Vazirabad finally wins Qatar Prix du Cadran

Vazirabad is the top French stayer, and the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Group 1) was one of the few of the biggest French races missing from his record.Yesterday, he rectified that winning the 2017 edition of the race in style. The win was five-year-old’s third Group 1 victory.The race was led by Mille et Mille, winner of the 2015 edition of the race, whilst the eventual winner travelled towards the rear of the field.Once 450m from the line, Christophe Soumillon pulled out Vazirabad, owned by Aga Khan, and he went into lead with ease and won by just under a length, with Mille et Mille second.Czech runner, Trip to Rhodos, ran well to finish third seven lengths back.“He won, but I don’t think that we saw Vazirabad at his best today. He was perhaps moving a little less well than usual,” trainer Alain de Royer Dupré said.“He will run in the Prix Royal Oak, at a racecourse that he loves, Saint-Cloud. I won’t write off the Ascot Gold Cup just yet, but he is a horse that will last, and so we won’t run him if the weather is too hot, or the track too quick.”In the opening race of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend —Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Group 2) — Pascal Bary-trained Ice Breeze emerged as the winner. Ice Breeze had never run over 3000m coming into yesterday’s race. However, the trip proved no problem for him, and it was in the final strides that this tough colt came to snatch victory from Call To Mind, while Darbuzan, the favourite, had to settle for third place.Trainer Damien de Watrigant came up with a full house in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments (four-year-old fillies) with both his runners, Muneera and Jamaheer, topping the Group 1 Arabian race.“As I said previously, I think that Muneera is better than Jamaheer on soft ground. Muneera is a filly that stays the distance. Here at Chantilly, it’s a testing track and that made the difference. We have finished first and second, it’s hard to imagine any better,” De Watrigant said.The Juliet Rose gave her all to retain the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Group 2), and when Kitesurf and Listen In attacked while she led, she kept digging deeper till she was first past the post.Jean-Claude Rouget’s Taareef too retained the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2). Royal Julius led the race at a decent pace. The eventual winner was held up towards the rear, but began his attack two furlongs out. After passing Hathal, he pulled clear and then won by just over a length in front of a fast-finishing Buthela. Noor Al Hawa was third by a little under a length.“Taareef didn’t have the attitude that he showed the other day. He has done nothing today. He didn’t even sweat a drop. He could run again this year, as he started running quite late on in the season. There are not that many options outside of Hong Kong, which is a difficult race, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) which is in three weeks, or the Breeders Cup,” Rouget said.Corine Barande-Barbe-trained Garlingari showed immense courage to win the Qatar Prix Dollar (Group 2), battling all the way to the line to win ahead of Czech runner Subway Dancer, and Britain’s Salouen. Garlingari followed in the footsteps of Cirrus des Aigles, also trained by Barande-Barbe, who won this race in 2010, 2012 and 2013.“I bred him, I own him, and I train him, so it is three times as exciting. I have already won this race three times with Cirrus des Aigles. It is wonderful to win it with another horse this year,” Barande-Barbe said after the win.A new addition to the card was the Haras de Bouquetot – Critérium de la Vente d’Octobre Arqana, a race for two-year-old colts and fillies, who were bought at the Arqana October Yearling Sale.The prize money of this race which is exceptionally high for a Class 1 (€271,260) attracted 18 runners, and Dice Roll, in the colours of Giacomo Algranti was the clear winner. He is trained by Fabrice Chappet, and was bought as a yearling for €130,000.