The speed Factor makes him hard to beat
The colt is at his best over 1,400 metres, a factor that puts him in the reckoning for over 1,200 at Meydan
Newmarket, England: North American stables have a terrific record in the big sprint on World Cup night, the Golden Shaheen (G1) having provided nine of the last 12 winners of the race. This stat is obviously influenced by the years on dirt track, which is the preferred surface in the USA, at Nad Al Sheba, but the fact that the race is now run around a turn is in favour of American sprinters.
One-turn sprints, that's what they are used to, and that's what they are best at. The Factor, trained by dual World Cup winning handler Bob Baffert, is a strong contender. He is a fast horse who was taken off the Kentucky Derby trail last spring, and has since developed into a world class speed merchant. The one factor against the colt is that he is at his absolute best over 1,400 metres, but he is a quick starter and capable of blistering early speed, so will certainly be competitive over 1,200 at Meydan.
Down on stamina
At the beginning of last year, the grey colt was considered a Kentucky Derby contender, but it soon became evident that speed, not stamina, was his forte. When he came home injured after running well below his best at the Arkansas Derby (G2), Baffert shelved any plans for a trip to Churchill Downs. The setback was a blessing in disguise for The Factor as it meant that he was given rest and could come back fresh for contests in the second half of the season.
When he returned to racing action in August, for the Pat O'Brien Stakes (G1), he had not raced for over four months since Arkansas. Going into top level competition after such a break is not easy and The Factor was facing older horses for the first time.
Baffert is not known for ducking a challenge. Neither is The Factor. He came back with a bang in the O'Brien at Del Mar. The Factor went straight to the lead and was very sharp around the 7-furlong Polytrack to win by almost two lengths. Such a performance over a synthetic surface made his connections start thinking of a trip to Dubai.
He had retained his high profile status but a couple of uninspiring efforts were to follow as he was only fourth of six in the Ancient Title (G1) at Santa Anita and no better than eighth in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Was he about to fade away once more? Not at all. The Factor served up one of the best performances seen at the Santa Anita meeting this winter when slamming his rivals by 3 ½ lengths and more in the Malibu Stakes (G1) on December 26. That was his fifth career win and the sixth followed two months later, as the son of War Front landed the San Carlos Stakes (G2) from Sway Away and Amazombie. The Malibu and the San Carlos are both run over 1,400 metres but The Factor captured these races.
Combining strong early speed with a touch of stamina works really well over the Golden Shaheen trip at Meydan. Therefore, The Factor will not be easy to beat on March 31.
Geir Stabell is the editor of Globeform, a Newmarket-based independent racing and handicapping publication.
