(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Ebraz, owned by H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, won the Qatar Cup - Prix Dragon (Gr1 PA) in style to highlight Qatar's presence at the Qatar ARC Trials 2017 in Chantilly, France yesterday.
The horse was held up mid-division before coming easily in the straight. He beat Yazeed, who was having his comeback, by a clear margin, and his stable companion Gazwan. QREC General Manager, Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi, presented the trophies to the winners.
Ebraz is also the winner of the HH The Emir's Sword (Gr1 PA), the first leg of the Doha Triple Crown. He then went down by the shortest distance possible to Tayf in the Qatar International Stakes (Gr1 PA) at Goodwood.
Trainer of Ebraz, Julian Smart said: 'Ebraz and Gazwan will run in the Qatar Arabian World Cup with a leader, probably Ba'Sil. Ebraz is not at the top of his condition and he will improve from this race. He is a very good horse who goes on any ground. The World Cup distance is perfect for him. I don't like to say too much at this stage, but I think that he is the best 4 year old that I have ever trained. For the big race, I think that the ones to watch out for are Tayf and Thomas Fourcy's horses. I have won the race three times, but only with fillies. I hope that Ebraz will be the first colt to give us a victory in the race.
Later, Al Asayl's Bateel won her first Gr1 in the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr1). Very comfortable on soft ground, the filly trained by Francis-Henri Graffard showed her toughness to wear down Journey. Last year's winner, Left Hand, had to be content with third place.
The English runner Cracksman, in the colours of Anthony Oppenheimer, flew home to win the Qatar Prix Niel (Gr2), a possible prep race for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. The colt, trained by John Gosden, left Avilius by three lengths, with Finche a length further back.
Ribchester was very courageous to win the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Gr1), confirming that he is the best older miler around. Owned by Godolphin, he picked up well when Taareef went on the attack. The two horses were clear of the third, Massaat.
The German runner Dschingis Secret was a surprise winner of the Qatar Prix Foy, in which the Japanese horse Satono Diamond was the short priced favourite. A winner last time out in the Longines Grosser Preis von Berlin, he back this up by beating Cloth of Stars and Talismanic and should line up in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with a chance.
Vazirabad, last year's winner of the Qatar Prix Gladiateur, made a winning comeback in this race, but he had to fight to hold off Holdthaisgreen. His trainer Alain de Royer Dupré a commented: 'He has run a great comeback after he was stopped at the beginning of the year. He is a very particular horse to ride. In principle, this race will have been good for him, and should bring him on for the Prix du Cadran and Royal-Oak (Gr1s).
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