2006: two-year-old season As a two-year-old Literato was unbeaten in five races, although he competed mainly at minor tracks in the French provinces. After dead-heating over 1100 metres on his debut at
Tarbes on 1 May he won over 1400 metres at
Vichy in July and then won over 1600 metres in a more competitive event at
Deauville Racecourse in August. In the last-named event he won by two and a half
lengths from
Thousand Stars who went on to win two editions of the
Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil. In his last two races of the season Literato was moved up to Listed class. He won the Criterium de Lyon at
Lyon-Parilly in September and the Criterium du Languedoc at
Toulouse on 11 November.
2007: three-year-old season In 2007, Literato was ridden in all of his races by
Christophe Lemaire who had partnered him at Deauville in the previous season. He began his second season in the Listed
Prix Omnium II over 1600 metres at
Saint-Cloud Racecourse on 23 March and finished second of the five runners, two lengths behind
Hurricane Fly and three lengths ahead of Spirit One (later to win the
Arlington Million). He was then moved up in class and distance for the
Group Three Prix La Force over 2000 metres at
Longchamp Racecourse on 15 May and started
3/1 second favourite behind the
Aidan O'Brien-trained Chinese Whisper. After being restrained at the back of the six-runner field before moving forward on the outside in the straight, taking the lead 100 metres from the finish and beating Chinese Whisper by three quarters of a length. After the race Rouget said that the winner "certainly appreciated this longer distance. He has a super action for such a little horse". On 3 June Literato started 9/1 fourth choice in the betting for 170th running of the Group One
Prix du Jockey Club over 2100 metres at
Chantilly Racecourse. The 4/1 joint-favourites were the
Prix de Guiche winner
Lawman and the British-trained colt Raincoat (runner-up to
Authorized in the
Dante Stakes) with the unbeaten Zambezi Sun third choice on 6/1. He was again held up by Lemaire before moving forward in the straight and made steady progress to finish second of the twenty runners, one and a half lengths behind Lawman. After a two and a half month break, Literato returned in the Group Two Prix Guillaume d'Ornano over 2000 metres at Deauville on 18 August and started favourite at odds of 6/5. As usual, Literato raced at the back of the field and was still ninth of the ten runners on the final turn. He made rapid progress in the straight and took the lead in the closing stages to win by half a length from Spirit One. Rouget called the winner "a super horse, a real phenomenon" whilst the Racing Post's correspondent called the colt's finishing run "spectacular". At Longchamp on 22 September, Literato started odds-on favourite for the Group Three Prix du Prince d'Orange despite conceding weight to his five opponents. Lemaire employed the customary tactics, holding the colt up in the early stages before producing a strong late run. Literato took the lead 200 metres out and won "comfortably" by three quarters of a length from Indian Choice. Four weeks later Literato was sent to England to contest the Group One Champion Stakes over ten
furlongs at
Newmarket Racecourse and started 7/2 second favourite behind
Notnowcato a four-year-old who had won the
Eclipse Stakes and the
Tattersalls Gold Cup. The other runners included
Eagle Mountain (ridden by
Johnny Murtagh),
Speciosa,
Mount Nelson, Multidimensional (Prix Guillaume d'Ornano,
Rose of Lancaster Stakes), Creachadoir (
Tetrarch Stakes,
Joel Stakes),
Doctor Dino (
Man o' War Stakes) and Maraahel (
Hardwicke Stakes). Literato was held up as usual before making rapid progress in the last quarter mile and moved up to take the lead from Eagle Mountain in the final furlong. Eagle Mountain rallied in the final strides, but Literato maintained a narrow advantage to win by a short head, with a gap of three lengths back to Doctor Dino in third. After the race, Morin said "He is a very courageous horse, and he likes a battle. I would have liked to run him in the
Arc de Triomphe, but Jean-Claude said 'No, we will win the Champion Stakes'." Lemaire commented "I feel great on this track and have had some nice victories. The horse travelled very well all the way. I know that my horse is a fighter – I thought I would win easier but Johnny's horse was very tough."
2008: four-year-old season Before the start of the 2008 season, Literato was sold privately to
Godolphin and joined the stable of
Saeed bin Suroor. He failed to reproduce his best form for his new connections, finishing twelfth when favourite for the
Dubai Duty Free, and then running last of six behind Sageburg in the
Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp in May. ==Assessment==