'The worst ride given to one of my horses' - trainer slams jockey after Royal Ascot defeat

French trainer Jerome Reynier has launched an extraordinary attack on his US-based compatriot Flavien Prat, who rode stable star Facteur Cheval to be sixth behind Ombudsman in Wednesday's Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes.

The six-year-old son of Ribchester was travelling as well as anything early in the straight but failed to sustain his challenge and faded late on, with the 32-year-old jockey describing Facteur Cheval as a non-stayer.

But Reynier believes Facteur Cheval's chances were seriously compromised by Prat's decision to ride the gelding closer to the pace on his first try at a mile and a quarter.

"He has come out of the race well, despite his jockey doing absolutely nothing to help him," said Reynier who, more than 48 hours after the event, had yet to fully comprehend why Prat had deviated so far from his instructions. 

"I think it was perhaps the worst ride given to one of my horses since I became a trainer," Reynier added.

Facteur Cheval (pink with black cap) fades out of contention behind Ombudsman on WednesdayCredit: Tom Dulat (Getty Images)

"In a race with loads of pace, he elected to lead the chase [of the pacemaker]. He was the first to commit on the turn for home and launched his attack three wide with no cover and too far out.

"He thought he was at Santa Anita or Del Mar where they have short straights and the tracks are flat, and I don’t think it was a judicious move to use a jockey who rides in that style."

Prat began his career in his native France and was appointed second jockey to Alain and Gerard Wertheimer behind Olivier Peslier, winning the 2013 Prix Marcel Boussac aboard Indonesienne.

In 2015 he left to further his career in the US where he has amassed approaching 2,000 American wins, finishing in the top five by earnings in all but one year since 2019 and topping the standings for the first time in 2024, the same year in which he won his second Breeders' Cup Classic.

Flavien Prat and Flightline are led into the winners circle after the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Credit: Edward Whitaker

When Team Valor principal Barry Irwin announced Prat as the man to ride Facteur Cheval at Royal Ascot, he described the 32-year-old as '"the best turf rider in America".

Reynier was speaking as he prepared to return to Ascot ahead of favourite Lazzat's bid for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Saturday, and it is clear that his criticism of Prat has lasted well past the stage when it might be put down to being disappointed on the day.

"The worst thing is that I learned absolutely nothing in terms of whether the horse stays 2,000 metres or not," said Reynier. "The way he was ridden, there is no way of knowing. It was just a terrible ride."

A winner of the 2024 Dubai Turf over 1m1f, Facteur Cheval will now be given a second chance to prove he stays the extra furlong in Germany at the end of next month.

Jerome Reynier with Lazzat after winning at Longchamp last yearCredit: Racing Post/Burton

"I think we’ll go to Munich for the Group 1 over 2,000 metres on July 27 [the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen]," said Reynier.

"I still continue to believe that, as he gets older, he has the strength for 2,000 metres and that if he’d have been held on to for longer, he would have produced the same finish but it would have lasted all the way to the line."

Gerald Mosse rode Facteur Cheval early in his career but Maxime Guyon has struck up a fruitful relationship in recent years, while Mickael Barzalona has also ridden him several times.

Reynier will hope for better luck with Lazzat, who will be partnered by James Doyle for the first time after Wathnan Racing purchased him privately from Nurlan Bizakov.

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