Facteur Cheval, a 6-year-old gelding trained by Jérôme Reynier, completed a sharp 7-furlong workout on Saturday at Cagnes-sur-Mer, preparing for his dirt debut in the Grade 1 Al Maktoum Challenge on January 24 at Meydan. The reigning Dubai Turf champion delivered a strong performance on the synthetic track, with a notable mid-work split of :33 4/5 over 600 meters while staying comfortably on the bridle.

Reynier opted for the synthetic surface to simulate the kickback the gelding might face on Meydan’s dirt. He expressed satisfaction with Facteur Cheval's response, noting, “He was never asked for full effort but still produced impressive internal splits, including a furlong in under 11 seconds.” The horse's closing 400 meters were clocked in :22 1/5, completing the 7-furlong work in 1:26 and galloping out an additional furlong in :14 1/5.

Reynier also utilized performance analytics software, which showed that Facteur Cheval’s stride length, heart recovery, and respiratory rate aligned with his best training efforts to date.

The gelding will depart Reynier's Calas yard for Chantilly on Thursday before heading to Dubai on Saturday, providing ample time to acclimate ahead of the $1 million challenge. Regular rider Mickael Barzalona is set to pilot Facteur Cheval at Meydan.

Reynier remains optimistic about the dirt experiment. "If he takes to the dirt, it could open doors to races like the Dubai and Saudi Cups," he said. "If not, we’ll aim to defend his Dubai Turf title in March."