Report: Team Valor points Facteur Cheval to Breeders' Cup Classic

Facteur Cheval, winner of the Group 1 Dubai Turf, will switch to dirt this fall for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

According to a report by Sean Collins of BloodHorse, Barry Irwin of co-owner Team Valor International began considering dirt for Facteur Cheval after he trained a good three furlongs on that surface leading into the Dubai Turf. Collins also reported that, per Irwin, a switch to dirt could also set Facteur Cheval up for races like the Saudi Cup (G1) and the Dubai World Cup (G1) in 2025.

Facteur Cheval, a 5-year-old Ribchester gelding, is trained by Jerome Reynier for owners Team Valor International and Gary Barber. He has a 16: 6-4-4 career record and $3,898,825 in earnings. His victory in the Dubai Turf was his first at the top level, though he has five placings at the top level including in his most recent start. On July 31 at Goodwood, he ran third behind Notable Speech in the Sussex Stakes (G1) at a mile on turf.

All 16 of Facteur Cheval's starts have come on grass. According to the BloodHorse report, he may train into the Breeders' Cup Classic and race there off a 94-day layoff, or he might start in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1) on Sept. 8 if he gets his preferred softer turf.

Should the switch to dirt work for Facteur Cheval, this will not be the first time Team Valor won one of the world's biggest races with a horse trying dirt for the first time. Animal Kingdom won the 2011 Kentucky Derby in Team Valor's silks without a dirt race before the first Saturday in May.