Flintshire headed back to France after Sword Dancer triumph

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Flintshire came out of his blowout win in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga on Saturday in excellent shape and will be headed back to France to prepare for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Oct. 4.

According to trainer Andre Fabre's traveling team, Flintshire "didn't blow very hard after the race, and he ate everything."

Flintshire is scheduled to van Monday to Belmont Park and fly Tuesday to Belgium as he makes his way back to Fabre's training facility in Chantilly, France.

Flintshire was the even-money favorite in the $1 million Sword Dancer, but the ease with which he broke open the race nearing the stretch still was somewhat startling.

Off slowly under 21-year-old rider Vincent Cheminaud, Flintshire quickly recovered and moved up to a contending position along the inside. When the pacesetting Germany-based runner Guardini drifted out a bit nearing the stretch, Cheminaud sent Flintshire through, and he quickly took charge, sprinting off to a commanding lead.

Red Rifle finished well to get within 2 1/2 lengths at the wire, but the outcome of the race never was in question.

Cheminaud, a champion jump jockey in France who now is riding on the flat for Fabre, said his instructions from Fabre were to "keep his position and stay calm." He certainly succeeded on both fronts.

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for the Juddmonte Farms of Khalid Abdullah, said Flintshire is at his best "on firm ground and at one and a half miles."

The $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf, a race in which Flintshire finished second last year to dual champion Main Sequence, comes 27 days after the Arc de Triomphe. Grimthorpe said Flintshire would be considered for the Keeneland race.

"There's really no reason he wouldn't go," he said.

Both the Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders' Cup would be "ground dependent," according to Grimthorpe.

Last year, Flintshire finished second to repeat Arc de Triomphe winner Treve at Longchamp, shipped to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup, then was sent to Sha Tin, where he won the $2.1 million Hong Kong Vase six weeks later.

Flintshire is a 5-year-old son of Dansili, who stood the 2015 season for 100,000 pounds in England. Dansili, now 19, was bred and is owned by Juddmonte. He was trained by Fabre.

Flintshire is out of Dance Routine, who was bred and owned by Juddmonte and also trained by Fabre.

"Obviously, Flintshire is a special horse for us," Grimthorpe said. "He's unbelievably consistent, sound, and tough."

Flintshire now is a Group 1 or Grade 1 winner in France, Hong Kong, and the U.S. He has a record of 5-8-1 from 17 starts and more than $5.8 million in earnings.

Blessed with a calm demeanor, he also doesn't mind traveling.