Flintshire

Flintshire (foaled 4 April, 2010) is a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who has been trained in France and the United States. Unraced as a juvenile, he was one of the best three-year-old colts in France in 2013, winning the Prix du Lys and the Grand Prix de Paris. In 2014 he finished second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Breeders' Cup Turf before recording his biggest win in the Hong Kong Vase. As five-year-old he won the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap and again finished second in the Arc. At the start of his six-year-old season in 2016 he was sent to be trained in the United States. He began the season with victories in the Manhattan Handicap, Bowling Green Handicap and Sword Dancer Stakes, before finishing second in his last two starts, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and Breeders' Cup Turf. Background Flintshire is a dark bay or brown colt with a small white star and a white sock on his right front leg, bred in the United Kingdom by his owner, Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms. He was sired by Dansili, whose other progeny have included Harbinger, The Fugue, Dank and Rail Link. Flintshire's dam Dance Routine was a successful racemare whose wins included the Prix de Royaumont and the Prix de Royallieu. The colt was sent into training with André Fabre at Chantilly. Before being transferred to the United States in 2016, he was ridden by Maxime Guyon. Racing career 2013: three-year-old season Flintshire did not race as a two-year-old, making his debut in a maiden race over 2000 metres at Chantilly on May 7. He started favourite in an eight-runner field and won by two and a half lengths from Temps Libre after taking the lead 200 metres from the finish. Four weeks later he started 3/5 favourite for the Prix de Lormoy at Longchamp Racecourse but after taking the lead in the straight he was overtaken in the last 100 metres and beaten a length by the outsider Silver Trail. Despite his defeat, Flintshire was moved up in class to contest the Group III Prix du Lys over 2400 metres at Chantilly on 16 June and started the 7/2 second favourite behind the Élie Lellouche-trained Park Reel. After racing towards the middle of the nine runner field he took the lead 200 metres from the finish and accelerated clear to win in "impressive" style by three lengths from Park Reel.