ARQANA’S Autumn Sale in November 2020 included a well-bred two-year-old gelding by Doctor Dino (Muhtathir), closely related to A Plus Tard. Joey Logan secured him for €88,000 on behalf of Andy and Gemma Brown who race as Caldwell Construction Ltd.

The couple left Fil Dor in France where he was placed on his only start on the flat the following year. Transferred to Gordon Elliott, he turned into one of the best juvenile hurdlers, starting off with three successes which included the Grade 2 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown and a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse. He didn’t manage to win again finishing second to Vauban in three Grade 1s, including the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, and he was also runner-up to Brazil in a Grade 3 at Naas.

Now he has had, still at the tender age of four, his attention turned to chasing and he ran out a four-length winner over Saint Roi in a beginners’ chase at Navan on Sunday.

Fil Dor’s sire commands a covering fee of €20,000 in France. Doctor Dino has featured regularly enough now in this column, thanks to the exploits of Sharjah, Sceau Royal, La Bague Au Roi and State Man, all Grade 1 National Hunt winners. Quite the globetrotter, Doctor Dino was twice a Group 1 winner in Hong Kong, won a Grade 1 at Belmont Park in the USA, and was Group 1-placed in France, England, the UAE and Singapore.

Great effect

Fil Dor was bred by Antonia Devin, a Feeney from Ardoon Stud outside Newbridge. She and her husband Henri have utilised Doctor Dino to great effect, and with great success, on the female family of Fil Dor. A son of the unraced La Turbale (Ange Gabriel), Fil Dor is a full-brother to the listed flat winner Style Icon (Doctor Dino), and they are two of their dam’s three winners, the other being the listed chase winner Le Lude (Turgeon).

La Turbale is a sibling to three winners, notably the Grade 1 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and runner-up, A Plus Tard (Kapgarde), now a four-time Grade 1 winner, Kap Auteuil (Kapgarde) who is now a six-time winner over fences, and last year’s three-year-old hurdle winner File Au Poteau (Doctor Dino). They are all sons of five-time jumps winner Turboka (Kahyasi).

Last year produced a Grade 3 Auteuil chase win in France for L’Aubonniere (Doctor Dino), a half-sister to the aforementioned Turboka, and a full-sister to the listed Auteuil chase winner Dottore (Doctor Dino). L’Aubonniere is the best of eight winners from the multiple stakes winner and group-placed Turbotiere (Turgeon).