the saddle, winning the race for the second time after Solow in 2015. 
Danon Beluga, runner-up a year ago, finished off well again for third. 
“He’s a great champion. We didn’t know how he would handle the faster ground because he has more used to racing on soft and heavy surfaces but you can see how well he did,” jockey Guyon said of the winner. 
“He gave me a really great turn of foot and really wanted to fight to the line. I didn’t want to go too early because he’s been running over 1600 metres and was stepping up in trip slightly, for all that I think he’ll stay 2000 metres. 
“I always had this thought at the back of my mind that it was his first run of the year and it was further than he’s been running over. But I never felt like he would