Falbrav
SireFairy King
GrandsireNorthern Dancer
DamGift Of The Night
DamsireSlewpy
SexStallion
Foaled28 February 1998
Died12 January 2024 (aged 25)
CountryIreland
ColourBay
BreederAzienda Agricola Francesca
OwnerScuderia Rencati & Teruya Yoshida
TrainerLuciano D'Auria
Luca Cumani
Record26: 13-5-5
Earnings5,825,517
Major wins
Premio Presidente della Repubblica (2002)
Gran Premio di Milano (2002)
Japan Cup (2002)
Prix d'Ispahan (2003)
Eclipse Stakes (2003)
Juddmonte International Stakes (2003)
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (2003)
Hong Kong Cup (2003)
Awards
European Champion Older Horse (2003)
BHB Horse of the Year (2003)
Timeform Horse of the Year (2003)
BHB Middle Distance Championship (2003)
Last updated on October 3, 2006

Falbrav (28 February 1998 – 12 January 2024) was a Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, bred in Ireland but trained in Italy and the United Kingdom during his racing career which ran from 2000 to 2004. He is notable for having won Group 1/Grade I races in five countries: the Premio Presidente della Repubblica and the Gran Premio di Milano in Italy; the Japan Cup in Japan; the Prix d'Ispahan in France; the Eclipse Stakes, the Juddmonte International Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in the United Kingdom and the Hong Kong Cup in Hong Kong.

Background

Falbrav, a "massive, bull-like"[1] bay horse with three white feet and a small star, was bred in Ireland by the Italian Azienda Agricola Francesca. He was from one of the last groups of foals sired by the Northern Dancer stallion Fairy King out of the Slewpy mare Gift of the Night.[2] Apart from Falbrav, Fairy King, who died in 1999, sired the winners of over five-hundred races, including Helissio (Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe) and Oath (Derby).[3]

Falbrav was first put into training with Luciano D'Auria at Bellinzago Lombardo[4] in Italy, but was moved to the English stable of Luca Cumani in early 2003.

"Falbrav" is a Milanese dialect word meaning "be good".[5]

Racing career

2000: two-year-old season

Falbrav won a maiden race at San Siro Racecourse, Milan on his racecourse debut in September 2000.[6] He was placed in three other races that autumn, most notably the Group 2 Premio Guido Berardelli in which he finished a neck second to Mistero.[7]

2001: three-year-old season

Racing exclusively at the San Siro and Capanelle racecourses, Falbrav won three times from six starts in 2001. His most significant performance, however, came in defeat, when finishing second to Morshdi in the Group One Derby Italiano.[8] His end of season rating of 113[9] made him the best three-year-old in Italy, but placed him sixteen pounds below the European champion Galileo, suggesting that he would struggle against top class international competition.

2002: four-year-old season

Falbrav won another minor event on his four-year-old debut. From that point on, he began to show vastly improved form. In May he won the Group 1 Premio Presidente della Repubblica, taking the lead a furlong from home and beating the odds-on Godolphin colt Ekraar by one and a quarter lengths.[10] A month later, Falbrav again defeated a Godolphin challenger, winning the Gran Premio di Milano by three lengths from Narrative.[11]

Falbrav was then aimed at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and ran third in the Prix Foy. Although Falbrav's challenge provoked interest and enthusiasm in Italy[12] he appeared to have his limitations exposed when finishing ninth behind Marienbard in the French classic.[13]

In the Japan Cup in November, however, he led inside the final furlong and stayed on strongly to hold off Sarafan and Symboli Kris S in a photo-finish.[14] The rest of the field included such major winners as Golan, Storming Home, Indigenous, Bright Sky and Jungle Pocket (2001 Tokyo Yushun and Japan Cup).[15] The race was a rough one, and Falbrav's win was confirmed only after an objection from the connections of the runner-up who claimed that a collision in the closing stages had cost their horse the race. According to Sarafan's rider, "Falbrav bumped me...I'm not happy or satisfied at all."[16]

2003: five-year-old season

Spring

After the Japan Cup, Falbrav's owners, Scuderia Rencati, sold a half share in the horse to Teruya Yoshida. For his five-year-old season, Falbrav was transferred to the Newmarket stable of Luca Cumani following a reported disagreement between the horse's owners and Luciano D'Auria.[17] Cumani was impressed by Falbrav, saying that he looked "a million dollars", but early plans were flexible, with the owners undecided about whether to campaign the horse in Europe or Japan.[18]

Falbrav began the year in France, finishing third in the Prix Ganay before beating Bright Sky in the Prix d'Ispahan. Cumani was not particularly enthusiastic about the win, but pointed out that he had been concerned by the soft ground, which did not suit Falbrav.[19]

Summer

In the summer, Falbrav raced in his new home country. He finished fifth behind Nayef in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot but then reversed the form in the Eclipse Stakes, winning by three-quarters of a length after breaking clear of the field a furlong out. Cumani felt that the horse had been forced to take the lead earlier than was ideal but was keen to praise him, describing him "full of confidence and power" and comparing him to "a heavyweight boxer."[20] Others were more sceptical, pointing out that the fast-finishing runner-up had been unable to find a clear run in the closing stages.[21] He returned to Ascot for the one and a half mile King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, where he raced prominently before weakening into fifth place behind Alamshar.

In the International Stakes at York he produced what the Telegraph's described as his "key weapon... a decisive turn of foot"[22] to go four lengths clear two furlongs from the finish, before running on to record a two-length win, increasing his Sandown superiority over Nayef, who finished third. Cumani's assessment of Falbrav reached even greater heights after the race, as he called Falbrav "amazing, a machine... one of the best horses I have ever trained"[23] The win also earned Falbrav's owners a £250,000 bonus for winning the Middle Distance Championship series from the British Horseracing Board.[22]

Autumn

Falbrav next travelled to Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Stakes, in which he "just failed"[24] to catch High Chaparral, having struggled to find space to run in a rough race. After the race, Falbrav's connections launched an unsuccessful appeal to have the result overturned, on the grounds that High Chaparral should have been disqualified.[25] He then proved his versatility by moving down to the one-mile distance and beating the 1,000 Guineas winner Russian Rhythm in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, recording the second fastest time in the race's history.[26] After the race, his trainer reportedly offered to present four crates of champagne to anyone who could persuade Falbrav's owners to keep their horse in training for another year.[1]

Falbrav's owners then paid a supplementary charge of $180,000 to run him in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita[27] where Cumani opted for the Turf after seriously considering a run in the Classic.[28] He led a furlong from home before losing out in a three way photo-finish, a head behind the dead-heaters High Chaparral and Johar.

On his final racecourse appearance, Falbrav beat Rakti by two lengths in the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin Racecourse. Frankie Dettori said of the run, "That was electric... He just flew. He took my breath away",[29] after Falbrav's acceleration had settled the result a furlong from the finish.[30]

Assessment

Falbrav won the 2003 Cartier Racing Award for Champion European older horse.

In the International Classification for the same year, Falbrav was rated on 127, six pounds behind Hawk Wing.[31] Although this rating made him the fourth best horse in the world, some commentators claimed that he had been unfairly under-rated. The argument was centred on the fact that Hawk Wing's rating was based on one performance (in the Lockinge Stakes), whereas Falbrav had raced at a consistently high standard from April to December.[32]

The same arguments, in reverse, were aired when Falbrav was awarded the title of BHB Horse of the Year.[33]

Although they also gave Hawk Wing a higher rating, Timeform named Falbrav their "Horse of the Year".[34] In awarding him a rating of 133 they observed,

His remarkable campaign in 2003 established him as one of the toughest, soundest and most versatile top horses of the modern era

Stud career

Falbrav operated as a "shuttle" stallion, standing at the Shadai Stallion Station in Hokkaido, Japan in the early part of the year before moving to Australia for the Southern Hemisphere breeding season where he stood at the Arrowfield Stud at Scone, New South Wales.[35]

Falbrav made a "good start" at stud, producing winners like Fanunalter (Diomed Stakes), Fravashi (QTC Sires Produce Stakes), Distant Memories (Winter Hill Stakes), Brava Fortune (Karrakatta Plate) and One Carat (Hakodate Sprint Stakes).[36]

Death

Falbrav died in Japan on 12 January 2024, at the age of 25. He had been suffering from colic, and had been feeling unwell since the end of 2023. [37]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Falbrav (IRE), bay stallion, 1998[38]
Sire
Fairy King (USA)
1982		 Northern Dancer
1961		 Nearctic Nearco
Lady Angela
Natalma Native Dancer
Almahmoud
Fairy Bridge
1975		 Bold Reason Hail To Reason
Lalun
Special Forli
Thong
Dam
Gift of the Night (USA)
1990		 Slewpy
1980　		 Seattle Slew Bold Reasoning
My Charmer
Rare Bouquet Prince John
Forest Song
Little Nana
1975		 Lithiot Ribot
Lithia
Nenana Road Kirkland Lake
Sena (Family: 4-i)

References

  1. 1 2 "Formidable Falbrav warms up for Breeders' Cup Turf". The Independent. London. 29 September 2003. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Falbrav pedigree". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  3. ↑ "Fairy King Stud Record". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "Falbrav's trainer, D'Auria, quits job with owner Scuderia Rencati". Thoroughbred Times. 19 January 2003. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Falbrav the best in the world by a mile". The Independent. London. 28 September 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "Premio Luvignano". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  7. ↑ "Premio Guido Berardelli". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  8. ↑ "Derby Italiano". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  9. ↑ "2001 International Classification" (PDF). Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  10. ↑ "Premio Presidente della Repubblica". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  11. ↑ "Gran Premio di Milano". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  12. ↑ "Falbrav vuol far parlare l' Arc in milanese". Archiviostorico.corriere.it. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  13. ↑ "Prix de lArc de Triomphe". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  14. ↑ Christine, Bill (25 November 2002). "Falbrav wins the prestigious Japan Cup in 2002". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  15. ↑ "Japan Cup result". Racing Post. 24 November 2002.
  16. ↑ "Falbrav survives protest to win Japan Cup | Daily Racing Form". Daily Racing Form. 25 November 2002. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  17. ↑ "Japan Cup winner Falbrav to join Cumani". 20 January 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2011 – via The Free Library.
  18. ↑ "Prix Ganay opens still undetermined future for Falbrav". Thoroughbred Times. 23 April 2003. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  19. ↑ "Falbrav holds Bright Sky at bay in Prix d'Ispahan". Thoroughbred Times. 18 May 2003. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  20. ↑ "Eclipse fortune favours Falbrav". The Independent. London. 6 July 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  21. ↑ "York likely next target as Falbrav comes good". The Independent. London. 7 July 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  22. 1 2 Armytage, Marcus (20 August 2003). "Falbrav stamps his authority". Telegraph. London. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  23. ↑ "Falbrav sets final seal on Cumani comeback". The Independent. London. 20 August 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  24. ↑ "Irish Champion Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  25. ↑ "Connections of Falbrav contest Turf Club verdict". The Independent. London. 9 September 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  26. ↑ "Queen Elizabeth II Stakes". Racing Post. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  27. ↑ "Turf assignment for Falbrav". This Is London. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  28. ↑ Haskin, Steve. "British Star Falbrav May Run in BC Classic". BloodHorse. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  29. ↑ "Dettori left breathless by 'electric' Falbrav". The Independent. London. 15 December 2003. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  30. ↑ "Hong Kong Mile". Racing Post. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  31. ↑ "ratings 2004" (PDF). horseracingintfed.com. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  32. ↑ Edmondson, Richard (13 January 2004). "Ratings folly as Hawk Wing is elevated above Falbrav". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  33. ↑ Evans, Richard (13 January 2004). "BHB spark controversy with award for Falbrav". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  34. ↑ "Falbrav Receives Timeforms Top Honour". Racingandsports.com.au. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  35. ↑ "European Champion Falbrav to Shuttle to Arrowfield in Australia". BloodHorse. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  36. ↑ "Falbrav Stud Record". Racing Post. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  37. ↑ "Death of international star Falbrav aged 26 in Japan". Racing Post. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  38. ↑ "Falbrav pedigree". Equineline. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
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