Al Wasmiyah Racing’s Monda finishes runner-up in another Qatari one-two at the ParisLongchamp
Qatari-owned Arabian horses continued their excellence at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Saturday.
After two victories at Saint Cloud on Friday, Mohamed bin Fahad al-Attiyah’s Sahab landed another prestigious Group 1 victory for Qatar as she won the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments at the ParisLongchamp yesterday. Al Wasmiyah Racing’s Monda finished runner-up in another Qatari one-two.
The curtain will come down today on the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with the prestigious event being held just a few weeks before the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, whose spirit has been prevailing in Paris.
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 al-Attiyah to victory when taking the Group 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 Group 1 (PA) by Mickael Barzalona, Sahab is now a winner at the highest level and takes her career total to four victories from only ten starts.
An agonisingly narrow second at Saint Cloud in Group 1 (PA) last term over the same 2,000m 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. QREC Chairman HE Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi crowned the winners.
Meanwhile, Al Qareem (Awtaad) took the QREC-sponsored Group 2 Prix De Chaudenay. Sporting the silks of 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 (Sea The Stars) continued her stellar season by winning the Group 1 Prix de Royallieu. The Sunderland Holdings Inc owned Sea La Rosa capped a monumental season with an impressive success in the 2800m Group 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 Mohamed al-Ali, QREC Board Member, presented the trophies to the winners.
An incredible spectacle, Group 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.
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 Group 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. An Aga Khan owned homebred Erevann (Dubawi) returned to winning ways when taking the Group 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
20 runners vie for Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe title
Today’s card at ParisLongchamp includes two iconic events – the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a total purse of 5mn euros on the line and the Qatar Arabian World Cup, which offers total prize money of 1mn euros.
Twenty 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 Group 2 of a total of six starts so far and finished second in a Group 1.
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 three-year-old Luxembourg and the five-year-old British mare Alpinista have strong hopes as well, with French hopes resting principally on Onesto and Vadeni.
Sixteen of the world’s best Arabians will contest for the Qatar Arabian Word Cup over 2,000m. 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’s Hadi De Carrere, Al Shaqab Racing’s Mwarid, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Abbes, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Khateer, Abdullah bin Fahad al-Attiyah’s Djafar, HE Sharida al-Kaabi’s First Classs, HE Sheikha Reem bint Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Ebraz and Hoggar De L’ardus.
The fifth race in the card will be for three-year-old + fillies and mare in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera Longines over 2,000, 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 Group 1 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.
As part of the events today, 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 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 HH 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.
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Chairman HE Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi (second left) crowned the winners of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments at the ParisLongchamp yesterday. PICTURES: Scoopdyga
Al Qareem, ridden by Ryan Moore, won the Group 2 Prix De Chaudenay.
QREC Acting CEO Bader Mohamed al-Darwish (fifth right) presented the trophies to the winners of the Qatar Prix Chaudenay.
