Cool Frenchman takes travel in his stride

Godolphin's sole French runner Talismanic may be in line for a trip to Hong Kong later in the year if he acquits himself well in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar.

This is the Andre Fabre-trained colt's first trip outside France, but he has not given a hint of anxiety.

"He's a very laid-back horse, a very good traveller, with a great temperament," explained Godolphin's Lisa-Jane Graffard.

"He's been as cool as a cucumber here. He's just enjoying himself," she added.

Talismanic, a son of Medaglia D'Oro, has been incredibly consistent, boasting a record of 5 wins, 5 seconds, and 1 third, from 15 starts, and never being out of the first three placings this year.

He won on firm ground at Saint-Cloud only two starts back, in July

"I hope he can run his race and finish in the first four, which would set him up nicely for a run in Hong Kong (Vase) in December," Graffard explained.

"He has drawn (gate) 1, which could be a good thing, or could be a bad thing. He just needs to break well and hold his position.

"The good horses are drawn low as well, so it's going to be very, very tough," she added.

Mickael Barzalona, the colt's regular rider, will be aboard.

Fabre has sent out the winners of four Breeders' Cup races, including two winners of the Turf. One of those Turf winners, In The Wings (1990), carried the colours of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.

Arguably Fabre's greatest moment at the Breeders' Cup came at Santa Anita in 1993 when he saddled Arcangues to win the Classic, ridden by Jerry Bailey, in the biggest upset in the 33-year history of the series.