Biggest challenge in Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe today
AL HAKEEM carries Al Shaqab Racing’s hopes
Thrilling Arabian contesting in Qatar Arabian World Cup
Doha
The curtain will come down, later today, on the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the 2022 renewal of the Weekend is exceptional by all means, being held just a few weeks before the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, whose spirit has been prevailing in Paris in association with the world-class racing Weekend.
Superb racing action continued yesterday with the first races of the weekend run at ParisLongchamp. Qatari-owned Arabians continued their excellence, which they started on Friday at Saint Cloud, with Mohamed Bin Fahad Al-Attiyah’s SAHAB, landing another prestigious Gr1 victory for Qatar as she won the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments with Al Wasmiyah Racing’s MONDA finishing runner up in another Qatari one-two following the one scored by Al Shaqab Racing at Saint Cloud on Friday.
As part of the events on Sunday, Qatar Tourism/Visit Qatar, Qatar Airways, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and QREC will offer a prize for the raffle to be conducted during the day. The prize package includes two Business class tickets on the world’s best airline, Qatar Airways, a four-night full board luxury stay at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, tours in Doha and safari and
hospitality during the races of the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival 2023 at Al Rayyan Racecourse. The raffle will be limited to the racegoers at ParisLongchamp and they will need to fill online forms to enter the
raffle.
Today’s card at ParisLongchamp includes two iconic events, namely, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a total purse of 5 million Euros on the line and the Qatar Arabian World Cup, which offers total prize money of a million Euros.
AL HAKEEM and the dream in biggest challenge
20 runners from France, Britain, Ireland, Germany and Japan will be vying for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe title over 2400m. Al Shaqab Racing will be represented by AL HAKEEM. The 3-year-old colt will be ridden by Cristian Demuro for trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. He has won four, including a Gr2 of a total of six starts so far and finished second in a Gr1. He will face a tough opposition though as the German-trained Torquator Tasso, the defending champion, puts his crown on the line, with Lanfranco Dettori now in the plate. The Irish 3-y-old Luxembourg and the 5-y-old British mare Alpinista have strong hopes as well, with French hopes resting principally on Onesto and Vadeni.
Qatar Arabian World Cup
16 of the world’s best Arabians will contest for the Qatar Arabian Word Cup over 2000m. Nine of these represent Qatari owners and hopes are high to maintain Qatar’s dominance on the event. The nine runners are Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari HADI DE CARRERE, Al Shaqab Racing’s MWARID, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s ABBES, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s KHATEER, Abdullah Bin Fahad Ah Al-Attiyah’s DJAFAR, H.E. Sharida Al-Kaabi’s FIRST CLASSS, H.E. Sheikha Reem Bint Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s EBRAZ and H.E. Sheikha Reem Bint Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Hoggar De L’ardus.
Prix de l’Opera Longines
PLACE DU CARROUSEL in Al Shaqab Racing’s colours
The fifth race in the card will be for 3YO+ fillies and mare in the Gr1 Prix de l’Opera Longines over 2000, which has a purse of 500,000 Euros. The Al Shaqab Racing and Ballylinch Stud-owned PLACE DU CARROUSEL will be trying her second attempt at Gr1 level in her only sixth start. She has won two, one of them was a Gr2, of her five starts and finished second in a Gr1.
SAHAB LANDS GR.1 IN SUPERB STYLE
Back to the action on Saturday, unlucky not to have already scored on the biggest stage, the talented four-year-old, pure-bred Arabian Sahab (Af Albahar) successfully carried the silks of Mohamed Bin Fahad Al-Attiyah to victory when taking the Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (reserved to four-year-old’s).
Trained by Thomas Fourcy and ridden to success for the QREC sponsored Gr.1 (PA) by Mickael Barzalona, Sahab is now a winner at the highest level following and takes her career total to four victories from only ten starts.
An agonizingly narrow second at Saint Cloud in Gr.1 (PA) company last term over the same 2000m distance, Sahab travelled sublimely throughout the contest and cruised into the lead inside the final 200m. With extremely little fuss, the four-year-old crossed the line a length clear of Al Wasmiyah Racing’s Monda (No Risk Al Maury), with Athbah Stud’’s Sultana (Af Al Buraq) back in third.
H.E. Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, crowned the winners.
Qatar Prix Chaudenay
Al Qareem (Awtaad)took the QREC sponsored Gr.2 Prix De Chaudenay. Sporting the silks of successful owner Nick Bradley Racing, who owns the gelding in partnership with his trainer Karl Burke, Al Qareem was ridden by Ryan Moore. He tracked the early leader Whileyouweresleeping (Golden Horn) through the early stages. Travelling well into the straight, Al Qareem was pulled out wide to challenge and hit the front inside the final 300m. Resolute, the gelding held on to score by a nose from Sober (Camelot), while Duke De Sessa.
Bader Mohamed Al Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, presented the trophies to the winners
SEA LA ROSA TOO GOOD IN QATAR PRIX DE ROYALLIEU
Sea La Rosa (Sea The Stars) continued her stellar season by winning the QREC sponsored Gr.1 Prix de Royallieu. The Sunderland Holdings Inc owned Sea La Rosa capped a monumental season with an impressive success in the 2800m Gr.1 contest under a fantastic ride from Tom Marquand. Taking on nine talented rivals, the William Haggas trainee was tucked in behind the early leader Ottilien (Holy Roman Emperor), who set a strong gallop. Switching out to challenge early in the straight, Sea La Rosa took control of the race and went on to score by a length from Jannah Flower (Olympic Glory), with Ottilien holding on for third.
Khaled Bin Mohammed Al Ali, QREC Board Member, presented the trophies to the winners.
KYPRIOS CLEARS AWAY TO PARIS SUCCESS
An incredible spectacle, the QREC sponsored Gr.1 Prix du Cadran went the way of the incredibly talented Kyprios (Galileo) who ran out a wide margin winner of the €300,000 contest. Trained by Aiden O’Brien and carrying the colours of Moyglare Stud, who own the four-year-old in partnership with Magnier, Tabor, Smith and Westerberg, Kyprios firmly secured his position as one of the most talented long distance horses in the world with a stunning victory in the 4000m contest, sponsored by Qatar. Kyprios never looked in trouble from flag fall and turned into the straight under restraint from Ryan Moore. Extending his advantage in the straight, Kyprios pulled clear of his rivals and despite wandering violently towards the paddock exit inside the closing stages, he ran out a 20-length winner over Almacado Gree (Domedriver) in second, with Tashkhan (Born To Sea) securing third place.
H.E. Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, crowned the winners.
ANMAAT TAKES QATAR PRIX DOLLAR ON FRENCH DEBUT
A red-letter day for both trainer Owen Burrows and his talented four-year-old Anmaat (Awtaad), as the pair recorded their first French success when winning the QREC sponsored Gr.2 Prix Dollar. The Shadwell Estates owned four-year-old gelding stalked the leaders towards mid-division through the early stages and travelled well in the 12-runner contest. Early in the straight, Anmaat was able to coast up to the leaders and once switched wide, he took over inside the final 200m. Despite being headed by Junko (Intello), the gelding battled back to score by a head, with the Simon and Ed Crisford trained West Wind Blows (Teofilo) finishing a further four lengths back.
EREVANN BACK IN WINNERS CIRCLE WITH GR.2 SUCCESS
An Aga Khan owned homebred Erevann (Dubawi) returned to winning ways when taking the QREC sponsored Gr.2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein. A welcome success for Christophe Soumillon, Erevann is trained by Jean Claude Rouget. With a strong field of ten lining up for the €200,000 contest, Erevann was confidently ridden towards the rear of the field by Soumillon. Plunging towards the far rail early in the straight, Erevann flashed through to lead inside the final 300m and held on gamely to score from The Revenant (Dubawi), who took the race in both 2019 and 2020. Checkandchallenge (Fast Company) ran his usual game race to take third.
Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya, Vice Chairman of QREC and Chairman of the Asian Equestrian Federation, presented the trophies to winners.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club