Marseille-Based Handler Eyes Royal Ascot Glory with Top Contenders
Prominent French trainer Jean-Claude Reynier is gearing up for a strong showing at the prestigious Royal Ascot meeting, with two of his stable stars poised to challenge for top honors.
Facteur Cheval, fresh off a victory in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March, is set to take on the Queen Anne Stakes on the opening day. The form of that Group 1 triumph has been boosted by subsequent wins from several of his rivals, elevating Reynier’s confidence in his charge.
“The form from Dubai is amazing,” said Reynier. “The second-placed horse Namur ran a cracker in the Yasuda Kinen in Japan, and the Godolphin horse who finished fourth, Measured Time, won a Grade One in America. Even the eighth-placed horse, Calif, won the La Coupe in ParisLongchamp – it was a very strong race.”
Facteur Cheval, who has been a stable stalwart for Reynier in recent years, is currently among the top contenders for the Queen Anne, with only the Gosden-trained Inspiral ahead of him in the bookmakers’ markets.
Reynier also has high hopes for Darlinghurst, who will take his place in the highly competitive St James’s Palace Stakes. The colt, who has won four of his six starts since turning three, defeated Prix du Jockey Club runner-up First Look in the Prix de Guiche and is priced as short as 7-1 with some bookmakers.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing this race, it is going to be very interesting with all three of the Guineas winners,” added Reynier. “Darlinghurst has beaten First Look, who was runner-up in the French Derby, so his form is very good and we’re very happy with the horse.”
The Marseille-based handler is also poised to saddle Zarakem in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, but it is the aforementioned duo who give the Frenchman most optimism of breaking his duck at the Royal meeting when they race on the opening day.
Reynier, who has enjoyed big-race success with the likes of Skalleti, has so far resisted the temptation to move his training operation north to the centers surrounding Paris, preferring to remain in the warmer climate of southern France.
“A first win in Britain during Royal Ascot would be unreal, so I just hope the horses travel safe ahead of D Day,” said Reynier. “This time I’m sure we will make sure we will enjoy ourselves and I will be in the French tent in the car park having a good time.”
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