Tribalist © Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Andre Fabre was not shocked to see Tribalist make his Group One breakthrough in the Prix du Moulin last week.
Considered to be an outsider in what looked a red-hot renewal, with Charyn, Henry Longfellow and Notable Speech in the race, the five-year-old was bounced into an early lead and lasted home to win by a length and a half.
It was an opportunistic ride by Mickael Barzalona but Fabre felt his previous victories entitled him to more respect from onlookers.
A Fabre on Tribalist
“I wasn’t surprised at all that he won. I was surprised how many people were surprised!” he said.
“He had very good form, he had won five other Group races and always won them in style.
“The only times he has been beaten recently are when we have changed the tactics and dropped him in, like in Hong Kong or in Deauville, when he ran over six furlongs. Remember last year he beat Facteur Cheval at Saint-Cloud.
“You cannot give a horse as good as him such a big lead but it is quite unusual in France races to see that. It was a great ride by Mickael.
“He will go to the Prix de la Foret next, seven furlongs should not be a problem. We might look at the Breeders’ Cup after that, it’s an option I will talk to Sheikh Mohammed about.”
