Reminiscing - Falbrav

[brockguy]

A Bull. Falbrav was a bull of a horse.. He was sensational.. Trained in Italy pre 2003, he was a triple G1 winner from 10-12f (including a dramatic nose beating of Sarafan in the 2002 Japan Cup) and recorded a respectable performance finishing 9th in the Arc in 2002 behind Marienbaird. He came to Britain in 2003 to be trained by Italian Luca Cumani. That year, Falbrav was a symbol for what is so good in Horse Racing.

He raced 10 times in 2003, all G1 races, from April until December. From mid May until the end of September, he pretty much ran every 3 weeks..

He commenced his stellar year with a classy win over Bright Sky in Prix D'Isphaan. He was quietly fancied at Royal Ascot in the Prince Of Wales Stakes but failed to shine finishing well behind Nayef.

However, he emphatically reversed form 3 weeks later in the Eclipse powering fast Nayef to beat him just under a length. It was a great start to his relationship with Darryll Holland. However, he rode a shocker in the King George going way too wide (in search of better ground) on a horse who had real doubts about him staying a true 12f race on soft ground..

Back to 10f, he confirmed that he was the best at that distance with a clear cut beating of Magistretti and Nayef (now nearly 4L back) in the Juddmonte International at York. 3 weeks later, he went for Ireland's top race, the Irish Champion Stakes. I remember seeing Falbrav and High Chaparral in the parade ring and the difference in size and physique was unbelievable.. For all that size, though he had a jockey on board who rode an absolute shocker on him as he was stuck in the inside on the bridle as High Chaparral (another wonder horse!) beat him by a neck. Ouch.. I always felt that High Chaparral should have been DQed for interference but I really blame Holland for putting Falbrav into such a bad position..

Another 3 week gap and Falbrav dropped down in trip to see if he could prove as good over a mile, and boy did he deliver. In the QE II at Ascot, he beat Russian Rhythm, a top class miler with sublime ease.

He got a deserved break from his summer racing and returned at Santa Anita for one of the best races of all time. He was meeting High Chaparral for the third time (lost in the Irish Champion and in the Arc the previous year) and was upped again to 12f, where his stamina would again be tested to the limit. He ran his guts out to lose by a head to High Chaparral and Johar in a thrilling finish..

I was convinced that Holland went far too early on such a doubtful stayer, but chatting to Kinane some time after about the ride, he said that he put High Chaparral into a position that Holland had no option to go then. He had a point..

Regarding Euro horses running in the Classic, the last two horses that performed credibly were Giant's Causeway, a super tough 8-10f horse and Sakhee, a tough 10-12f horse. I always thought Falbrav was a model for the race as he was just so tough, he could go the early speed and had a powerful closing kick....

Anyway, Falbrav closed out his remarkable career with a typical storming win in the Hong Kong Cup (Dettori took over as there was quite a bit of public criticism of Holland after the BC ride). It was a superb way to close out his 10 race season culminating in his 5th G1 that year and 8th in his career.

Anyway, just wanted to write this passage, it's better than studying.. more to come I'm sure..