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The sixth edition of the Qatar Arabian World Cup has attracted a strong field of 14 runners and half of them are from the two power houses of Qatar. Umm Qarn and Al Shahania Stud have their best horses in the fray for the Euros 700,000 event to be held at the Longchamp race course in Paris today. HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani owned Al Mamun Monlau is another formidable contender which will carry Qatar hopes. A fifth straight victory in the premier event would further enhance the reputation of Qatar as the best in the breeding of Pure Arabians. |
The prospects for Qatar look very promising with HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Tabarak, Muntasar and Farraaha alongwith Al Shahania Stud’s Rathowan, Areej and Mkeefa vying for the top honours. All of them go into the race with a brilliant chance.
The Qatari contenders have been in France and the Great Britain in preparation for the event and the preparations have gone well with them. All these horses have the potential to bring back the prestigious Cup to Qatar for the fifth time.
Alban de Mieulle trained Tabarak (Nizam-Altese D’Arocco) goes into the race with a brilliant win in the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Harwood International Stakes at Doncaster on September 14, where the colt beat three of the World Cup contenders. Earlier the Nizam progeny had gone down to stable mate Muntasar in the Doha Cup (Prix Magnate) at Deauville.
Tabarak began his European campaign in preparation for the World Cup after literally dominating the classics in Doha. He won the prestigious HH The Emir’s Sword, HH The Heir Apparent Trophy and many more classics. He is in rousing form and will be the horse to beat.
“All the three horse are fine. We have prepared Tabarak, Muntasar and Farraaha with this event in mind. They are working very well and look good. It will be a tough race as there are some other international horses which are doing very well at the moment. The track will be good for everybody and you can expect a thrilling finish. For the first time in the last five years, we have many international contenders in the contest. It will be a challenge but we are ready to face it,” Umm Qarn trainer de Mieulle told the Gulf Times.
Muntasar (Majd al Arab-Danie du Cassou) will also add pep to the finish. Though the four-year-old colt has been beaten by Djet Taouy and Mushrae in the recent past, the Alban trainee in capable of reversing the verdict.
Dubai Kahayla Classic winner Al Mamun Monlau (Munjiz- Salalah de Monlau) is another which can redeem himself after being beaten by Al Tair and Muntasar in France recently. His last winning effort was in the President of the UAE Cup at Saint Cloud in June. He has proved to come out with his best in the major classics. He has the class and the opportunity to do so.
“After the Dubai Kahayla Classic victory in Dubai, Al Mamun Monlau has been in top form. We have high hopes as the going is good without the rains. We were expecting Frankie Dettori to ride him for the first but that is not possible now. He had a fall and will be unable to ride. Frank Blondel has been declared to ride him and we will hope for the best,” Al Mamun Monlau trainer Jean Francois Bernard said.
Trainer Julian Smart has two World Cup winners, Areej and Mkeefa in the contest. The duo has tasted success on the same turf but have done nothing of note in their last few outings. The ‘dark un’ amongst the Al Shahania trio is Rathowan.
Though Rathowan (Amer-Arc de Ciel) has had a solitary win in the Royal Cavalry of Oman Muscat Conditions Stakes at Wolverhampton in July this year, the Amer progeny had run a credible second to Djet Taouy in the Group I Shadwell Dubai International Stakes at Newbury. The five-year-old colt has the pedigree to trouble the best. Maybe this is his moment of glory.
“It is going to be very difficult this year. Our older horses are not in any form whatsoever. Since they ran last year, they have been beaten in all winter in Doha and been beaten in summer all over Europe. So is going to be very difficult to see them winning. But that does not mean I am giving up, we are going to do our very best to make it three in a row for Al Shahania,” trainer Smart explained his prospects in the race.
“Though it is not a big field, it is going to be a very exciting affair. Alban has a couple of strong contenders and the other international challengers are also capable of winning here,” Smart added.
Amongst the international challengers, Djet Taouy (Dahess-Win Taouy) is the one which can upset the aspirations of the Qatari supporters. The Dorenberg saddled Djet Taouy, which is bred by Qatar’s stallion Dahess, has been well tuned to have a big say in the finish. He has been beaten by Tabarak in his previous outing, but will not go down without a fight in this premier event for Pure Arabians.
The others in the fray are Boum De Ghazal, Ameretto, Poulain Kossack, Mushrae, Vulcan Du Clos and Gharraa.