Qatar World Cup Weekend in Paris

ARABIAN HORSE WORLD

Qatar World Cup Weekend in

Paris ARABIAN

HORSE WORLD b y

S t e v e

A n d e r s e n

P h o t o s b y J u h a i m a n d D e n i s e H e a r s t

W

hen Al Mourtajez (Dahess x Arwa by Nuits St. Georges) turned into the stretch of the $1.12 million Qatar Arabian World Cup at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on October 4, he was cruising, holding an advantage of more than two lengths with about a quarter-mile of the race to go.

Behind him were 18 of the top purebred Arabian racehorses in the world. They were not catching up.

Al Mourtajez, already the winner of major stakes in Qatar and Deauville, France, earlier this year, was seconds from adding France’s richest race for Arabians 132 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ NOVEMBER 2015

to his already remarkable season. In the stands, Harry Herbert, the racing manager for owner Al Shaqab Racing of Qatar, watched in a state of delight.

“I was amazed at how easily he was going in front versus some of his opposition who were already laboring,” Herbert said in an early October email.

“When Julien Auge kicked for home, it was extraordinary how quickly he put even more daylight between himself and the other horses.”

Officially, Al Mourtajez won the Qatar Arabian World Cup at 11/4 miles on turf, or 2,000 meters, by five lengths over Gazwan (Amer x Arc de Ciel by Djendel), who races for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Thani of Qatar. Sir Bani Yas (Amer x Nassem El Baher by Elois de Carrere) was third for owner Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi.

Qatar World Cup Weekend in

Paris

b y

S t e v e

A n d e r s e n

P h o t o s b y J u h a i m a n d D e n i s e H e a r s t

W

hen Al Mourtajez (Dahess x Arwa by Nuits St. Georges) turned into the stretch of the $1.12 million Qatar Arabian World Cup at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on October 4, he was cruising, holding an advantage of more than two lengths with about a quarter-mile of the race to go.

Behind him were 18 of the top purebred Arabian racehorses in the world. They were not catching up.

Al Mourtajez, already the winner of major stakes in Qatar and Deauville, France, earlier this year, was seconds from adding France’s richest race for Arabians 132 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ NOVEMBER 2015

to his already remarkable season. In the stands, Harry Herbert, the racing manager for owner Al Shaqab Racing of Qatar, watched in a state of delight.

“I was amazed at how easily he was going in front versus some of his opposition who were already laboring,” Herbert said in an early October email.

“When Julien Auge kicked for home, it was extraordinary how quickly he put even more daylight between himself and the other horses.”

Officially, Al Mourtajez won the Qatar Arabian World Cup at 11/4 miles on turf, or 2,000 meters, by five lengths over Gazwan (Amer x Arc de Ciel by Djendel), who races for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Thani of Qatar. Sir Bani Yas (Amer x Nassem El Baher by Elois de Carrere) was third for owner Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi.

Typical of most years, the depth in talent of the field was remarkable.

Gazwan won the Group 1 Shadwell Dubai International Stakes at Newbury, England, in late July, a week before Sir Bani Yas won the $624,000 Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood, England, the richest race in Arabian racing history in England. Djainka des Forges (Kerbella x Djamour des Forges

by Tidjani), who won the 2014 Qatar Arabian World Cup, was fourth in the World Cup behind Al Mourtajez.

The win by Al Mourtajez was the fourth and final major stakes race for Arabians in Paris on the weekend of October 2-4. The weekend has become a season-ending showcase for topclass Arabians in France and was held in conjunction with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Thoroughbred race at Longchamp on October 4.

In other stakes for Arabians, Muraaqib (Munjiz x Tashreef AT by

Bengali d’Albret) won the $112,000 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains for three-yearold colts at Saint-Cloud on October 2, an hour before Mabrooka (Mahabb x Shamayl

by Kesberoy) won the $112,000 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches for three-year-old fillies. Both races were rated as Grade 1 stakes and run at 11/4 miles on turf.

At Longchamp on October 3, Sylvine al Maury (Munjiz x Savavit Al Maury by Dormane) won the $168,000 Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments at 11/4 miles on turf for four-year-old fillies.

Al Mourtajez was favored to win the Arabian World Cup, but he did not have the smoothest preparation. Trained by Thomas Fourcy, Al Mourtajez was only fifth as a heavy favorite in the Group 2 Prix Dragon at Longchamp on September 13, a race designed as a prep for the Arabian World Cup.

Below: Al Mourtajez (Dahess x Arwa by Nuits St. Georges) won the $1.12 million Qatar Arabian World Cup at at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris on October 4, ridden by jockey Julien Auge for Al Shaqab Racing of Qatar.

133 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ NOVEMBER 2013

Al Mourtajez and jockey Julien Auge cool down after the race, left, and above, His Excellency Sheikh Joaan of Al Shaqab Racing, center, accepts the trophy from H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani. On the right is Bertrand Bélinguier, President of France Galop.

Herbert said the result of the Prix Dragon was troubling at first, but that clues emerged in the days after the race to explain the performance.

“He ran too bad to be true,” Herbert said. “When he got home, he was very flat and dehydrated. He probably had something on him, as this performance was not the Al Mourtajez we all know.”

The Arabian World Cup is run around a single turn at Longchamp, with a long run down the backstretch, and a sweeping bend before the field reaches the stretch, which covers slightly less than three-eighths of a mile, or 600 meters.

134 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ NOVEMBER 2015

The race was run on a turf course rated good after minimal rain in preceding days.

Frequently, the turf course at Longchamp is rated soft. The course is less than a third of a mile from the River Seine, situated in a spacious park on the west side of Paris.

Herbert said the good ground “was probably what we really wanted. He has a great action and thankfully handled the fast ground on Arc day very well.”

Jockey Julien Auge had the five-yearold Al Mourtajez in front shortly after the start, an interesting tactic since none of the other runners were willing to take him on through the first half of the race.

Without a threat, Al Mourtajez was able to race freely and within himself.

“He has an unusual acceleration for a purebred Arabian,” Auge told the press after the race. ”He is almost a Thoroughbred.”

The victory gave Al Mourtajez eight wins in 11 starts and was his fourth win in five starts this year. The loss in the Prix Dragon remained an issue with Fourcy after the Arabian World Cup.

“We are very relieved,” he said. “The last time I did not understand. Maybe I did not give the right order. Today, he really proved himself. I knew my horse was good, but I was scared all week. He is exceptional.”

The Arabian World Cup was a goal for Al Mourtajez after he left Qatar in the spring, shortly after winning the Emir’s Sword in February. Last fall, Al Mourtajez did not run in the Arabian World Cup, but did win the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Classic in Toulouse during the same month.

Through 2015, the improvement was evident, despite the loss in September.

“The key is that this horse has unbelievable natural ability, and a real love for racing,” Herbert said. “It is never easy for a horse to make all the running, but he really seems to enjoy it and is one

of those rare animals who can maintain a strong gallop and then quicken off it.”

The Arabian World Cup was the second leg of a newly created three-race series for older Arabians in Europe and the Middle East. Sir Bani Yas won the

Above left and right: At Longchamp on October 3, Sylvine al Maury (Munjiz x Savavit Al Maury by Dormane) won the $168,000 Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments at 11/4 miles on turf for four-year-old fillies. Sylvine al Maury has won five of nine starts in her career. She was purchased by the Royal Cavalry of Oman before the start of her 2015 campaign.

Left: Accepting the trophy for Sylvine al Maury is Brigadier Abdulrazek bin Abdulqader Al Shahwarzi, commander of the Royal Cavalry of Oman, center, trainer Elizabeth Bernard, right, Bertrand Bélinguier, President of France Galop. second from right, and jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem.

135 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ NOVEMBER 2015

Left and above: Muraaqib (Munjiz x Tashreef AT by Bengali d’Albret) won the $112,000 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains for three-year-old colts at Saint-Cloud on October 2, beating RB Burn (Majd Al Arab x Burnie Gee PW by Burning Sand).

Muraaqib races for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai, who is also the breeder through his Shadwell Farm. François-Xavier Bertras rode Muraaqib for trainer François Rohaut.

Left: Mabrooka (Mahabb x Shamayl by Kesberoy) won the $112,000 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches for three-year-old fillies. She is owned by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi. The win in the Arabian Trophy des Pouliches was her fourth win in five starts this year.

Above: Mabrooka’s connections include Lara Sawaya, second from left, Executive Director of the H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Festival, jockey Thierry Jarnet, and trainer David Guillemin.

first leg at Goodwood. The third leg is the Emir’s Sword at 11/2 miles on turf, or 2,400 meters, in Qatar in February. There is a bonus of $1 million if a horse sweeps all three, but that will not be paid out this winter.

The Emir’s Sword is likely to be Al Mourtajez’s next start, Herbert said.

For now, there is the satisfaction of having watched his development through the year, and objectives achieved. That was not the case for Al Shaqab earlier on October 4 when Treve, one of the finest Thoroughbred mares in recent decades, could only finish fourth behind the English star Golden Horn in the Arc de Triomphe in her attempt to win the race for an unprecedented third time.

“We were somewhat deflated after the race despite Treve running so well,” Herbert said. “Al Mourtajez’s victory was a massive pick-me-up for everyone and it was a great thrill to see His Excellency Sheikh Joaan receiving the trophy for this most

136 b ARABIAN HORSE WORLD b NOVEMBER 2015

prestigious race.”

Sylvine al Maury has won five of nine starts in her career, with all the wins coming in stakes races in France. As a three-year-old in 2014, she was second in the Arabian Trophy des Pouliches, her final start for then-owner Renee-Laure Koch. She was purchased by the Royal Cavalry of Oman before the start of her 2015 campaign.

In five starts this year, Sylvine al Maury, who is trained by Elizabeth

Bernard, has not been worse than second.

She won the Prix de l’Elevage in April, and was second to the highly-rated Mister Ginoux in the Qatar Derby against males at Chantilly in June before winning consecutive Group 3 races at La Teste — the Prix Dormane in July and the Prix Nevadour in August. Those performances made Sylvine al Maury the favorite for the Arabian Trophy des Juments, which drew a field of eight.

Unlike the Arabian World Cup, where Al Mourtajez led throughout, Sylvine al Maury had a stablemate as a pacemaker. The longshot Bellone du Croate set the pace while jockey JeanBernard Eyquem kept Sylvine al Maury in second-place for the first mile.

In the stretch, Bellone du Croate began to fade, allowing Sylvine al Maury to take the lead. She gave a convincing run through the final furlong to win by 21/2 lengths over Gidwa (Amer x Djamour des Forges by Tidjani).

“From the moment the fillies entered the home straight, I felt straightaway that Sylvine was going herself toward victory,” said Elizabeth Bernard.

Bernard credited her late husband, Jean-Francois, for believing in Sylvine al Maury “straightaway as a three-yearold. To win at Longchamp is the dream of every trainer, especially to do so on such a prestigious weekend,” she said.

“And to share it all with the public was extremely moving.”

Jean-Pierre Deroubaix, the racing manager for the Royal Cavalry of Oman,

French Racing Sale Report

by Steve Andersen

Mont d’Or (Mahabb x Mendra by Sousse), who was listed as purchased for 210,000 euros, or about $232,000, was the high-selling lot out of 70 horses sold.

T

he market for Arabian racehorses in Europe was more expensive than past years at the 2015 Arqana Arc sale in Paris on October 1.

The sale, held at the start of a weekend of top-class Arabian races at Saint-Cloud and Longchamp racecourses in Paris, saw prices rise compared to the 2014 sale.

This year, 70 horses of all ages sold for 2,457,000 euros, or approximately $2,702,700. The gross increased 27.5 percent over last year. The sale had an average price of 35,100 euros, or about $38,610, an increase of 16.7 percent. Of the 85 horses that went through the ring, 70 were listed as sold, or 82.3 percent.

The clearance rate in 2014 was 83.1 percent when 77 horses were offered and 64 were listed as sold.

On October 1, there were six horses that sold for six figures, a group led by Mont d’Or (Mahabb x Mendra by Sousse), who was listed as

137 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ NOVEMBER 2015

purchased for 210,000 euros, or about $232,000, by Jean Pierre Deroubaix of the French Bloodstock Agency. The two-year-old colt, foaled in April, is a full brother to the stakes winners Mestar and Manark. Manark won the $1 million Dubai Kahayla Classic at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates in March.

There was a strong demand for twoyear-olds. The second-leading hip was the two-year-old colt Ehwaz (Munjiz x Cherazade by Dormane), who was listed as purchased by Khalifa bin Hamad Al Attiyah of Qatar. Cherazade, a multiple stakes winner, is the dam of the stakes winner Cheker and the stakes-placed runners Munzade and Kerchera.

The leading two-year-old filly was July du Falgas (Munjiz x Djoulia du Falgas by Djourman), who was purchased for 150,000 euros, or about $165,000, by Mandore International Agency. July du Falgas is a half sister to Kandar du Falgas, a multiple stakes winner in England, France, and the United Arab Emirates.

See the video of these horses performing in lights at arabianhorseworld.com.

said Sylvine al Maury is considered an outstanding breeding prospect.

“Sylvine has a lot of class,” he told the press after the race. “She proved that she is capable of winning against the best of her generation.

“It is a great success. The Royal Cavalry of Oman started from scratch five years ago, and it now has more than 100 horses in France. Sylvine is from a very good family. She will be a solid base for breeding.”

Runner-up Gidwa is a half-sister to Djainka Des Forges who races for Sheikh Mohammed Al Thani. Bint Jakkarta (Albahar x Jakkarta by Kesberoy) was third for Al Shaqab.

Bernard said that Sylvine will be rested through the winter with the goal of a return to top-class races, including the L’Arc weeked in France in 2016. She said the filly has proven to be challenge at the stable.

“She was very difficult as a threeyear-old,” she said. “She’s more mature today, but remains a filly with a complicated temperament, which forces us to use a hood on her every day to keep her away from outside noise. And she requires a very patient and careful rider.”

The Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches at Saint-Cloud could provide clues on which fillies to watch in the 2016 Arabian Trophy des Juments. That race is scheduled to be run at Chantilly Racecourse, north of Paris. Longchamp was closed for redevelopment after the

Arc program, and will reopen in 2017.

The 2016 Arabian World Cup and Arc de Triomphe will be run at Chantilly.

Mabrooka could easily turn into a top-class filly as a four-year-old considering her domination of the threeyear-old filly division this year. The win in the Arabian Trophy des Pouliches was her fourth win in five starts this year, and second win in a Group 1. Owned by Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi, Mabrooka won the Qatar Coupe de France des Chevaux Arabes against males at Chantilly in June, beating Muraaqib. In August, Muraaqib beat Mabrooka when they were first and third in the Group 1 Prix Kesberoy at Deauville.

At Saint-Cloud, Mabrooka was ridden by Thierry Jarnet for trainer David Guillemin. Jarnet rode a conservative race, keeping Mabrooka at the back of the field of 12 until early stretch when he guided the filly off the rail. She responded to five right-handed cracks of the whip to close steadily and take the lead in the final 100 yards from Worood (Akbar x Starmania by Kerbella), who races for the Royal Cavalry of Oman. Naziq (Mahabb x Aleefa by Kesberoy) finished third after racing near the front early. Naziq is also owned by Sheikh Mansoor.

The Arabian Trophy des Pouliches was by far the richest win of Mabrooka’s career. She is responsible for the only loss of Muraaqib’s career. He has won three of four starts, rebounding from the 138 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ NOVEMBER 2015

setback at Chantilly in June with wins at Deauville and Saint-Cloud.

Muraaqib races for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum of Dubai, who is also the breeder through his Shadwell Farm. François-Xavier Bertras rode Muraaqib for trainer François Rohaut.

Of the four major stakes for Arabians in Paris on the weekend of October 2-4, the Arabian Trophy des Poulains had the most exciting finish. The race drew a field of 10 and Bertras kept Muraaqib in the middle of the pack for the first half of the race.

In the stretch, Bertras guided Muraaqib toward the leaders with minimal urging. At the same time, the American-bred RB Burn (Majd Al Arab x Burnie Gee PW by Burning Sand) was surging toward the front on the outside.

In the final sixteenth of a mile, Bertras went to his whip on Muraaqib and held off RB Burn, but the result was not clinched until the final strides.

Muraaqib won by a neck. Alsaker (AF Albahar x Jakkarta by Kesberoy) was third for the Royal Cavalry of Oman, finishing six lengths behind RB Burn.

Alsaker is a full brother to Bint Jakkarta.

RB Burn races for Sheikh Khalifa and was bred by Dianne Waldron in Florida.

Burnie Gee PW may be a familiar name to American racing fans. She won the 2008 Delaware Park Juvenile Distaff Championship and the 2009 Texas Arabian Oaks at Retama Park.

RB Burn won his debut at Sam Houston in April for Waldron’s Rosebrook Farm before he was sold and shipped to France. RB Burn has yet to win in Europe in four starts. Judging from the company he has kept, and his performance at Saint-Cloud, that status is likely to change in the future.

Steve Andersen is a correspondent for Daily Racing Form.

Faces

at the Races

Enjoying Longchamp are, from left to right: Neil and Allison Abrahams, Genny Haynes, Amanda Smith, Hannie Maasdijk of QREC, VAl Bunting, Nelly Philippott, and Margreet de Ruiter.

Dr. Waleed Ben Zaid’s homebred filly Bachair Qardabiyah ran in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy Cup for Fillies at Longchamp. He is pictured with his jockey T. P. O’Shea.

Above, pictured from left to right: Denise Hearst, publisher of Arabian Horse World; Hannie Maasdijk of QREC; Jan and Evelyn Calis, Arabian breeders from the Netherlands.

Right: Nelly Philippot, chairwoman of the Arabian Horse Racing Club of Belgium, and member of IFAHR’s Executive Board Najy Choue of Syria.

139 ▪ ARABIAN HORSE WORLD ▪ NOVEMBER 2015