Qatar Winning Circle 2021

‫اﻟﻤﺠﻠﺔ اﻟﺮﺳﻤﻴﺔ ﻟﻤﻬﺮﺟﺎن ﺳﻴﻒ ﺳﻤﻮ اﻷﻣﻴﺮ‬

WINNING M A G A Z I N E

T H E O F F I C I A L M A G A Z I N E O F H H T H E A M I R S W O R D F E S T I VA L

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 21

M A G A Z I N E

2021 ‫ فرىاير‬

WINNING

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INTRODUCTION

Rising to the challenge to stage the Festival The H.H. The Amir Sword Festival is the most prestigious and glamorous equestrian event, not only in QREC, but in Qatar in general as well.

The value and the nature of Festival do voice the attention paid to Qatar’s horseracing and the standing it has reached in terms of both organisation and competitions thanks to the support from the country’s wise leadership support and their endless efforts to promote Qatar’s equestrian sport in general and horseracing in particular.

A world of difference marks the 2020 and the 2021 renewals of the Festival. Last year, it was held just before the world started to be severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent repercussions at all levels, including horseracing of course. We had to end the local racing season, 2019/20, earlier than planned.

In a year of challenges, the 2021 renewal is being held in very special circumstances. QREC, in turn, has been well set to rise to the challenge of organising a perfect edition and overcoming any difficulties whatsoever.

Thanks to the cooperation of the Supreme Committee for Crises Management, we have been able to invite several international horse owners and trainers to run their horses in the Festival races. Surely, this international presence adds to the thrill of the Festival races and enhances performance in the coveted contests at the QREC Al Rayyan Racecourse.

In the meantime, we are on track in terms of this season’s racing programme. We are fully committed and determined to complete the season while adhering to the precautionary measures in line with the instructions and guidelines of the competent authorities in Qatar.

Such measures will always be in place as the safety of all stakeholders – horse owners, trainers, jockeys, organisers and work teams – are a priority for us.

Having reached this stage of this season’s programme with the weekly race meeting held regularly and in line with the schedule, we have been able to continue our efforts to realise the objectives, the vision and the strategy of QREC. Therefore, we are optimistic that we will manage to overcome all challenges, continue this season as planned and achieve remarkable levels of success, confirming our potential to get past the negative effects of the pandemic.

While we have been focused on producing an outstanding renewal of the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival, the QREC

management has also been dealing with several other local and international commitments. The Al Uqda Training Centre of the Al Uqda Complex was inaugurated last December. In addition, the first trial race meeting was run at Al Uqda Racecourse on 30 January as the first racing event ever to be held there, marking a new era of horseracing in Qatar. It was a highly successful racing experience, providing more options and opening the way for maximised participation in racing events. Another progress related to Al Uqda Complex has been the opening of the Vet Clinic there to help ease the pressure on the Equine Veterinary Hospital at the QREC premises in Al Rayyan.

On the other hand, QREC continues sponsoring top racing events overseas under the agreements with our international partners. Committed to such agreements and partnerships, and albeit the pandemic, QREC continued its sponsorship of the Qatar Goodwood Festival in the UK and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France in 2020.

I would like to thank the sponsors who partner QREC in sponsoring the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival and the various activities and events of QREC. I seize this opportunity to thank Daam, QNB, Al Emadi Enterprises/ Al Hazm, Longines and Qatar Airways for their valuable collaboration. I would like also to thank Al Shaqab Racing for their support of the Al Shaqab Challenge for three-yearolds. We wish all stakeholders all success and look forward to a remarkable renewal of the invaluable Festival.

Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi Chairman, Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club

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Mountain making her way to the top Title Sponsor

Qatar trainer Debbie Mountain is heading into the 2019 H.H. The Amir Sword Festival in a positive mood. Her horses have been running well this season and she has chances of a bestever score in terms of prize-money earnings – her stable is currently on 143,265QR, the Qatar Derby (G1) win in December by Full Moon the highlight of the season so far.

Unfortunately, Mountain suffered mixed emotions immediately after that Group 1 race – obviously delighted by the performance of her bay colt, her concerns were with the well-being of her runner Prepare For Battle, who pulled up in the race.

“I was collecting the prize, but I really wanted to get to see Prepare For Battle and see how he was; I was more worried about him than winning the race – it was a strange day,” admits Mountain.

A knowledgeable and focused horsewoman, horses have long formed the backbone to Mountain’s life.

Official Carrier

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION CONTENTS PREVIEW HH THE AMIR SWORD FESTIVAL HH THE AMIR SWORD FESTIVAL 2020 REVIEW EBRAZ INTERVIEW WITH AL WASMIYAH FARM INTERVIEW WITH HAMAD AL JEHANI INTERVIEW WITH SALEH AL HAJRI AL UQDA EQUESTRIAN COMPLEX QATAR GUINEAS/OAKS QATAR INTERNATIONAL DERBY H.H. SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN KHALIFA AL THANI RACE DAY REVIEW H.H. SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN KHALIFA AL THANI RACE DAY REVIEW H.E. SHEIKH JOAAN BIN HAMAD AL THANI RACE DAY REVIEW QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL QATAR PRIX DE L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE GALLERY

1 3 6 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 38 39 40 42 46 50 Winning Circle Magazine

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FESTIVAL PREVIEW

A quality meeting for the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival

GROUP 1 WINNER ASPETAR HEADS THE H.H. THE AMIR TROPHY CHALLENGE FROM EUROPE AND THE WORLD’S LEADING ARABIANS, EBRAZ AND TAYF, TAKE EACH OTHER ON AGAIN IN THE H.H. THE AMIR SWORD The H.H. The Amir Sword Festival, held at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha, which has increased its collective prize fund this year to $4.34 million, is the highlight of the Qatar racing season. This year, the six international races have attracted 306 entries with 75 exciting international contenders vying to line up alongside the leading domestic talent.

They have come from nine different countries across four continents.

The showpieces of the Festival are the H.H. The Amir Trophy )presented

by Longines(, for thoroughbreds, and the H.H. The Amir Sword )sponsored

by Al Hazm( for purebred Arabians.

Both races are run over 2400m, are worth $ 1 million each and are the concluding two races on Saturday February 20.

The H.H. The Amir Trophy has received 58 entries, including eight from the UK and five from France.

They are headed by Aspetar, a proven Group 1 winner, trained by Roger Charlton for H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa al Thani.

He is a top-level scorer, though he will be stepping up to the trip for the first time. The French-based, Jerome Reynier-trained Royal Julius could also be aiming for third time lucky, having been second and fifth in the race for the last two years.

The world’s top two purebred Arabians, Ebraz and Tayf will go head-to-head in the H.H. The Amir Sword for a third time. To date, Ebraz has always finished in front, though in their last two encounters in the Qatar Arabian World Cup and the 4

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H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup, it has been Tayf who has had the upper hand. Both are trained in Qatar, Ebraz by Julian Smart, while Tayf is with the season’s leading trainer Alban De Mieulle.

Though they are the established stars, there are two up and coming fillies who could make their allowances count.

Trained in France by Thomas Fourcy, Lady Princess, despite being small of stature, has an electric turn of foot.

She has already secured three top-level wins in France, and most recently won the Qatar Derby, though she is yet to race beyond 2000m.

Mon’nia, trained by Smart, is a fullsister to Assy, the first Qatari-bred winner of the H.H. The Amir Sword.

She was an impressive winner of the H.E .Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy over 2200m on her last start.

The top-class racing starts early on H.H. The Amir Sword day

Saturday’s undercard features three further international races, each worth $250,000.

There is a pair of top-class thoroughbred events – the third race on the card, the 38-entry Dukhan Sprint )sponsored by Breeders’ Cup(

)QA Gr3( over 1200m for three-yearolds and up, and the 45-entry Al Biddah Mile )QA Gr2(, the fourth race of the day and over one mile for three-year-olds only. They are preceded by race two, the Qatar International Cup )Gr1 PA( for four-year-old and older Purebred Arabians, also over a mile )1600m(.

The race has attracted 58 entries.

The Dukhan Sprint features some of the top sprinters from Qatar, Britain and France. The home side is led by X Force, winner of five of his nine starts since arriving in the Gulf some 14 months ago, while the seven British entries include the Qatar Goodwood Festival Stewards’ Cup hero Summerghand. The Group 3 winner Air De Valse from Corine Barande Barbe is part of a six-strong French contingent.

Last month’s Al Rayyan Stakes, over 1400m of this track, may prove the key form guide to the Al Biddah Mile as the first 12 home then, including its runaway Mohammed Afroz-trained winner Soldierpoy, are all due to take each other again. However, Homeryan, trained in France by Francis Graffard, has posted some very strong efforts in his homeland, not least when a close second in the

Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon. A last time out winner at Chantilly over a mile, the son of Sea The Stars could make a successful Doha debut.

The Smart-trained Methgal is set to defend his title in the Qatar International Cup, but the 2019 runner-up Al Naama from the De Mieulle stable will give him plenty to think about. Owned by Al Shaqab Racing, she was a disappointing sixth 12 months ago, but has bounced back to form with two recent wins.

Day two’s Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup looks an international affair

The sixth international race, the $200,000 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, is the last race on day two of the meeting. This 1600m event for thoroughbred of four-yearold and up is set to be the Festival’s most diverse event as its 59 entries hail from seven different countries.

The last-time out Umm Qarn Trophy runner-up Pazeer, a regular in some of the top Al Rayyan races over the past four years and not out of the first two in his last six starts, would be a popular local winner, for trainer Bader Al Balushi.

The international challenge features three entries from the County Dublin yard of Irish trainer Ado McGuinness,

headlined by the early November

Listed winner Saltonstall, a sevenyear-old gelding by Pivotal. He

subsequently followed up on the AllWeather a fortnight later over a mile at Dundalk, now boasts of an Irish

rating of 111 and has been freshened up for this challenge.

In total, the six races have attracted 75 entries from overseas: 29 from Britain, 23 from France, 15 from

Oman, three from Ireland, two from Bahrain, and one each from Spain,

the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

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QATAR NATIONAL STUD STALLIONS ALMAS QA

MEBROUK FR

CHESTNUT, 1999, TO STUD 2011

CHESTNUT, 1996, TO STUD 2010

GR.1 WINNER OF H.H. THE EMIR’S SWORD AND H.H.

GR.1 AND TRACK RECORD SETTING WINNER OF H.H.

THE HEIR APPARENT TROPHY HALF BROTHER TO

THE EMIR’S SWORD FULL BROTHER TO DORMANE,

JAAFER, MULTIPLE GR.1 WINNER WHO ALSO WON THE

CHAMPION ARABIAN RACING SIRE OF HIS GENERA

EMIR’S SWORD FROM THE FAMILY OF SIRES DJAMEL,

TION OUT OF THE INFLUENTIAL FOUNDATION MARE

DORMANE, MEBROUK AND MADJEL

MANDORE AND BY CHAMPION MANGANATE

PURE ARABIAN

PURE ARABIAN

PHARFADET FR

SAND VICTOR USA

CHESNUT, 2006, TO STUD 2012

GREY, 2011, TO STUD 2021

HALF BROTHER TO QATAR OAKS WINNER MAXENS SE, OUT OF THE SIX TIME GR.1 WINNER MY PRIN CESSE FROM A STRONG GR.1 WINNING FAMILY THAT INCLUDES THE SIRES DJEBBEL, MAJD EL ARAB AND

A GRADE STAKES WINNER BY THE MOST PROLIFIC AMERICAN SIRE AND A DAM FROM THE BEST FRENCH BLOODLINE

DJELMIDOR

PURE ARABIAN

PURE ARABIAN

QATAR NATIONAL STUD C/O QATAR RACING AND EQUESTRIAN CLUB PO BOX 7559, DOHA, QATAR

BOBY DI JOB

ERDOGAN GB

BAY, 2008, TO STUD 2014

BAY, 2014, TO STUD 2020

TOUGH AND CONSISTENT CHAMPION 2YO HAVING WON OR PLACED IN ALL 8 CA

ONE OF THE BEST BRED HORSES IN THE WORLD! BY A SUPERSTAR OUT OF A SUPER

REER STARTS FULL BROTHER TO 3 TIME URUGUAYAN CHAMPION GANDHI DI JOB BY

STAR BY THE LEGENDARY FRANKEL, OUT OF ONE OF THE BEST FEMALE FAMILIES

THE CLASSIC PRODUCING SIRE, JOB DI CAROLINE, HIMSELF A GRANDSON OF DUAL

AROUND, MULTIPLE GR.1 WINNER DAR RE MI IS DAM OF CHAMPION 2YO, TOO DARN

CLASSIC WINNER THE MINSTREL

HOT, LAH TI DAR, SO MI DAR AND DE TREVILLE

THOROUGHBRED

VALE OF YORK IRE

THOROUGHBRED

BAY, 2007, TO STUD 2011

THE HIGHEST RATED JUVENILE COLT BY THE SIRE OF EXCITING NEW STALLIONS KINGMAN AND CHARM SPIRIT. WON A HIGHCLASS RUNNING OF THE BREEDERS’ CUP JUVENILE DEFEATING FIVE GR.1 WINNERS, INCLUDING LOOKIN AT LUCKY AND ESKENDEREYA. SIRED A BLACKTYPE PERFORMER IN EACH OF HIS FIRST 4 CROPS INCLUDING CHAMPION 2YO FONTANELICE.

KHELEYF USA

LAHALEEB, QUEEN MARY STAKES WINNER, GILDED AND QATAR DERBY AND OAKS WINNER, LADYANNE A GROUP WINNER AT TWO AND THREE YEARS AND CLAS SICPLACED BBY MARK OF ESTEEM, 2000 GUINEAS WINNER AND SIRE OF EPSOM DERBY WINNER, SIR PERCY

WINDSOR PALACE IRE

BAY OR BROWN, 2001, TO STUD 2005 SIRE OF 21 BLACKTYPE WINNERS INCLUDING GR.2 WINNER AND GR.1 PLACED STALLION SAYIF. WON FIRST TIME OUT AT ROYAL

BAY, 2005, TO STUD 2014 WON THE GR.3 MOORESBRIDGE STAKES BEATING SIXTIME GR.1

ASCOT AS A 3YO AND PLACED AT ROYAL ASCOT AS A JUVENILE. EXCELLENT STRIKE RATE WITH HIS 2YO RUNNERS MARK HIM OUT

THOROUGHBRED

CHESNUT, 1999, TO STUD 2003

THE SIRE OF GR.1 E P TAYLOR STAKES WINNER AND IRISH 1000 GUINEAS RUNNERUP,

THOROUGHBRED

THOROUGHBRED

AS SOURCE OF SPEED AND PRECOCITY

REDBACK GB

WINNER, ST NICHOLAS ABBEY. ALSO THIRD IN THE GR.1 TATTER SALLS GOLD CUP BY CHAMPION SIRE DANEHILL DANCER

THOROUGHBRED

TEL : + 974 4419 7632 P.MUSIALQR EC.GOV.QA

HESHEM IRE

BAY, 2013, TO STUD 2020 GROUP 2 WINNER AND GROUP 1 PLACED PERFORMER DURING HIS CAREER HE HAS DEFEATED GROUP 1 WINNERS RIBCHESTER, DECORATED KNIGHT, ULTRA, ZARAK, MONDIALISTE AND MEAN DRE FROM THE FAMILY OF GROUP 1 WINNERS, AND SIRES, VICAR, ASTRONOMER ROYAL AND ITSMYLUCKYDAY

THOROUGHBRED

H.H THE AMIR SWORD FESTIVAL 2020: RACE MEETING REVIEW

Ebraz wins a record-breaking third H.H. The Amir Sword and takes the Triple Crown H.H. SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN KHALIFA AL THANI’S FRENCH KING WINS HIS SECOND H.H. THE AMIR TROPHY The H.H. The Amir Sword Festival 2020 held in the presence of H.H. The Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani saw repeat victories in the headline races for H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Ebraz and H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s French King.

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For the Julian Smart-trained Ebraz, it was history made twice. An unprecedented third H.H. The Amir Sword (Gr1 PA), combined with his victories in the Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood (Gr1 PA), and the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1 PA), at ParisLongchamp also earned him the Triple Crown. He is the first horse to achieve that feat since the series inception in 2016. Ebraz will be in the record books as the first winner of the Doha Triple Crown, which carried a $1 Million bonus for Al Shahania.

With the fellow Smart-trained Aaley

Al Magam giving the field a good lead for most of the race, it was the Alban De Mieulle-trained pair for Umm Qarn, Yazeed and Tayf, who went to the front 200m from the line.

However, Ebraz, coming from off the pace under a perfectly timed ride from Maxime Guyon, came between them drawing clear to win by a length and three-quarters. Tayf was runnerup, having filled that spot behind Ebraz in 2017, whilst Yazeed was a further three-quarters of a length behind, having been second in 2019.

Also completing a Festival double

Umm Qarn’s Marid, trained by De Mieulle was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.

Saturday also saw a hat-trick of wins for the colours of Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari. The first success came courtesy of Sir Arthur Dayne (Sir Prancealot). A winner from four starts in the UK, Sir Arthur Dayne had caught the eye on his Qatari debut for trainer Gassim Ghazali earlier in the month, when runnerup to Think Big, trained by Georges Mikhalides, in the H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy over 1400m.

Back up in trip, he turned the tables with Think Big in the Al Biddah Mile (QA Gr2), under British Champion jockey Oisin Murphy, recording a half-length victory over the Al Wasmiyah Farm runner, ridden by Tom Marquand. Perfect Empire for Ghazali and Harry Bentley were third.

Al Kuwari’s Al Malhouf trained by Fabrice Chappet in France, also impressed with a determined win in the H.H. The Amir Shalfa over 2000m for thoroughbreds. Lady Princess, also trained in France by Fourcy, rounded off a brilliant day for the Al Kuwari when winning the H.H. The Amir Silver Sword for four-year-old Purebred Arabians.

Christophe Soumillon was the man in the saddle on both occasions.

The Dukhan Sprint (QA Gr3) run over 1200m confirmed the promise of the H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy winner Dark Pursuit, who was recording his third win over the distance. Trained by Stefano Ibido for Abdulhadi Mana Al-Hajri, was H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s French King in the H.H. The Amir Trophy (QA Gr1).

Ridden by Olivier Peslier and trained

by Henri-Alex Pantall, the five-yearold son of French Fifteen put in a fine front-running performance, showing a good turn of foot in the home straight to win by two and a half-lengths. The American challenger Standard Deviation, trained by Graham Motion, gave chase but couldn’t reel in the longtime leader. The Qatar Derby winner Pedro Cara, finishing a length and a half behind, fared the best of the

domestic-trained runners in third.

There was also success for H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani in the Festival’s other Gr1 PA contest when the Julian-smart trained Methgal won the Qatar International Cup run over 1600m.

The four-year-old son of TM Fred Texas, also ridden by Guyon for Smart, showed a superior speed to win by a length from Al Shaqab Racing’s Shalaa, trained in France by Thomas Fourcy.

Though Shalaa stayed on well, Methgal always had the upper hand.

Methgal

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H.H THE AMIR SWORD FESTIVAL 2020: RACE MEETING REVIEW

Lady Princess

the four-year-old gelding overcame a poor start which left him stone last at the halfway point. Jockey Luca Maniezzi had to get to work on Dark Pursuit entering the home straight and the gelding responded well to get ahead by a length at the line.

Injaaz Stud’s Izzthatright had been prominent throughout and finished second for Ghazali, three-quarters of a length ahead of Shobrom running for owner Al Jasra Stud and trainer Ahmed Kobeissi

Friday’s highlight, the 1600m Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (QA Gr2) saw a victory for the Frederic Rossi-trained Stunning Spirit for the Haras de la Gousserie. Ridden by Mickael Barzalona, the pair denied the 2019 winner Marianafoot back-toback wins by a short head. The JeanClaude Seroul-owned and Jerome Reynier-trained runner-up was further two and half lengths in front of On The Front Line, who finished third for owner Nasser Owaida Salem Al Hajri and trainer Owaida Salem Al Hajri.

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H.H. The Amir Sword

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H.H. The Amir Sword

The Supporting Partner

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EBRAZ’S CONNECTIONS

What they said about the wonderful horse after H.H. The Amir Sword

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First reported in jourdegalop.com TRAINER JULIAN SMART

"Ebraz showed the required precocity as a three-yearold which is why he tackled Gr1 PA company during an August raid on Deauville.

“However, in the early part of his career, he could hardly be described as tough. Yet, the horse has toughened up considerably as he has matured. You need to be a tough sort to lay down the gauntlet to the Umm Qarn runners in the straight. Maxime Guyon gave him a perfect ride.

Capturing three editions of the H.H. The Amir Sword is theoretically impossible. Furthermore, I never thought that I would ever see a horse winning the PA Triple Crown. Not that I was alone in this respect. Ebraz has certainly become the richest PA money earner in history.

It’s an incredible feeling to be training the best PA horse in the world. Furthermore, I’m having difficulty in identifying a horse currently in training who would be capable of beating him. It was Al Shahania’s eighth win in the race and that’s some feat."

JOCKEY MAXIME GUYON

"It’s incredible! As he is the first winner of the coveted Triple Crown! It was a truly run race and the pacemakers did their bit. I found myself shadowing one of the leading contenders, and granted Ebraz’s ability to quicken, I wasn’t really worried. The horse invariably does everything asked of him and I’m well acquainted with him, having won three Gr1 PA prizes on the horse last year. Julian Smart has done some sterling work as it isn’t obvious when it comes to training a horse to win over three different trips. He’s always been a very good horse, but, from last season onwards, the horse has developed into something special. He is going to prove very hard to beat this year. He’s all class."

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EBRAZ’S CONNECTIONS

EBRAZ: PEDIGREE DETAILS

Ebraz is the latest of Al Shahania’s great breeding and follows on the heels of recently retired star Gazwan (Amer x Arc de Ciel), winner of multiple Group 1 races including the Qatar Arabian World Cup (2017), H.H The Amir Sword GR1 (2018, 2019), the Qatar Gold Sword GR1 (2018, 2019), and the Shadwell Dubai International S. GR1. Al Shahania is owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

RACING MANAGER OF AL SHAHANIA STUD BERTRAND LE MÉTAYER

"Ever since Goodwood when he captured the first leg of the Triple Crown over a mile, Ebraz has developed a real appetite for the fray. Being heckled during a race no longer affects him, instead the reverse is true. In the past, he was able to use his stamina to good effect. Now, he has recourse to his class and his powers of acceleration.

The ability to win four consecutive Gr1 PA prizes, in which different tactics have been employed, in different countries, and over three different distances – is quite simply incredible. It also represents the victory of an exceptional breeding operation, and namely that of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani. » 14

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A full-brother to three Gr1 PA winners and bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Ebraz is the son of a clearly exceptional mare. The dam Massamarie (Tidjani) has also produced Raahah (Asraa Min Albarq), the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (Gr1 PA) heroine, Mared Al Sahra (Amir's Sword, Gr1 PA), Mu'Azzaz (Shadwell Dubai International Stakes, Gr1 PA), and Metrag (runner-up in Grand Prix de Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI, Gr3 PA).The last three all share the paternity of Amer (Wafi).

Ebraz is a grandson of Margau (Manganate), herself a full-sister to the one of the breed’s dominant sires Dormane and the very high-class Djendel. She foaled a class act in the form of Santhal (Djebbel), whose six wins comprised the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 (Gr1 PA). Margau’s great grandam is none other than Mandore (Grabiec), the great mare which we readily associate with the De Watrigant breeding academy.

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ESTABLISHED IN 2004 . ALI BIN HAMAD AL ATTIYAH AL WASMIYAH FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Noor Al Hawa aims for glory in H.H. The Amir Trophy "WE HAVE DEVELOPED A BASE FOR CHAMPIONS OVERSEAS SINCE 2015 WE ASPIRE TO RACE OUR HORSES ON A LARGER SCALE IN EUROPE"

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Based in Doha, Al Wasmiyah Farm is well known for acquiring top-class racehorses and running them in prestigious events. The success underlines the progress of the operation, which has produced several talents at both Al Rayyan Park and Europe’s top racecourses.

Looking forward to the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival, to be held at QREC between 18 and 20 February, the management of Al Wasmiyah Farm has intensified the preparations for landing more than one of the coveted titles and demonstrating the development of the Farm and the remarkable work being done to realise this end.

In the following interview with Mr Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, an owner of the Farm, to tell us more about Al Wasmiyah Farm, its prominent successes and its aspirations in Qatar’s premier Festival.

Can you tell us a little a bit about the background of your operation when it was founded and by whom?

Al Wasmiyah Farm was established in 2004 by my father, Hamad Bin Ali Al Attiyah, and Mr Mohammed Bin Ali Al Attiyah.

Who trains the Al Wasmiyah horses and who are your favourite jockeys to ride your horses?

Georges Mikhalides is the trainer of the Al Wasmiyah horses. He is highly skilled with a wealth of experience and has had achieved wonderful successes for us recently. At Al Wasmiyah we do not to retain a jockey, rather we prefer to choose the most suitable jockey for each horse, depending on the circumstances and the nature of each race as well as the other runners. These matters, in fact, require plenty of experience and the ability to make the right choice at the right time.

NOOR AL HAWA’S SUCCESS

Noor Al Hawa has been a wonderful horse for you, most recently winning the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy and the H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle. What do you think makes him so special and what are the plans for him?

First, I would like to thank you for this question because Noor Al Hawa is one of our best horses. We have been planning and preparing him to be on top.

He always gives his running and arrives at all races as a favourite. He won the H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle. It was a tough 2,200-metre race for four-year-olds and older and Georges Mikhalides and Alberto Sanna teamed up to guide him to a comfortable success by a length. He is clearly ready to vie for the H.H. The Amir Trophy and we hope he will continue his excellent run of form and land the spoils for Al Wasmiyah Farm in the prestigious Festival.

Perfect Empire is an improving horse and was a good fourth in the Qatar Derby. What are the plans for him?

Perfect Empire is a classy horse and is in good hands with the top trainer, Jassim Ghazali. In fact, he has proved a shrewd purchase by Ghazali two years ago. He was good fourth in the Gr1 QA Derby and before that won the Gr3 QA Guineas in November. As for the plans for him, it all depends on the level of his performance in the coming races. While we always aspire for more, there are several factors to be considered before the final decisions.

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EXCITING HORSES FOR AL WASMIYAH

What are the other exciting Al Wasmiyah horses we should look out for? Think Big, for one looks exciting...

Think Big and Thunderstone are both exciting. They have proven themselves as horses to follow and their classy racing style enhances the expectations that they will excel in the coming races.

HORSE PURCHASES

How do you purchase horses for your Qatar string?

Horses are selected by Mr Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Attiyah and myself. Factors such as form and pedigree, among others, are key in such selection by the management of Al Wasmiyah Farm.

What are your favourite memories of racing in Qatar?

A favourite memory for the owners of Al Wasmiyah Farm is assocaited with Al Ghabraa, a mare bred by Al Wasmiyah Farm. Each and every winner makes us happy at the Farm, but when the winner is a homebred, the happiness is doubled for sure.

BREEDING OVERSEAS

You seem to be developing a high-class broodmare band in Europe, can you tell us more about it?

We have established our breeding operation base overseas since 2015. We hope our plan will prove successful given the importance of breeding and producing progenies of future winners. We trust this operation will be key in enhancing the role of Al Wasmiyah Farm in top events in Europe and elsewhere. We bought an exciting Frankel foal and a lovely broodmare at Tattersalls last December.

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Will the progeny you breed in Europe be kept to race or will they be sold? Would the aim be to bring homebred horses to Qatar?

They will be kept to race in Europe, and at the end of the season there, they will be brought to Qatar to run in the races at the QREC Al Rayyan Park. In fact, big races help maximise horse care and our aspirations for more and more success.

INCREASED INVOLVEMENT IN RACES IN EUROPE

Finally, do you think the Al Wasmiyah colours will be seen more frequently on racecourses in Europe?

Yes, Al Wasmiyah Farm’s horses will be seen more often in line with our aspiration for endless success and fostering Al Wasmiyah colours as a force to be recokoned in prestiogious races in Qatar and overseas. We do realise competition is tough and there are key players out there, but we also know that we will benefit from such strong competition.

The racing world is in constant development and requires constant work and non-stop aspiration for success.

AVA I L A B L E AT

AMBITIOUS TRAINER HAMAD AL JEHANI HAS SIGHTS SET ON THE TOP

Seeking to make my way to the top

"MOADDIE HAS BEEN KEY TO MY SUCCESS AND I MADE A LEAP FORWARD IN 2015-2016 HIGH HOPES IN H.H. THE AMIR SWORD FESTIVAL THIS YEAR RESILIENCE AND PATIENCE ARE ESSENTIAL FOR TRAINERS" Trainer Hamad Al Jehani is known for his hard work and endeavours for continuous development. He always strives to achieve his endless ambitions and aspirations.

At this special time of the year with all eyes turning now to the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival, Al Jehani looks forward to winning more than one of the coveted titles of the premier event. His hopes are getting higher with the good results he has achieved so far this season and the several horses under his care.

We met the Qatari trainer to tell us about his career, dreams and views.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you became a trainer?

and is 10 years old now. Moaddie has also been key to my success and is special to me along with Tabouk and the classy Zarandi.

MY BEST SEASON

You are enjoying one of the best seasons of your career since 2015-2016, you must be delighted?

True! Actually, I made a great leap in my career as a trainer in the 2015-2016 season, which was a very important turning point for me and a motivation to continue the hard work. This season, however, I feel I have excelled myself with better results than those of 2015-2016 that I consider this season my best ever so far, particularly in terms of the strike rate and placed runners.

My name is Hamad Bin Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehani.

I started at an early age at the QREC Riding School in 2000 where I reached several levels. Then, I had to pause that activity as I was occupied with my studies.

In 2014, I returned to start a new career as a horse trainer and I was encouraged by my father and my uncle, Ibrahim.

Do you train on the track at Al Rayyan Park? How long have you been training for?

Yes, I train on the track at Al Rayyan Park in the mornings and then at Al Uqda Racecourse in the afternoon. I started my official training career in 2015.

QUALITY OF RACEHORSES

What sort of horses do you think best suits racing in Qatar?

It depends on the breed, the pedigree and the style.

These are key factors in identifying horses, who can run well at Al Rayyan Park in Doha and, now, Al Uqda Racecourse in Al Khor as well. These should be considered when selecting horses to run here in Qatar.

Who are your favourite horses you have trained throughout your career?

One of my favourites is Alfie Lunete. She is owned by my uncle Hamad and was the first horse I ran at the races at QREC Al Rayyan Park. She is by Footstepsinthesand out of La Lunete. She has retired 20

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I Am Thunder was bought very well at Tattersalls in Britain just last August. He has won once, been placed twice and won back half of his purchase price, you must be very pleased with his progress.

What is it about him that has adapted so quickly to racing in Qatar? Has he always impressed you in his work?

I Am Thunder has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. He has a very special character and that was key in our decision to buy him. He has been doing very well at Al Rayyan Park and was one of the first group of horses to run and complete in the first racing day ever at Al Uqda. Well, it is also no secret that the aptly named Glitter Queen did not cost us much to buy and after three races only was able to recover her purchase price multiplied by three.

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AMBITIOUS TRAINER HAMAD AL JEHANI HAS SIGHTS SET ON THE TOP

Moaddie, winner of Al Rayyan Breeders Cup in the H. H. The Amir Sword Festival, has also been a good money-earner and I see him as on the most important horses I have trained. Tabouk won the H.H. The Amir Silver Sword. Other money earners include Zarandi, who has had six victories worth QA 300,000

Who is the best horse in your stable at present?

It is not easy to mention one as the best horse, as I do have some good horses. In the meantime, Zarandi is one of my favourites and so is Skip The Queue, who is very progressive and will run in the Festival. There are others, including Otwo, Qatari Gold and the very promising Mater, who looks a very good prospect.

QUALITIES OF A HORSE TRAINER

What qualities make up a good racehorse trainer?

Which trainers do you really admire?

The most important are resilience in dealing with the assisting staff as well as patience and prudence because any mistake costs much in terms of a trainer’s progress and confidence. I do admire several trainers both in Qatar and overseas, I do my best to learn from them all and the way they handle things, both when they saddle winners or are not lucky enough to do so.

GOOD PRESENCE IN THE FESTIVAL

Do you have any exciting horses for the upcoming H.H. The Amir Sword Festival?

Yes and this will be the first time to be present in the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival with this number of runners in different races over the three days. I can say I will make my presence felt and I expect Zarandi, Qatari Gold and Skip The Queue will have their say, so fingers crossed!

Qatar racing really seems to be coming to the attention of the world. It must be an honour to be part of such an exciting time for the sport in the country?

I am very proud to be a Qatari racehorse trainer though I know I am still beginning my career compared to the giants already here at Al Rayyan Park. I am doing my best to gain more experience with time and make my way to the top here. I hope to have the confidence of the owners and jockeys I deal with, as well as the staff I work with as they all encourage and motivate me.

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‫الند روڤر ديفندر الجديدة‬

‫متميزة‬ ‫سيارة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫وكأنها في فئة خاصة بها‬

‫إنها الند روڤر ديفندر الجديدة‪ ،‬وهي السيارة الخاصة بالقرن‬ ‫الحادي والعشرين‪ ،‬مع اإلبقاء على اللمسات الكالسيكية مثل‬ ‫المثبتة في الخلف‪ ،‬أما فتحات ألبين الجانبية‬ ‫العجلة االحتياطية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫في السقف لإلضاءة الطبيعية فهي تمنحها لمسة عصرية‪.‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫عالميا‪.‬‬ ‫والمميز‬ ‫إضافة لذلك نرى بوضوح شكل السيارة الشهير‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ديفندر‪ .‬سيارة القدرات المذهلة‪.‬‬ ‫احجز تجربة قيادة اليوم‪.‬‬ ‫شركة الفردان بريميير موتورز (ذ‪ .‬م‪ .‬م‪).‬‬ ‫صالة عرض برج الفردان في مدينة لوسيل‬ ‫أو صالة عرض الفردان بالزا في شارع السد‪.‬‬ ‫هاتف‪+974 4447 7566 :‬‬ ‫‪landrover-qatar.com‬‬ ‫‪Winning‬‬ ‫‪Circle Magazine 23‬‬

JOCKEY SALEH SALEM AL MARRI

Winning H.H. The Amir Sword .. my biggest dream

I MADE THE SWITCH FROM JUMPING TO FLAT RACING GOING TO THE BRITISH RACING SCHOOL IN NEWMARKET HELPED ME MAKE A BIG LEAP INCREASED RIDES THIS SEASON ..

RAJEH IS THE BEST I HAVE RIDDEN 24

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There is no question that a skilled jockey is key for a good horse’s success. In the world of flat racing, talented and experienced jockeys play a crucial role in landing big titles by creating this special association with the individual horses and taking, in the blink of an eye, what turn out to be winning decisions.

QREC has been proactive, for over a year now, in developing and qualifying a group of Qatari jockeys with opportunities to train and ride in races in Qatar and overseas. These initiatives have been aimed to equip the promising jockeys with the necessary experience and knowledge for their success.

Among the Qatar jockeys, who have shown progress and become familiar at QREC races, include the up and coming Saleh Salem Al Marri. We had this interview with him to tell us about his career, and aspirations as well as his consistency and persistence, which he has capitalised on.

First of all, how did you get into riding, racing and become an apprentice jockey?

It all started in 2011 when I joined Al Shaqab – Member of Qatar Foundation – as a show jumping rider. I competed in several show jumping championships and endurance rides for three years.

When QREC organised a training camp for Qatari jockeys in South Africa, I decided to switch to flat racing and became an apprentice jockey.

How important to your riding was it going abroad to learn?

It was a great leap for me and the benefits were so huge I returned to Newmarket in 2019 and spent 45 days under the supervision of the top trainer William Haggas, who, at that time, was training 250 horses every day with 50 jockeys around. I rode in the mornings and that helped me learn so many things and saved me several years for reaching my current performance level.

JOCKEY’S DAILY ROUTINE

Tell us about where you are based now and your daily routine. How helpful has the Qatar apprentice programme been for you?

I live in Doha and my daily routine starts at dawn.

I head to Al Shahania Stud and train under the supervision of trainer Julian Smart for three hours every morning. I then go to the gym of Al Sadd Club for fitness sessions. I spend the afternoon in the farm in Sealine as I have endurance horses stabled there. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, I become fully focused on the races at QREC. Surely, the Qatar apprentice programme has been so helpful. It opened the way for the transformation in my career, the standard I have reached and the ambitions I look forward to in future.

INCREASED RIDES

You must be delighted with how this season is progressing for you? You must be happy with how your riding is developing?

NEWMARKET CAMP

You spent time at the British Racing School in Newmarket when you were younger – what did you learn there and what are your memories of the UK?

That was in 2018, when jockey Abdulaziz Jaber Dharman and I made the trip to the UK for that camp. We spent two months at BRS in Newmarket and Abdulaziz helped me a lot there. We both gained valuable knowledge and the prefect grounding for a jockey’s career. That included, among others, methods of dealing with horses and the appropriate nutrition style. The course also included academic studies and physical fitness tests.

Definitely! I rode in 80 races last season, while I have partnered over 120 runners so far this season. I am doing my best for more progress in both local and international races. In the near future, there will be a group of Qatari jockeys, who can compete in top racing events.

What are your proudest moments so far? What is the best horse you have ridden so far?

These are the moments when I ride a winner as they represent a reward for the effort in training and improving my level. As for the best horse I have ridden so far, he is Rajeh, who is owned by Al Shahania Stud of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani. I rode him on two occasions and on the first, he won, beating Umm Qarn's Dabaab, who was ridden by the leading jockey Ronan Thomas. Rajeh is trained

by Jassim Ghazali and is rated 111, making him the highest rated of all the horses I have ridden so far.

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JOCKEY SALEH SALEM AL MARRI

LIMITLESS AMBITIONS

What are your ambitions as a jockey in Qatar? Who is the jockey you like to model yourself on?

My ambitions have no limits, especially as I am still 27.

My biggest dream is to win H.H. The Amir Sword, ride in top international races and win prestigious titles while representing Qatar. As for the jockey I model myself on, he is Frankie Dettori and I see him the world’s number one jockey. In the meantime, I wish I would reach the standard of Ryan Moore in the UK and Maxime Guyon in France.

Can you give us some horses to follow at the upcoming H.H. The Amir Sword Festival?

There are several horses to follow. In the H.H. The Amir Sword for Purebred Arabians, there are H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Ebraz and H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Tayf and the contest between them will be very tough. In the H.H. The Amir Trophy for Thoroughbreds, Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Noor Al Hawa should be followed closely. The Silver Sword race will see some good horses, including international ones and we should keep our eyes one them to see how they will perform at Al Rayyan Park.

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GHAZALI AND AL SAAQ’S BIG INFLUENCE

Who has been the biggest influence so far on furthering your career?

In fact, many have had influenced my career so far, including trainer Jassim Ghazali, who helps improve the jockey’s performance by giving the opportunity to ride good horses who have the potential to win and, as such, maximising the jockey’s chances for success. Mr Ali Mohammed Al Saaq has also supported me. He oversaw the first training camp for apprentices in South Africa.

We learned a lot thanks to him. In addition, he always encourages and motivates us.

What would you advise a young person in Qatar thinking of becoming a jockey?

Horse riding is not easy for sure and requires determination and persistence. One should not give up if first attempts to reach the winners’ enclosure do not work well. My advice to anyone thinking of becoming a jockey is to continue the hard work, benefit from camps organised overseas and deal with and learn from jockeys and trainers, who can develop those who work with them.

Dahess

AMER X DANIE DU CASSOU (DAHR)

STANDING AT HARAS DE THOUARS

ONE OF THE BEST SIRES IN THE WORLD Sire of 9 invididual Group 1 winners, including Dual World Champion AL MOURTAJEZ and most recently MESSI. His latest 4yo winners include TAREK DU SOLEIL, 1st $100k H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy & AL EFREETA 1st Qatar Oaks.

Al Mamun Monlau

1ST 2-YEAR-OLDS IN 2021

Al Mourtajez Dahor de Brugere 1ST YEARLINGS IN 2021

Al Mouwaffak THE BEST SON OF AZADI AT STUD FROM ONE OF THE GREATEST MATERNAL LINES

Precocious and unbeated at 3, including a victory at the highest level in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains G1-PA

Mister Ginoux FIRST FRESHMAN SIRE TO HAVE OPENED THE GROUP MARK IN FRANCE IN 2020

Sire of G1-PA placed JALELA and G2-PA victors ALKEDRI and MUJAZIF

STANDING AT HARAS DE THOUARS

DUAL G1-PA WINNER UNDEFEATED 3-YEAR-OLD SON OF DAHESS

From a first crop of only 5 runners in France : G2-PA winner and multiple G1-PA placed MEETHAG In 2021, his second crop of 3-year-olds includes the precocious G1-PA winner ALAWSJ from only 2 French runners

DUAL WORLD CHAMPION

An impressive book of mares covered including G1-PA winner and ownsister to No Risk Al Maury NEVADOUR AL MAURY, KISS DE GHAZAL, AL NACHMIYA, OCCYRHOE, AL SHAMOOS, BINT JAKKARTA, ROLLY POLLY, PRADA T...

TRIPLE GROUP ONE WINNER FROM A MOST ATTRACTIVE SIRE LINE

His 1st crop of runners include Qatar Derby G1-PA hero JABALAH and G1-PA placed JUGURTHA DE MONLAU, SIR MONLAU, UM TAJ and SNAN

STANDING AT DU GRAND COURGEON

STANDING AT HARAS DE THOUARS

STANDING AT HARAS DU GRAND COURGEON

www.alshaqabarabians.com STANDING AT HARAS DE THOUARS

Circle Magazine 27 HARAS DE THOUARS : +33 5 53 68 88 Winning 38 . contact@harasdethouars.com HARAS DU GRAND COURGEON : +33 (0)6 31 90 24 75 . contact@legrandcourgeon.com

OPERATED IN LINE WITH QREC’S GENERAL STRATEGY

Al Uqda Racecourse new sports asset

UMM BAB SCORES FIRST VICTORY AND SUPERIOR MOMENT LANDS FIRST CUP 28

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A new asset serving Qatar’s horseracing was operated officially in late January.

It came in the form of the Al Uqda Equestrian Complex Racecourse in Al Khor. The brand new, state of the art facility is an added value to the industry in Qatar and part of QREC’s commitment to have its general strategy in place with the state’s drive to provide the best available resources for the longestablished sport, especially as Qatar has already become a pioneer in the horseracing world.

FIRST TRIAL

This remarkable development was in line with the directives of H.E. the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah Bin Ghanem Al Ali to make the use of the facilities of the Al Uqda Complex in Al Khor, as a state-owned horseracing facility, available for the largest possible number of Qatari stakeholders.

Earlier on the day, Noora Racing Limited's Umm Bab got the meeting off to a flying start for trainer Alban de Mieulle. The four-year-old filly made history with her success in the firstever race at Al Uqda, a 1300m Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, when Carlos Henrique steered her to one and a half-length win.

As part of QREC’s role in operating and running the Complex, the first race meeting ever was held there on 30 January. Following the resounding success, where the track rode beautifully and held its consistency all the way through to the final race, more racing events are planned. In an earlier development, the stables of the Complex have been allocated for the use of trainers to train horses in favour of QREC subscribers. That move has also been part of QREC’s endeavours to give the best possible platform for trainers to improve horses to reach their full potential and, consequently, enhance racing quality.

The first racing day held at Al Uqda Racecourse was named the First Al Uqda Trial Race Meeting. The large-scale involvement of owners, jockeys and trainers and the form of the runners, who obviously loved the new dirt track, confirmed the promise and potential of this new facility. The day had six races on the card over different distances ranging between sprints and middle-distance races.

In the finale, Superior Moment showed too much speed for his rivals in the Thoroughbred Handicap over 1200m, winning by a length and three-quarters for the trainer and jockey combination of Zuhair Mohsen and Soufiane Saadi. The Abdulaziz Jassim Al Buainain-bred and owned four-year-old colt will be in the record book as the first cup winner at Al Uqda.

Following the last race, President of Asian and Qatar Equestrian Federations and QREC Vice Chairman, Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah crowned the winning connections of the feature race.

In the 1300m Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, Injaaz Stud's Cotai Again got off the mark in fine style. The Gassim Ghazali-trained four-year-old gelding powered clear under Marco Casamento for a three-length victory.

In Race 3, Al Gaiah Stud's Fajr bounced back to form for trainer Khaled Mohamad Alahmad. The seven-year-old horse saw off his rivals by a length in the 1300m Purebred Arabian Handicap ridden

by Khalid Al Balushi.

Race 4 marked one of the longer distances of the day. H.E. Sheikha Iman Bint Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani's looked a nice prospect

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OPERATED IN LINE WITH QREC’S GENERAL STRATEGY

for trainer Julian Smart as he made a winning debut by a length in the 2000m Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate in the hands of Francois Herholdt.

The penultimate race was over an even longer distance and the longest in the meeting. Trainer Hossin Ashour stepped the Abdullah Nasser Attiya-owned Ras Mlaejy up in distance for the Thoroughbred Handicap and the 10-year-old horse saw out the 2200m strongly to win by a length and three-quarters, providing Carlos Henrique with a double on the card.

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AL MOHANNADI: DRIVING FORWARD HORSERACING

QREC Chairman H.E. Issa Bin Mohammed described the importance to the new racecourse at Al Uqda. “It is a new sports asset, which will play a part in driving forward horseracing and the ongoing improvement of the industry”, he said. “The Complex, itself, will provide more stables for the use of trainers, according to the regulations, as they are ones who can prepare horses to achieve more and more heights. They will avail from the state-of-the-art facilities at Al Uqda and, as such, have more horses to improve to reach their full potential.

“There is no question that Al Uqda Complex will help create a perfect environment for competition among trainers as each of them will endeavor to prove the quality of his work. On the other hand, another progress related to Al Uqda Complex has been the opening of the Vet Clinic there to help ease the pressure on the Equine Veterinary Hospital at the QREC premises in Al Rayyan.”

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THE GUINEAS AND OAKS DAYS Perfect Empire

A Perfect result for Al Wasmiyah Farm in the Guineas

PERFECT EMPIRE AND THINK BIG COME HOME FIRST AND SECOND

Guineas Day showcased the very best Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian milers in Qatar with success for Al Wasmiyah Farm, Umm Qarn and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Al Wasmiyah Farm celebrated a one-two in the Thoroughbred Guineas (QA Gr3) with the Gassim Ghazalitrained Perfect Empire finishing a length and a half ahead of Think Big for trainer George Mikhalides. Hassan Ali Al Alabdulmalik’s Main Reef, trained by Debbie Mountain, finished third.

Racing just behind the leading group, jockey Alberto Sanna and Perfect Empire were perfectly positioned to challenge on the outside as the field rounded the home bend, however it was Think Big and Tomas Lukasek, who had raced close to the pace throughout, who emerged from the bend as the new leader. Perfect Empire proved to have the superior turn of foot and producing a thrilling win for Al Wasmiyah.

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Equinoxe

Since arriving in Qatar from the UK, Perfect Empire has flourished and has proved a shrewd purchase by Ghazali from the Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale two years ago. Unplaced in three starts for Mark Johnson, the son of Holy Roman Emperor made his Qatari debut in last year’s H.H. The Amir Sword Festival finishing third in the Al Biddah Mile (QA Gr3). This season he was ready winner of his mile maiden in October at Al Rayyan finishing nearly four lengths clear of Main Reef, which proved a perfect preparation for the Guineas.

In the Local Thoroughbred Guineas, Umm Qarn’s homebred three-year-old colt Equinoxe put up an impressive performance, winning by six and a quarterlengths from Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani’s Arandas. Injaaz Stud’s filly Thamina finished third.

Glitter Queen

Equinoxe was quickly sent into the lead by regular partner Ronan Thomas, and the pair were never headed. It was a first win for Equinoxe, who had been runner-up in his two previous starts. Trained, like his dam Thurayya, by Alban De Mieulle, the son of Atlantic Air certainly appeared to appreciate a greater stamina test on his first attempt over a mile.

Continuing her good run of form in the Purebred Arabian Guineas was H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Mon’nia, who recorded a comfortable three length win. A debut winner in France in 2019, following her arrival in Qatar the four-year-old filly has won four of her five starts. These victories included the Umm Salal Oaks Trial on her seasonal reappearance, two weeks previously.

Ridden by Tomas Lukasek, she was facing the 2019 Qatar Derby winner Jabalah, who had subsequently beaten the filly in the H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Silver Cup over 2200m.

A Glittering Qatar Oaks for Queen FALEH SUWAYED AL AJAMI’S FILLY GETS OFF THE MARK IN STYLE

Mon’nia

Dropped back to a mile for the Guineas, Soufiane Saadi quickly urged Jabalah into the lead, dictating the pace on the colt from the early stages. Always travelling well in behind, Lukasek smoothly moved the Julian Smarttrained filly into a position to challenge on the outside and Mon’nia ran out an impressive winner.

Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Arguya, ridden by Jason Watson for trainer Ali Yousuf Al-Kubaisi, was a further two and three-quarter lengths behind in third.

Bred by His Highness’s Al Shahania Stud, Mon’nia is by the hugely influential sire Amer and out of the dual winner Margouia. She is a full-sister to the Group 1 PA winner Assy, the first Qatari-bred winner of the H.H. The Amir Sword, and a half-sister to Sharesa (Burning Sand) winner of the Qatar International Cup.

Glitter Queen was the main attraction on Qatar Oaks day and she put up a sparkling performance to take the spoils in the headline event.

The Qatar Oaks (QA Gr3) for three-year-old thoroughbreds run over 2000m gave Faleh Suwayed Al Ajami’s filly the chance to atone for an out-of-character performance in the Guineas the previous month.

Given a well-timed ride by Ronan Thomas, she bounced back to form with a convincing win, despite only having one horse behind her heading into the bend. But it took little encouragement from Thomas to improve her position and the pair were soon in third, with the leader and eventual second She’s Our Queen in sight.

Glitter Queen went upsides the Gassim Ghazalitrained Forced, but the filly by Night Of Thunder had more in reserve, she was ahead with 100m to go and drew clear for a near three-length victory over Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s She’s Our Queen, trained by Debbie Mountain. Forced stayed on well for third in the colours of Meshaal Bin Ali Al Attiyah

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THE GUINEAS AND OAKS DAYS

Trained by Hamad Al-Jahani, it was a first win for Glitter Queen running over the 2000m trip for the first time. She had been placed in five of six previous starts in the UK and Qatar over shorter distances In the preceding contest, the Al Rayyan Stakes for twoyear-old thoroughbreds over 1400m, Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Soldierpoy made it three wins from three starts in Qatar.

Trained by Mohammed Hussain Afroz, Soldierpoy raced handily throughout for jockey Julien Auge and was perfectly positioned to take advantage of the tiring leader Shine That Light as he drifted from the rail. Soldierpoy continued to lengthen, winning by four and a half lengths.

Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri’s Jimmy Sparks, trained by Stefano Ibido, finished second, two and a half lengths ahead of Pom Malpic, trained by Ali Yousuf Al-Kubaisi for Injaaz Stud.

It was a third win in Qatar for Soldierpoy, his victories coming over 1200m and 1400m, but he had raced exclusively over 1000m in the UK. He won once and finished third in the valuable Weatherbys Super Sprint Stakes at Newbury in July. He is the second foal of winning sprinter Lamps Of Heaven, by the Australian champion two-year-old and four-time Group 1 winner Sepoy.

In the Qatar Oaks for four-year-old Arabian fillies, Al Shaqab Racing’s Alban De Mieulle-trained Al Efreeta reigned supreme. Placed in France on good ground, she had struggled with the soft ground in the late-season European races. She had made her Qatari debut in December when an easy five length winner of a mile maiden.

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Though keen in the early stages, the initial pace of the Qatar Oaks was steady and Ronan Thomas brought the filly wide, quickly establishing an unassailable lead.

Though the field made ground on her towards the line, Al Efreeta was always doing enough in front and finished two lengths clear. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s fast-closing Challenge De Ghazal gave her the most to think about, just beating Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Arguya by a nose on the line.

Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Al Efreeta is a daughter of the stud’s leading sire Dahess and is a full-sister to Al Shaqab Racing’s dual Group 1 PA winner and sire Dahor De Brugere, as well as Qatar Derby (Gr2 PA) winner Shalaa.

There was further success for the De Mieulle and Thomas partnership in the Qatar Oaks for local thoroughbred three-year-old fillies, which was won by Umm Qarn’s Al Khisah.

Drawn in stall one, Al Khisah travelled strongly for Thomas and settled in behind the leaders on the rail.

Making the most of the opportunity to take the lead on the bend as the principals drifted apart, she showed a pleasing turn-of-foot to quickly leave the field well behind.

Injaaz Stud’s Thamina, trained by Mohammed Hussain Afroz, was five lengths adrift in second, with Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Qawaafi a further length away in third.

Al Khisah is now unbeaten in two starts having won the Umm Salal Oaks Trial for thoroughbreds. A daughter of Toast Of New York, her dam Bint Al Sahra ran five times in France and was placed once over a mile.

Proud sponsor of the HH The Amir Sword Festival 2021 Upholding our vision of supporting events that demonstrate excellence, we are proud to continue sponsoring Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club as the Official Carrier for the HH The Amir Sword Festival 2021. This premier horse-racing showcase will invite the world’s best together with the help of our expanding global network and cargo operations.

Visit qatarairways.com

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Brilliant Qatar Derby win for Hellenistique

WHO HEADS UP A ONE-TWO FOR TRAINER ZUHAIR MOHSEN At the Qatar International Derby Festival, the Minister of Culture and Sports H.E. Salah Bin Ghanem Bin Nasser Al Ali crowned the winners at Al Rayyan Park. Also present for the post-race ceremonies was the QREC Chairman H.E. Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, the President of the Qatar and the Asian Equestrian Federations and QREC Vice Chairman Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah.

In the headline event, the Qatar Derby (QA Gr1) over 2000m, Injaaz Stud’s new recruit Hellenistique was spectacular.

Ridden by Marco Casamento, the gelding came from near last to first in the home straight to make his debut outing in Doha a winning one. King Pacha, owned by Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari, but, like the winner, trained by Zuhair Mohsen, had been a narrow leader but was easily passed by his stablemate who put three lengths between them at the line. Sir Arthur Dayne, also in the Al Kuwari colours but trained by Gassim Ghazli, was a length and three-quarters back in third.

Formerly trained in France where he had won three races from 1800m to 2400m, Hellenistique was purchased by Chantilly Bloodstock at the Arqana Autumn Sale. From a 36

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long-established Haras d’Etreham line, he is by Wootton Bassett, out of the Dubawi mare Hasturianita.

Al Kuwari had been successful earlier on the card when Lady Princess, trained by Thomas Fourcy and ridden by Julien Augé, made her return to Qatar a winning one in the Purebred Arabian Qatar Derby (Gr2 PA). She had been beaten by the narrowest of margins in the three-year-old contest last year by the Umm Qarn colt Jabalah, but the diminutive filly gained her revenge in style.

Making the most of her sharp turn of foot, Augé quickly sent on the filly into the lead from the bend, and though she drifted away from the whip towards the stands, her success was never in doubt, winning by nearly three lengths.

The H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani pair Methgal and Mon’nia, both trained by Julian Smart, were challenging for third. Methgal gained the edge and finished

DERBY DAY a quarter of a length behind Jabalah.

The three-year-old contests both went the way of Umm Qarn homebred colts, both trained by Alban de Mieulle and ridden by Ronan Thomas.

The mile Qatar Derby (Gr3 PA) looked a wide-open race and there were many in with chances as the field entered the final 400m.

Tarek Du Soleil and Umran had been prominent throughout and it looked as though Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s Tarek Du Soleil would prevail, however Debbie Mountain’s charge was no match for the fast-finishing Antar, who came with a strong run down the centre of the track to get his head in front in the last 50m. Also showing late speed was another Fourcy-trained runner in Hm Jalfane in the colours of Abdullah Bin Fahad Al Attiyah, who swept past Tarek Du Soleil to take second, but couldn’t reel in Antar, who won by half a length.

By Al Mamun Monlau, Antar is the most recent product to race out of Umm Qarn’s celebrated racemare and dual H.H. The Amir Sword winner Al Dahma.

A winner of 25 races across six countries, of which 14 were Group 1 PA races, she has also produced the top-level winners Yazeed and Marid.

In the 1850m Qatar Derby for local bred thoroughbreds, Equinoxe secured a one-two for the Umm Qarn stable.

Proving that his win in the Qatar Guineas had been no fluke the previous month, he secured an emphatic five length win over his stablemate Dream Boy. Under Soufaine Saadi, Dream Boy set the pace for most of the race with Equinoxe restrained in second

by Thomas and Sheikh Abdulla Bin Thani Al Thani’s Al Hindi in third. With 300m to go Thomas made his move on Equinoxe and the colt quickly asserted his superiority over his stablemate, with the Ghazali-trained Al Hindi staying on in third.

Lady Princess

Winning connections of Lady Princess

Winning connections of Lady Princess

Antar

Equinoxe

Equinoxe and Dream Boy in. the winners’ enclosure

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H.H. SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN KHALIFA AL THANI DAY, DECEMBER 26, 2020 Noor Al Hawa, H.H. Sheik Mohamed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy

Noor Al Hawa and AJS Moaddie take the honours

A REPEAT WIN FOR NOOR AL HAWA AND AJS MOADDIE GOES ONE PLACE BETTER

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani was present to crown the winners of the feature races for Thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians run over 2000m that concluded the ten-race card at Al Rayyan Park.

Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Noor Al Hawa was patiently ridden

by Alberto Sanna to secure the QAR 100,000 HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy (QA Gr2) for the second consecutive year.

Trained by Georges Mikhalides, the son of Makfi overcame his wide draw and took up the running from long-time leader Seeyoubyme 200m from the line. The Bader Al Balushi-trained Pazeer, under owner Abdulatif Hussain Al-Emadi’s colours, gave chase, but was unable to overhaul the winner. Third home was Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s consistent runner The Blue Eye, winner of the Qatar Gold Trophy in 2019.

Noor Al Hawa had got his season off to a fine start with a Class 2 win on his reappearance, following up in the Al Safliya Cup (QA Listed), a race that he also won in 2019.

The QAR 100,000 Jaafer Cup for local Purebred Arabians produced a thrilling finish with a narrow win for Al Jeryan Stud’s AJS Moaddie, improving on last season’s second placing in the same race 38

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Noor Al Hawa, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy

Trained by Hadi Al Ramzani, AJS Moaddie tracked Umm Qarn’s Sealine throughout, with jockey Alberto Sanna producing his mount to make his winning challenge at the 300m pole.

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Khatafaynee was between the pair and the three greys made for an impressive sight when battling up the home straight. AJS Moaddie went clear for a few strides, but Sealine rallied and was only beaten a neck for second with Khatafaynee a further length away in third.

H.H. SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN KHALIFA AL THANI CUPS AND TROPHY DAY, JANUARY 7, 2021

Brilliant day for Umm Qarn, trainer De Mieulle and jockey Ronan Thomas FEATURE RACES MONOPOLISED

BY THE TRIUMVIRATE

Umm Qarn celebrated three wins on H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Cups and Trophy Day, a nine-race card filled with top quality racing. All three were trained to success by Alban De Mieulle and ridden by Ronan Thomas, the pair making it a four-timer on the day, but their greatest successes were for Umm Qarn in the day’s headline races.

Umm Qarn's Aahail sucessfully defended his crown in the closing feature, the QAR 500,000 H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy for local Purebred Arabians winning by a wider margin than last season. He finished over four lengths clear of Sealine, also in the Umm Qarn silks, with Ghali Al Athman for owner H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani just a short head back in third. This should be an ideal preparation for the Gulf Cup at the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival, a race Aahil has won for the last two years.

Alemadi’s Djalnor, trained by Gassim Ghazali, was a close third.

Run over 2200m, the H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Silver Cup for four-year-old Purebred Arabians was a race full of future promise with an exceptional selection of well-related young horses lining up.

The race was initially dominated by the Umm Qarn colts Sir Monlau and Antar, but it was the Julian Smart-trained filly Eaz Qatar, under a strong drive from Alberto Sanna, who edged past them, winning by half a length from Antar, with her stablemate Dawi snatching third. Owned by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Eaz Qatar is the first foal out of his 2014 Qatar Arabian World Cup winner Djainka Des Forges.

In the Majd Al Arab Purebred Arabian Sprinter Championship (Gr3 PA), Mohammed Bin Ahmed Bin Mohammed Al Attiya’s Ateej got off the mark for season running over the short 1100m trip for the first time. Trained

by Gassim Ghazali and ridden by Marco Cassamento, the eight-year-old finished a length and a quarter ahead of Mohammed Ali Al Sheeb’s Kasser, with last year’s winner RB Kindle, also trained by Ghazali for Al Shahania Stud, only a neck adrift in third.

De Mieulle and Thomas’s further victories came in the Umm Qarn Trophy and French King Cup for Thoroughbreds. The Umm Qarn Trophy, run over 2000m, was won by Top Max in the colours of Patrice Nicolet.

A three-time winner in France last year, the five-year-old is a son of multiple Group 1 winner Joshua Tree, who has recently returned to stand at Haras du Grand Courgeon in France. Top Max was a two and a half-length winner from Pazeer, winner of the Umm Qarn Trophy in 2019, and Pedro Caro, winner of the 2019 Qatar Derby in third.

The Umm Qarn homebred Equinoxe gained a half-length success over Al Jeryan Stud’s Al Lusail in the French King Cup over a mile for local thoroughbreds. The pair finished well clear of Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki’s Shaman Bu Thaila and Equinoxe confirmed the promise the four-year-old had shown when winning the Qatar Derby in December.

The 2020 Qatar Arabian World Cup winner Tayf was having his first outing since that great success in the mile H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup (Gr2 PA). The nine-year-old was back in the care of De Mieulle having been in training with Thomas Fourcy while in Europe, and he showed no ill-effects from the hardfought last-time-out victory in the testing ground in the Qatar Arabian World Cup. Accelerating from out of the pack, Tayf put over three lengths between himself and the 2019 winner and 2020 runner-up H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Ebraz, who was staying on at the line. Salman Mohammed

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani race day - Aahil

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H.E. SHEIKH JOAAN BIN HAMAD AL THANI RIFLE DAY, JANUARY 28, 2021 Noor Al Hawa

H.H. The Amir Sword Festival contenders put final touches on preparation

NOOR AL HAWA REMAINS UNBEATEN THIS SEASON AND GOES TO THE H.H. THE AMIR TROPHY IN TOP FORM H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day featured a 10-race card, and was an opportunity for many potential H.H. The Amir Sword Festival contenders to have one last outing before the season’s highlight. H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani was present to award the trophies to the winners.

In the title event, the $100,000 H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle for Thoroughbreds over 2200m, Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Noor Al Hawa recorded his fourth successive victory. Alberto Sanna has ridden the eightyear-old in all his races this season and the partnership is unbeaten over distances ranging from 2000m to 2400m.

Breaking well from the gate, Sanna had his charge tracking the leading trio and, though the pair lost their position going into the bend, at the 400m pole Noor Al Hawa was perfectly placed to come around horses to make his challenge up the centre of the track. The front-running grey Seeyoubyme was well ahead, however Sanna rode a confident race, pushing his mount into the lead. Though Injaaz Stud’s Qatar Derby (QA Gr1 PA) winner Hellenistique went with them, Noor Al Hawa was always in command, winning by a length, with Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s Seeyoubyme two and a half lengths back in third.

Al Wasmiyah Farm will be hoping that Noor Al Hawa will continue his excellent run of form in the Festival highlight for Thoroughbreds, the H.H. The Amir Trophy (QA Gr1), a race in which he finished fourth last year.

Run over the same distance, the H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin 40

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Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 PA) saw the Julian Smarttrained Mon’nia return to form in the colours of H.E. Sheikha Yasmeen Bint Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

The four-year-old filly had won her first two starts of the season and finished a respectable fourth in the Qatar Derby (Gr2 PA), when reportedly not at her best.

Ridden by her regular partner Tomas Lukasek, he settled her towards the rear of the field as the pace was set by her stablemate Maxr. Al Shaqab Racing’s three-time Group 2 PA-winning mare Al Naama took up the lead entering the home straight and quickly established several lengths lead over the field. However, Mon’nia came with a determined burst of acceleration with 100m to go and the five-yearold mare finished an impressive three lengths clear of the Alban De Mieulle-trained Al Naama. Osama Omer AlDafea’s Ginkeau stayed on for third.

In the 1850m H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for four-year-old Purebred Arabians, Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s Tarek Du Soleil recorded his first win since arriving in Qatar. An attractive bay son of Dahess, Tarek Du Soleil had been a debut winner in France over 1400m and had finished third in the Qatar Derby (Gr3 PA) last time out. Ridden by Faleh Bughanaim for trainer Debbie Mountain, Tarek Du Soleil was keen in the early stages and tracked the leaders.

As the tempo increased turning for home Bughanaim had a clear path to chase down Hidalgo Du Croate and First Classs and was soon ahead, though the Ali Yousuf Al-Kubaisi-trained Hadjira De Flauzins made a bold bid on the outside. Tarek Du Soleil was able to maintain his advantage to win by a neck from the Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari-owned Hadjira De Flauzins, with Noora Racing’s First Classs, trained by Alban De Mieulle, in third.

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GOODWOOD FESTIVAL REVIEW

Record-breaking Stradivarius rules Goodwood

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The 2020 Qatar Goodwood Festival may have been a different meeting than usual with a lack of spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the racing was not diminished in any way.

The Festival began in spectacular fashion as Stradivarius became the first-ever horse to win the Al Shaqab Racing-sponsored Goodwood Cup (G1) for an unprecedented four times.

The race was billed by trainer John Gosden as the Sea The Stars colt’s “biggest ever challenge” as he had to carry 15lb more than the recent Irish Derby (G1) winner Santiago, but despite being short of room two furlongs out Stradivarius charged home to win by a length from Nayef Road, with Santiago back in third.

Stradivarius, owned and bred by Bjorn Nielsen, came into the race having won the Ascot Gold Cup in June by ten lengths. The seven-yearold has now won 16 of his 26 starts and almost £2.8 million in prizemoney.

He stays in training for 2021 and his attempt for a unique fifth Goodwood Cup victory will no doubt provide one of the highlights of the 2021 Flat season.

A thrilling renewal of the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) was the highlight of the second day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The Marcus Tregoning-trained classy miler Mohaather, who had been beset by bad luck, finally came good in Group 1 company by showing a superb turn of foot to mow down a quality field that included the multiple Group 1 winners Circus Maximus, Kameko and Siskin. He was short of room two furlongs from the line, but once pulled out he ate the ground like a lion and, in the end, scored a comfortable victory.

WINS HIS FOURTH GOODWOOD CUP… AND WILL BE LINING UP TO WIN A FIFTH!

Sadly, the bad luck continued and the son of leading British stallion Showcasing was subsequently found to have picked up an injury.

Owner Sheikh Hamdan decided to retire the colt, who had realised the considerable potential he had always

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GOODWOOD FESTIVAL REVIEW promised to show, and the son of Showcasing has joined the stallion roster at Shadwell’s Nunnery Stud in Britain. His fee is £20,000.

Later on the card we saw the arrival of a new smart talent in Al Shaqab Racing’s Toro Strike, a homebred colt by the Group 1 Sussex Stakes winner Toronado, the three-year-old winning a competitive seven-furlong handicap by a wide margin. The Richard Fahey-trained Toro Strike went on to finish a close second in the Group 3 Supreme Stakes and is an intriguing horse to follow as a four-year-old in 2021.

The third day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival brought a trio of exciting Group races. Fancy Blue, a daughter of the late champion Japanese stallion Deep Impact, won the Group 1 Qatar Nassau Stakes, the well-bred Galileo colt Mogul scored in the Gordon Stakes (G3) and the two-year-old Supremacy streaked clear in the Group 2 Qatar Richmond Stakes.

Supremacy was emulating his sire Mehmas by winning that race.

Mehmas, owned by Al Shaqab Racing and standing at Tally-Ho Stud, made a big splash with his first-crop two-year-olds in 2020 – at the end of last year he had broken all first-crop records with 55 winners in his first year with runners.

Battaash’s triumph in the King George Qatar Stakes on the final day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival meant that the meeting was bookended by great horses winning the meeting’s premier races four years in a row.

The blisteringly quick Battaash has been a wonderful horse for owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum and trainer Charlie Hills, and also won the King’s Stand Stakes and Nunthorpe in 2020, taking his career tally to 13 victories.

With Battaash, Stradivarius and Supremacy all in winning form it can truly be said that the Qatar Goodwood Festival was graced by the very best horses in Europe.

And the best thing is they could all be back at the meeting in 2021, and hopefully there will be crowds at the racecourse to watch them too!

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Haras du Grand Courgeon 49220 Le Lion d’Angers, France, Tel. : +33 (0)2 41 93 39 04 - Mobile: + 33 (0)6 29 84 56 67

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Photos: Zuzanna Lupa, Studio Delaroque, Noëlle Derré. Designed by Edimedia

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QATAR ARC WEEKEND

A determined Tayf wins the Qatar Arabian World Cup

A THIRD RACE VICTORY FOR HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN KHALIFA AL THANI 46

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Qatar was once again the dominant force in Arabian racing over the three days of the October Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting at ParisLongchamp The headline event for the sport in Europe is the Group 1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup and the field boasted a quality line up of toplevel performers. They included the recent winners, Ebraz and Fazza Al Khalediah and three further Group 1 PA scorers in Tayf, Hayyan and Khataab.

Ebraz was strongly fancied to follow up on his 2019 win but, after days of rain, the conditions favoured Tayf, who had beaten Ebraz on testing ground at Goodwood in 2017. This was Tayf’s fifth appearance in the race and the first in the care of trainer Thomas Fourcy.

Owing to the challenges of COVID, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani had only sent two older horses to Europe in 2020, entrusting them to Fourcy’s care. His principal trainer Alban De Mieulle remained in Qatar overseeing His Highness’s racing interests, however De Mieulle felt that the change of regime had clearly benefitted the horse.

Tayf

the President of the UAE Cup – Coupe d’Europe de Chevaux Arabes Group 1 PA in 2019.

Peslier settled the eight-year-old early on in midfield, whilst the tempo was dictated by Shalaa and the Belgian challenger Messi. Messi, racing for the one-horse owner-trainer Timo Keersmaekers, looked like he might cause a memorable upset and was clear of the field at the 300m mark. Tayf, however, showed great determination and coming off the rail to make his challenge reeled in Messi in the closing stages, winning by a neck. Ebraz, unable to show his best on the heavy ground, finished a further two lengths behind in third.

This was a third win in the race for His Highness and his first since General, who was trained by De Mieulle in 2009 and 2010. It was also a notable first win for his Frenchbased operation, the Haras du Grand Courgeon, where Tayf was foaled.

By Amer, Tayf is a full-brother to Majd Al Arab, winner of five Group 1 PA races, including the H.H. The Amir Sword. He is now a successful sire at Grand Courgeon.

Tayf was ridden by Olivier Peslier, who had also been in the saddle for his Goodwood win and when victorious over course and distance in

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QATAR ARC WEEKEND

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe upset by Sottsass

The colt denies the race favourite and hat-trick-seeking Enable The 99th running of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was the most keenly anticipated race in Europe in 2020, as the late Prince Khalid Abdullah’s outstanding mare Enable attempted to become the first horse to win the prestigious contest three times.

Enable, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, was the Arc heroine of 2017 and 2018, but narrowly failed to regain her crown in 2019 when finishing second to the fast-finishing Waldgeist.

She had looked in fine form throughout 2020, running second to world champion Ghaiyyath in the Eclipse and winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) and September Stakes (G3) by wide margins.

However, on the big day at Longchamp she ran below-par to finish sixth. That was her last race and she has now been retired to the Juddmonte broodmare band, and will be mated with Kingman.

The Arc still had a brilliant winner befitting its status as the world’s most distinguished middle-distance race in Sottsass.

The colt, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget for businessman and art collector Peter Brant, had finished third behind Waldgeist and Enable in the 2019 renewal and shown good form throughout 2020m, especially when successful in the Prix Ganay (G1).

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Brant was realising a dream of lifting the Arc winner’s trophy that he had harboured since being at Longchamp to witness Mill Reef’s victory in the race in 1971.

It was also an emotional result for Sottsass’s jockey Cristian Demuro, who was winning less than a month after the death of his father Giovanni Battista.

Sottsass, who is by leading French stallion Siyouni and is a halfbrother to US Turf champion female Sistercharlie, has been retired to stand as a stallion at Coolmore in Ireland, where he will reportedly cover a book of mares fit for a king.

His fee is €30,000.

Just a neck behind Sottsass in second in the Arc was the brilliant German colt In Swoop, who had won the German Derby (G1) and finished second in the Grand Prix de Paris (G1) in the run up to the big race.

The colt, trained by French trainer Francis Graffard for German stud farm Gestut Schlenderhan, stays in training and looks a serious contender for all the top middledistance races in 2021.

Persian King completed a Frenchtrained clean sweep of the places in the Arc, with a fine third over a distance that stretched his stamina.

Andre Fabre’s colt has been a fabulous campaigner, winning the Autumn Stakes at two, the Poule d’Essai des Poulains at three and the Prix d’Ispahan and Prix du Moulin at four.

He has now been retired to stand in France at Haras d’Etreham, where he will no doubt prove popular as a first-crop son of the exciting stallion Kingman. His fee is €30,000.

In the supporting races at Longchamp, Sealiway was the impressive eight length winner of the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for two-year-olds. He was rated as one of the top-rated two-year-old in the world after the success. Tiger Tanaka, who was a bargain €6,500 yearling purchase, landed the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, restricted to two-year-old fillies. She was ridden by Jessica Marcialis, who became the first woman to ride a winner on Arc day.

The Aga Khan’s homebred filly Tarnawa won the Prix de l’Opera en route to another famous success in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) and another wonderful filly, One Master, completed a hat-trick of victories in the Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1).

There was also a notable Qatarowned winner – Al Shaqab Racing’s colt Wooded took the notable scalp of subsequent Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) heroine Glass Slippers by winning the Prix de l’Abbaye (G1). He is trained by Francois-Henri Graffard and became a rare French-trained winner of the Group 1 sprint.

Wooded, a full-brother to the smart Beat Le Bon by Wootton Bassett, has now been retired to Al Shaqab Racing’s breeding headquarters in Europe, the Haras de Bouquetot in Normandy. His fee is €15,000.

After a fabulous meeting in 2020, we look forward to the 100th anniversary of the great race meeting this year.

Clean sweep in the Pouliches for Al Shaqab Racing

The Qatar Arc weekend also supports Europe’s premier Purebred Arabian Sale, confirms the leading juveniles at SaintCloud as well as the top fouryear-old filly on Saturday’s undercard at ParisLongchamp.

The top lot at the Arqana-hosted sale was Pashaa, knocked down to Chantilly Bloodstock for €125,000 – the two-year-old son of Munjiz is from the family of the aforementioned Tayf.

He joins the growing racing and breeding interests of Qatari owner, Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari, whose team, handled by Thomas Fourcy enjoyed great success over the following days.

Fourcy also trains for Al Shaqab Racing and together they were responsible for the first two fillies home in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches Group 1 PA at Saint-Cloud.

Both Alawsj and the second-placed Jalela are homebreds by Al Shaqab Racing’s stallions – Dahor De Brugere and Mister Ginoux. Dahor De Brugere recently returned to stand in France for

2021, whilst Mister Ginoux is proving an exciting young sire with three Group winners in his first crop.

In the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Gr1PA), Hadi De Carrerre confirmed the promise of his win in the Al Rayyan Cup Group 1 PA at Deauville in August. Regular partner Julien Augé rode a similar race to his earlier win on Alawsj keeping the three-year-old colt close to the pace throughout.

The H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani-owned Alsaher led from the start but, as in Deauville, was unable to repel the challenge of Hadi De Carrerre. H.H. Sheikh Abdullah’s Abbes stayed on strongly to snatch second from Alsaher on the line.

Hadi De Carrere is an exciting addition to Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari’s team along with the fouryear-old Lady Princess, who is a half-sister to Mister Ginoux. She was an impressive winner of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments Group 1 PA at ParisLongchamp the following day. Settled in the rear for most of the race by jockey Christophe Soumillon, she showed a remarkable turn of foot on heavy ground and readily won by a length from the Al Shaqab Racing’s pair of Um Taj and Meethag, also trained by Fourcy.

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