(MENAFN- QNA) Winner of the Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert (Gr3) in 2013 – in a dead heat with Dibajj, Mirza was once again successful in this prep race for the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (Gr1).
Quickly to the head of affairs, Mirza was very brave when holding off all attacks and retaining his title in this Group 3 in the hands of Al Shaqab Racing’s first jockey Frankie Dettori. Mirza followed in the footsteps of his dam, Millyant, who won this race in 1994 and 1995. Just like Millyant, Mirza belongs to Chris Mills and is trained by Rae Guest.
After the success, Rae Guest explained: "He loved the good ground, which he has not always had, and he loves this track! He will come back for the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp and I hope the ground stays the same." Chris Mills, breeder and owner of the horse, was present at Longchamp, and he said: "It’s amazing! Millyant, his dam, also won this race twice! She also won the Prix du Gros Chne (Gr2), and must have run more often in France than in England. I am delighted. Last year we had to wait a long time for the result of the photo finish and we had to share the win. This time it was straight forward!"
The Qatar Cup - Prix Dragon (Gr2 PA), a trial race for the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1), was dominated by Dahor de Brugre. Quickly to the head of affairs, he held off all attacks in the straight, notably from Aden. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s representative challenged Al Shaqab Racing’s Dahor de Brugre in vain.
Absent from the track from August 2012 to July 2014, Dahor de Brugre remains unbeaten in six starts. The victory was an emotional one for trainer Jean-Franois Bernard who explained: "He is an extraordinary horse. We will see about a Group 1 It wasn’t difficult to get him back to his best but we took our time. We check his tendons ten times a day. A champion is a champion!"
The jockey of Dahor de Brugre, Jean-Bernard Eyquem added: "He is a champion! It is a real pleasure to win with him and to see how emotional his lad was who has worked very hard with him. When I saw the pace of the race I decided to go on and my horse pricked his ears and was relaxed and we won. He is amazing!"
The new representative of Al Shaqab Racing, Ectot made a big impression in the Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2). Sat out the back, he then left his rivals in his wake when turning into the straight. His first start over 2,400m was a success and Ectot will be a serious candidate for the upcoming Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The winner had not run for 154 days since his win in the Prix de Fontainebleau (Gr3). He will be fresh for his objective which is a clear bonus. His trainer Elie Lellouche explained after this Qatar Prix Niel: "Ectot had to show something today ahead of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and he did not disappoint. I think he will improve for the run. He had to make his move early as he had no leader in the straight. He eased up a little in the finish but that is because he lacks experience. He wanted to run and I always thought he would stay the trip."
All eyes were on Al Shaqab Racing’s Treve in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1). The titleholder of this Group 1, Treve made a brave final effort on the outside but could not catch the leaders and finished fourth. Christiane Head-Maarek, her trainer, felt this run was encouraging and Trve’s objective remains the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe: "The filly made a good return to the track. She did not have a perfect run on the outside but she didn’t finish that far back. She was not ridden for a month after her race in England. Her owner was of course disappointed to be beaten as we always are with such horse. I don’t want her not to run in the Arc. On softer going she will be better. I am sure that there are still a few tweaks to be made. There is no need to rush. We will first have to see how she recuperates after the race. She will always have a foot problem as she has a cyst in a bone of her foot but it is under control."
This Qatar Prix Vermeille was won by Baltic Baroness, for whom it was a first Gr1 success. Her jockey Maxime Guyon commented: "We had a super run in behind the leader. Mr. Fabre decided not to run her in Deauville because of the going. She needs good ground like today."
Running in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing – who own the horse in partnership with Coolmore - Ruler of The World made a winning return in the Qatar Prix Foy (Gr2). Quickly to the front under Frankie Dettori, Ruler of the World held off Group winners Flintshire and Spiritjim in the straight.
Ruler of the World had been absent from the track since the Dubai World Cup (Gr1) at the end of March. He had the quality to win the Epsom Derby (Gr1) in 2013 and now looks a candidate for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Harry Herbert, manager of Al Shaqab Racing, declared: "It is real teamwork. The horse had not run since Dubai and Frankie rode him very well. Ruler of the World has earned his place in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe." Ruler of the World beat the record for the Prix Foy in 2’26’’93.
Al Shaqab Racing won three Group races on Sunday at Longchamp and Harry Herbert commented: "It is an amazing day for Sheikh Joaan and his team. Winning three Group races on an important day like Arc Trials day is really fantastic."
Hot favourite for the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, Al Shaqab Racing’s four-year-old Toronado could not beat the three-year-old of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Charm Spirit, in the finish of the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1). After a good run on the rail, Charm Spirit showed bravery in the finish. He already won the Prix Jean Prat this summer and took the second Group 1 of his career here and is due to stay in training next year.
Charm Spirit is trained by Freddy Head who said: "He is a very balanced colt both physically and mentally, an amazing horse! Toronado and my horse put up a good fight in the straight. He has improved a lot throughout the year and has strengthened physically. He has been working very well. Ascot and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes is a possibility."
As for Toronado, Harry Herbert of Al Shaqab Racing, explained: He is a super racehorse. We don’t yet know where he will run next. There is the Breeders' Cup Mile, as well as the Qatar Prix de la Fort... We will have to talk about it."
Bathyrhon earned his first Group success in the Qatar Prix Gladiateur (Gr3). After a good run, the Pia Brandt trained four-year-old made the difference in the finish when beating Kicky Blue and High Jinx.
This Qatar Prix Gladiateur is a prep race for the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1), which will take place in three weeks’ time and Bathyrhon looks a real challenger for that Group 1.
Quickly to the front in the Qatar Prix Racing and Equestrian Club, Sunstream and Nolleval were the first two past the post. No horses managed to come from behind in this race. Sunstream and Nolleval belong to the same owner, Grard Augustin-Normand, who also owns Ectot in partnership with Al Shaqab Racing.
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