It will be quite the achievement if Facteur Cheval can land the Al Maktoum Challenge (G1) Jan. 24 at Meydan Racecourse. Having won the Dubai Turf (G1T) last March, he's now bidding to become the first horse to win a group 1 on dirt and grass in the United Arab Emirates.
African Story (Tapeta and dirt), Hunter's Light (Tapeta and turf), and Prince Bishop (Tapeta and dirt) won group 1 races on two different surfaces at Meydan, including an Al Maktoum Challenge, but this is a different story.
Few turf horses prove anywhere near as effective on dirt. For further evidence, just ask Aidan O'Brien, who's been trying to win the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with European horses on the dirt in the United States for a quarter of a century.
Facteur Cheval is clear of his rivals on Racing Post Ratings, but will have to overcome his lack of experience on dirt and his mostly turf pedigree. On the other hand, his dam's sire, Shamardal, has had some nice winners on the dirt at Meydan.
Owned by Team Valor International and Gary Barber, Facteur Cheval is trained in the south of France by Jerome Reynier, who liked the 6-year-old Ribchester gelding's final serious work earlier this month on the all-weather surface at Cagnes-sur-Mer.
"If he takes to the dirt it opens up opportunities such as the Dubai and Saudi Cups," Reynier said earlier this month. "If he fails to handle the dirt, then he will defend his Dubai Turf title in early April instead."
There's also Kabirkhan, who won last year's Al Maktoum Challenge. But he's been off since struggling in the Dubai World Cup (G1) in March—when he was sent off favorite. Pat Dobbs, aboard for all three of 5-year-old Kabirkhan's UAE starts, is this time riding the same stable's unconvincing Clapton, who was third 12 months ago. Cristian Demuro has the mount on Kabirkhan.
It might pay to focus on the two contenders for Bhupat Seemar, the UAE's reigning champion trainer. Stable rider and UAE champion jockey Tadhg O'Shea is on Walk of Stars, a quirky customer who just did not stop running when taking a listed stakes on the Al Maktoum Challenge course and distance last month. Front-running tactics evidently suited a horse who has not looked keen to pass rivals.
However, it can't have been an easy choice for O'Shea, as the same yard's Imperial Emperor looks a serious contender. This 5-year-old was no better than useful on turf for Charlie Appleby, but he has won both his starts on dirt at Meydan since joining Seemar. They came in handicaps over a mile, so this is a class and distance jump, with this race coming over an extra furlong and a half, but Imperial Emperor's dam was a grade 1 winner on turf in the United States at 1 3/8 miles.
Peter Scargill of Racing Post contributed to this story.
