REVIEW / DUBAI TURF 25 ADIYAT RACING PLUS ISSUE 840 Thursday 4th April 2024 adiyat racing plus.com RESULTS 1. Facteur Cheval (Reynier/Guyon) 2. Namur (Takano/Demuro) 3. Danon Beluga (Hori/Moreira) For Reynier, it was a landmark victory with special connotations given the links to Dubai he forged many years ago. “It’s just amazing, I have no words. You know 16 years ago we were here with (Darley) Flying Start and that was at Nad Al Sheba,” said Reynier. “I see a horse here that has been prepared the best way possible by Gregory (Davignon, work rider) and it’s just amazing, I can’t believe it. “I said to Maxime I’ve never seen this horse go backwards at the finish, he is always going forward and giving his best. I had no doubts about the distance and Maxime has given him a perfect ride, he had Lord North to follow and he switched off during the race. “He switched him to the outside and then waited long enough to save something for the end and that’s just amazing. I am so happy for all my team,” added Reynier. “It depends how he recovers but he can stay here and take it easy. He’s adapted very well here and seems very happy so maybe we could try Hong Kong next for the QEII Cup at the end of April.” Three times a winner of the race, Lord North had chance as the tempo quickened at the top of the home straight but could only finish eighth. The clock stopped at 1 minute 45.91 seconds, making it the third-fastest edition of the race in the last decade. Lord North’s jockey, Frankie Dettori, said: “He had a great spot, great cover. He travelled great into the straight but he just didn't have the gears that he had in the past. We are all getting older, right?!” Trainer John Gosden added: “The old boy probably found the ground too lively for him, he’s always been lucky to get a little bit of cut here, but he’s run a lovely race.” The other Gosden representative Nashwa was ninth from a poor draw but ran better than her finishing position according to jockey Hollie Doyle. “She’s run a huge race. She jumped okay and I took my time in coming across. I tried to get a nice breather into her and held onto her in front as long as I could and she quickened up so well. However, she paid the price for the draw.” John Gosden, trainer: “Nashwa has run great from an impossible draw, you had to use your horse to get a position, they came to the furlong pole and she’s still strong. The draw cost her. It was a super race for the first run of the year.” There was a sad postscript to the race when the Michael Stidham trainee Catnip came down in the straight, causing rider Christophe Lemaire to take a nasty fall. The Frenchman, who was due to ride Derma Sotogake in the Dubai World Cup, was taken to hospital where he was found to have a broken collar bone and two broken ribs. I SAID TO MAXIME I’VE NEVER SEEN THIS HORSE GO BACKWARDS AT THE FINISH, HE IS ALWAYS GOING FORWARD AND GIVING HIS BEST — JEROME REYNIER. Trainer Jerome Reynier and jockey Maxime Guyon receive their silverware after Facteur Cheval’s G1 Dubai Turf success
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