Winning Circle Magazine 2023

WINNING

HH The Amir Sword Festival... Victory and Pride

This renewal of the HH The Amir Sword Festival is distinct from all previous ones, as it is associated with ongoing development aimed at raising the racing standard as demonstrated by the unprecedented doubling of the prize money to US$ 10 million. It is, further, marked by the increased number of international runners, who have already run at the world’s top racecourses, representing longestablished studs and farms. In addition, the QREC management will organise several activities aimed at providing an enjoyable experience for all sector and age groups of the community. Visitors and horseracing fans will enjoy the associated programmes and activities, including horse drawing, drawing on saddles and photography contests. This renewal will see the opening of the Qatar Horseracing History Exhibition in collaboration with the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum and the Artistic Portrayal Exhibition.

We look forward to three days of horseracing and associated activities for the public. The motto of all horse owners, trainers and jockeys will be to race to victory and win the coveted titles of the prestigious Festival. Winners will proudly have their names written in the Festival’s roll of honour.

One year after another, the HH The Amir Sword Festival represents a highly important horseracing event in the region. It demonstrates the increasing and continued support from the state officials to the sport and to the standing of Qatar’s horseracing worldwide, which in turn motivates us for more success.

QREC is organising the Festival in partnership with several sponsors, who contribute to the event. They are Al Hazm as the Sponsor of the Festival and the HH The Amir Sword Race, the Social & Sport Contribution Fund (DAAM) as the Supporting Partner of all racing and show evens organised by QREC, Longines as the Official Timekeeper

of Al Rayyan Racecourse and sponsor of the HH The Amir Trophy Race, QNB as the Sponsor of the HH The Amir Sword Race, Qatar Airways as the Official Carrier of the Festival, Zoom Events and Production, Q Communications, as well as the cooperation with 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum and Al Kass TV Sports Channels. As ever, excellence and success are associated with all sports events organised by Qatar and the HH The Amir Sword Festival is no different. Our aim is success and producing the event in a top standard befitting the standing of Qatar, especially following the exceptional success of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi Chairman Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club

HH The Amir Trophy presented by

HH The Amir Silver Sword presented by

Supporting Partner

Event Sponsor

Social Media Agency Sponsor

Official Carrier

Can Lady Princess repeat her 2022 HH The Amir Sword victory?

The HH The Amir Sword Festival promises three days of exciting action at Al Rayyan racecourse, culminating in Saturday’s grand finale of the HH The Amir’s Trophy for Thoroughbreds and the HH The Amir Sword for Arabians, both international contests over 2400m.

Year on year, The HH The Amir Sword (Gr1PA) maintains its position as the goal for the world’s very best Arabians, and the 2023 renewal looks to be no different.

The exceptional Lady Princess, a winner of nine top level races to date, seeks to be the first mare to claim back-to-back wins in the race since Al Dahma in 2009 and 2010. She will face stiff opposition from the Qatar Derby winner First Classs, who is returning to Qatar after an outstanding season in which he won the Al Mneefah Cup in Saudi Arabia, as well as the Dubai Kahayla Classic and the Jewel Crown in the UAE, where he beat Lady Princess who had won the race in 2021. An American-bred son of Dahess, he will be stepping up to this distance for the first time.

Yet to win at the trip is Abbes. However, he is unbeaten in Qatar this season and the manner of his wins over shorter, and his half-length second to Lady Princess in the race last year, suggests he is likely to be a potent force in the race. Mwarid, fourth last year, also reopposes, whilst the most interesting newcomer could be another Dahess son in Moshrif. A winner of all his Qatari starts, including both Qatar Derbies and the Silver Sword at last year’s meeting, he also faces the biggest test of his stamina so far.

HONG KONG RUNNERS COULD DEBUT IN THE AMIR TROPHY

The HH The Amir Trophy, a local Group 1, could have the strongest international challenge for a number of years with likely runners from France, Hong Kong, Ireland and the UAE. The top-rated entry is Russian Emperor who, along with Senor Toba, could be the first-ever runners at the meeting from Hong Kong.

Last year’s Trophy second Mutabahi could reoppose, along with other French challengers Riocorvo and Romagna Mia. From Ireland may come the globetrotting Broome, twice a Group winner over this distance, along with stablemate Stone Age, who was runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, with Warren Point a potential challenger from the UAE. In The Night finished fifth last year, but has since won five races at Al Rayyan, and just lost out on a sixth when third in a three-way photo with Scherzo and Bolthole, who he could also meet again here.

SAHAB LINED UP FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CUP

The Qatar International Cup (Gr1PA) is one of three races on the card over a mile. Sahab, who was a runner-up to Moshrif in the four-year-old Qatar Derby, looks a standout receiving the mares’ allowance.

She impressed over a longer trip when winning the Qatar Arabian Trophy de Juments (Gr1PA) in October and had Hargan well behind her in the Derby on her last start. Second in 2022, Jabalah matches her on ratings and was a course and distance winner of the HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup (Gr2PA) last time out.

Qatar Arabian Guineas winner AJS Saaeq could join Sharesa (2019), Molheb Al Naif (2018) and Aba’ath (2016) as Qatari-bred winners of the race.

BARILOCHE ALREADY PROVEN OVER THE MILE

The Al Rayyan Mile is a local Group 2 for three-year-old Thoroughbreds and Bariloche is the only proven entry at the trip amongst the top-rated horses.

The likely French raiders Ocean Vision and Victory Salute, the UAE-based Courageous Knight and the UK’s Alzahir, are yet to step up to a mile, as are other local possible runners Bolt Action and Legend Of Xanadu.

TEMPUS OUT FOR ANOTHER WIN IN DOHA FOR WATSON

The Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, run over the same trip for older horses, could see specialist miler Tempus gain another Festival win for the British trainer Archie Watson, who produced Outbox to win last year’s Amir Trophy. Tempus may face the Breeders’ Cup mile winner Order Of Australia and the Leopardstown mile winner Real Appeal, both possible runners from Ireland. Burano Boy, Duhail and Gubbas head the domestic challenge.

LOCALS TO HOLD STRONG IN THE DUKHAN SPRINT

The Dukhan Sprint is a local Group 3 over 1200m in which the likely top-rated runners are also from overseas. The UK entries Flaming Rib, who is a four-time winner at the trip, and the vastly experienced Stewards’ Cup winner Summerghand, will be making their first forays outside of Europe, whilst Logo Hunter may make the trip from the UAE. Local contenders could include the two-time winner Taxiwala and X Force, who has finished third to Taxiwala on both occasions of his wins.

ALMAS (QA)

CHESTNUT, 1999, TO STUD 2011

GR.1 WINNER OF H.H. THE EMIR’S SWORD AND H.H. THE HEIR APPARENT TROPHY HALF BROTHER TO JAAFER, MULTIPLE GR.1 WINNER WHO ALSO WON THE EMIR’S SWORD FROM THE FAMILY OF SIRES DJAMEL, DORMANE, MEBROUK AND MADJEL

QATAR NATIONAL STUD STALLIONS

DEBAAL (USA)

CHESTNUT, 2011, TO STUD 2021

A FULL-BROTHER TO TALENTED TM FRED TEXAS, WHO WAS A THREE-TIME GROUP 1PA WINNER OF THE UAE CUP STAKES (TWICE) AND THE DUBAI KAHAYLA CLASSIC, THE BEST 4-YO COLT AND HORSE OF THE YEAR 2011 IN USA. DAM IS AN UNRACED HALF-SISTER TO ATEEJ, RUNNERUP IN THE QATAR INTERNATIONAL CUP

MU’AZZAZ

(QA)

GREY, 2004, TO STUD 2013

A NINE-TIME WINNER, INCLUDING THE GROUP 1PA WINNER OF THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL STAKES, THE GROUP 2PA INTERNATIONAL STAKES AND THE AL ROMAIHI CUP. FULL-BROTHER TO THE BRILLIANT 19-TIME WINNER EBRAZ, A THREE-TIME HH AMIR SWORD WINNER, AND MARED AL SAHRA, ALSO WINNER OF THE HH THE AMIR SWORD

PHARFADET (FR)

CHESNUT, 2006, TO STUD 2012

HALF BROTHER TO QATAR OAKS WINNER MAXENSSE, OUT OF THE SIX TIME GR.1 WINNER MY PRINCESSE FROM A STRONG GR.1 WINNING FAMILY THAT INCLUDES THE SIRES DJEBBEL, MAJD EL ARAB AND DJELMIDOR

MEBROUK (FR)

CHESTNUT, 1996, TO STUD 2010

GR.1 AND TRACK RECORD SETTING WINNER OF H.H. THE EMIR’S SWORD FULL BROTHER TO DORMANE, CHAMPION ARABIAN RACING SIRE OF HIS GENERATION OUT OF THE INFLUENTIAL FOUNDATION MARE MANDORE AND BY CHAMPION MANGANATE

MAHJOOD (FR)

CHESTNUT, 2018, TO STUD 2023

HALF-BROTHER TO 19-TIME WINNER, EIGHT-TIME G1 WINNER, THREE-TIME HH THE AMIR SWORD (G1 PA) WINNER EBRAZ, AS WELL AS THE G1 PA WINNERS MARED AL SAHRA, MU’AZZAZ (SEE ABOVE) AND RAAHAH

HARRAN (GB)

CHESTNUT, 2007, TO STUD 2016

WINNER OF INTERNATIONAL DERBY (G1 PA). RAN 46 TIMES TO WIN NINE RACES, PLACED 23 TIMES. HALFBROTHER TO HH THE AMIR SWORD WINNER AZIZ ASFS

SAND VICTOR (USA)

GREY, 2011, TO STUD 2021

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

MARED AL SHARA (GB)

GREY, 2002, TO STUD 2009

HH THE AMIR SWORD WINNER AND THREE-TIME G1 PA WINNER, SIX TIME G1 PA PLACED. SIRE OF G1 PA WINNER CHADDAD AND G2 PA WINNER JUMUH

BOBY

DI

JOB BAY, 2008, TO STUD 2014

TOUGH AND CONSISTENT CHAMPION 2YO HAVING WON OR PLACED IN ALL 8 CAREER STARTS FULL BROTHER TO 3 TIME URUGUAYAN CHAMPION GANDHI DI JOB BY THE CLASSIC PRODUCING SIRE, JOB DI CAROLINE, HIMSELF A GRANDSON OF DUAL CLASSIC WINNER THE MINSTREL

ERDOGAN

(GB)

BAY, 2014, TO STUD 2020

ONE OF THE BEST BRED HORSES IN THE WORLD! BY A SUPERSTAR OUT OF A SUPERSTAR BY THE LEGENDARY FRANKEL, OUT OF ONE OF THE BEST FEMALE FAMILIES AROUND, MULTIPLE GR.1 WINNER DAR RE MI IS DAM OF CHAMPION 2YO, TOO DARN HOT, LAH TI DAR, SO MI DAR AND DE TREVILLE

THOROUGHBRED

VALE OF YORK (IRE) 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

THOROUGHBRED

REDBACK (GB) CHESNUT,

1999, TO STUD 2003

THE SIRE OF GR.1 E P TAYLOR STAKES WINNER AND IRISH 1000 GUINEAS RUNNER-UP, LAHALEEB, QUEEN MARY STAKES WINNER, GILDED AND QATAR DERBY AND OAKS WINNER, LADYANNE A GROUP WINNER AT TWO AND THREE YEARS AND CLASSIC-PLACED BBY MARK OF ESTEEM, 2000 GUINEAS WINNER AND SIRE OF EPSOM DERBY WINNER, SIR PERCY

THOROUGHBRED

AFANDEM (FR)

BAY, 2014, TO STUD 2022

THIRD IN THE GRADE 1 SECRETARIAT STAKES AND A WINNER AT TWO. WINNING DAM IS A HALF-SISTER TO THE TOP CLASS GERMAN GROUP 1 WINNER ELLIPTIQUE AND BY THE STRONG SIRE INFLUENCE ZOFFANY

THOROUGHBRED

WINDSOR PALACE (IRE)

BAY, 2005, TO STUD 2014

WON THE GR.3 MOORESBRIDGE STAKES BEATING SIX-TIME GR.1 WINNER, ST NICHOLAS ABBEY. ALSO THIRD IN THE GR.1 TATTERSALLS GOLD CUP BY CHAMPION SIRE DANEHILL DANCER

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 MEANDRE FROM THE FAMILY OF GROUP 1 WINNERS, AND SIRES, VICAR, ASTRONOMER ROYAL AND ITSMYLUCKYDAY

THOROUGHBRED

THOROUGHBRED

THOROUGHBRED

Lady Princess a class above in the HH The Amir Sword 2022

The talented mare wins her sixth Group 1PA

Held under the patronage of HH The Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the 2022 HH The Amir Sword Festival concluded three days of quality racing at Al Rayyan racecourse on Saturday, February 19.

His Highness crowned the winners of the last four races of the eight-race card, with Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Lady Princess claiming the coveted HH The Amir Sword (Gr1PA). Trained by Thomas Fourcy, Lady Princess has reached new heights with jockey Jim Crowley and was recording her sixth Group 1PA win.

Drawn alongside the three-time winner Ebraz, Crowley settled the mare in the rear, content to let the sprinter Alsaher set the pace. Ebraz, ridden more prominently throughout, matched strides with Abbes, who picked off the early leaders as they entered the home straight, though Ebraz soon took command with 300m to go.

However, it was Lady Princess who found the greatest acceleration, readily coming between horses to challenge, and though Ebraz and Abbes fought back, Crowley’s mount remained ahead by half a length at the line, with Abbes staying on more strongly to regain second from Ebraz.

OUTBOX WINS FOR WATSON AND DOYLE

In the HH The Amir Trophy for Thoroughbreds, a Qatari Group 1, British raider Outbox secured a second win in Qatar for connections Hambleton Racing, trainer Archie Watson, and jockey Hollie Doyle, following the success of Maystar in 2019. Given a strong ride by Doyle, Outbox brought an end to the eight-race winning streak of Noor Al Hawa, successful in the race the previous year. Outbox hit the front turning for home, was pressed hard by Mutabahi and Noor Al Halwa, but the seven-year-old son of Frankel gamely stuck his head out to win by half a length from Mutabahi. The fast-finishing Fox Tal claimed third from a tiring Noor Al Hawa, who finished fourth.

HH THE AMIR SWORD FESTIVAL REVIEW 2022: FEBRUARY 17-19

SAMLLA BUILDS ON HIS PROMISE IN THE QATAR INTERNATIONAL CUP

The Qatar International Cup (Gr1PA) produced an eye-catching performance from the four-year-old Samlla, who made the most of his age allowance, under jockey Maxime Guyon. The pair won by nearly 3l from Jabalah with stablemate Djafar in third.

Trained by Francois Rohaut for HE Sheikha Reem bint

Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, the colt confirmed the promise he had shown when recording his first top-level win in Deauville’s Al Rayyan Cup the previous year. Bred by Al Shahania Stud, he is a son of their farm’s promising stallion Assy, the first Qatari-bred horse to win the HH The Amir Sword.

TAXIWALA SPEEDS TO SECOND DUKHAN SPRINT WIN

Taxiwala recorded back-to-back wins in the Qatari Group 3, the Dukhan Sprint, in a faster time than in 2021. Partnered on this occasion by Ronan Thomas for owner-trainer Osama Al-Dafea, the then five-yearold looked as good as ever, scoring by 2l from UK raider Regional, with X Force again claiming third place.

DOUBLE FOR GHAZALI

Khalifa bin Sheal Al Kuwari’s colours were also victorious in the Al Rayyan Mile, a Qatari Group 2, when carried by Nuance, ridden by Guyon for trainer Gassim Ghazali, while Al Kuwari’s Moshrif secured further success for Francois Rohaut and Jim Crowley when taking the HH The Amir Silver Sword for four-year-old Arabians. Ghazli achieved a double with Thunderstone winning the HH The Amir Shalfa for Al Wasmiyah Farm, ridden by Tom Marquand.

Friday’s Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, a Qatari Group 3, saw another win for France with the Christophe Ferland-trained Pao Alto, ridden by Guyon winning by just under 2l for the owner Wertheimer & Frere.

HH The Amir also honoured the sponsors of the Festival: QNB as the title sponsor of the Festival and sponsor of the Silver Sword, Al Hazm, the sponsor of the Gold Sword, Longines presenter of the HH The Amir Trophy, and Manateq, sponsor of the Shalfa. HE Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, was present during the trophy presentation.

Prepared for the prestige Festival and to win the challenge

Increase in prize money motivates all and international runners add to the quality of races

A plan in place for continued development at QREC’s races and facilities

Exceptional success of FIFA World Cup Qatar increases our responsibility in the Arc and Goodwood

The QREC management consider this year’s renewal of the HH The Amir Sword Festival as an important step in the development of the Festival and moving forward the level of competition for the coming years, especially after the unprecedented increases in prize money for the first time QREC’s history.

This boost has contributed to increasing the number of international runners representing some of the world’s famous studs. The Festival, therefore, promises a thrilling showcase at Al Rayyan Racecourse. In addition, the distinguished organisational preparations for the event contribute to further development and keeping pace with the QREC management’s future outlook for the Festival as a world-class horse racing event.

In an interview with Bader Mohammed Al-Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, he spoke about the Festival and the new developments in this year’s renewal and the coming improvement in QREC at all levels.

ACHIEVING SUCCESS

Al-Darwish spoke to us about the HH The Amir Sword Festival and QREC’s preparations and readiness to organise this upcoming event.

“We have been preparing for this event for a long time”, he said, “it is the most important event for QREC in every season and with the increase in the prize money for all races of the Festival, the competition among owners, trainers and jockeys to land the spoils in each race will be huge and exciting at the same time.

BADER AL-DARWISH, QEC ACTING CEO

“All QREC departments have worked to reach the best level of readiness to achieve the success we are looking forward to in the HH The Amir Sword Festival this year.

“All arrangements related to the launch of the Festival, whether technically or organisationally, have been completed. We expect this will be reflected in the level of competition and the degree of success of the associated activities for all age groups over the three days of the Festival at QREC. These events will be special and suitable for everyone through their diversity.

THERE HAS BEEN AN UNPRECEDENTED PRIZE MONEY BOOST

How does the increase in prize money affect the races of the Festival?

“Certainly, reaching a record level of prize money for the HH The Amir Sword Festival will raise the standard and maximise the excitement at Al Rayyan Racecourse.

“For the first time, the prize money has been increased to US$ 10 million, which is more than double the prize money of last year’s edition. This increase covers all the races of the Festival.

“The feature race will be the HH The Amir Sword, a G1 PA contest for Purebred Arabians over 2,400m and will carry a purse of US$ 2,500,000.

“The same purse will be on offer in the HH The Amir Trophy, which is a Group one race for Thoroughbreds over 2,400m as well. Given such unprecedented prize money boost in the history of QREC and the standard of the

declared runners, all eyes will be on these two races as well as the other tough races of the Festival.

“The first day of the Festival will include eight races and each will have a purse of US$ 100,000. It will be the first time to have such prize money on the initial day.

“On the following day, the Al Zubara Trophy Meeting will have a ten-race card with a purse of US$ 100,000 for the first seven races and US$ 200,000 for each of the eighth and the ninth races, while the final race of the day will carry a purse of US$ 400,000.

“The third day and finale of the Festival will see the most prestigious and valuable races and, for the first time in QREC’s history, with total prize money of nearly US$ 8 million. The day will feature eight races, including three with a purse of US$ 400,000 each and three with a purse of US$ 500,000 each, as well as the HH The Amir Sword and the HH The Amir Trophy races, which, together, will offer US$ 5 million.”

THERE SHOULD BE GREAT BENEFITS FOR EVERYONE

Do you expect owners, trainers and jockeys to make the most of this unprecedented increase in QREC’s history?

“The benefit will be great, for sure, not only for the owners, trainers and jockeys, but also for all of the QREC community. The expectations are that the races of the Festival will be really strong and thrilling this year with 24 international runners, from some of the world’s top studs and farms.

“Naturally, everyone aims to win and land the titles and the prize money on offer. We are well aware that the increase in the prize money increases the responsibility of the QREC management, especially as such support from the state officials must be accompanied by a huge boom in the Festival and enhancing its well-deserved standing in the world of racing.”

FUTURE PLANS FOR QREC DEVELOPMENT

What does this increase represent to the QREC management and how it affects QREC’s future plans?

“We have a future plan for the development at QREC in general, both in relation to the races or the various facilities in order to provide the highest standards of quality and ensure the achievement of the goal that we all aspire to.

“We have started this season by increasing the number of races in general in addition to increasing the races at Al Uqda Racecourse.

“Next season, the prize money will be increased for all races. There are other steps planned for development of the

races as well as the various facilities and facilities of QREC, all details will be revealed in a timely manner.

“We work according to a specific strategy with the support from the state officials and their desire to continue the successes of QREC, whether in terms of the races run at Al Rayyan or Al Uqda, or the races sponsored by QREC overseas.”

ENHANCING PARTNERSHIP WITH SPONSORS

Will the new increase in the prize money of the HH The Amir Sword Festival lead to an increase in the number of success partners and sponsors?

“QREC has many successful partners with whom we have had strategic relations for years.

“In each of the QREC’s events, their role is very important, not only in the HH The Amir Sword Festival, but also in all the events we organise throughout the season. This relationship is solid and based on cooperation and a drive to raise the standard of the races and the various activities organised by the QREC.

“Naturally, QREC is keen to constantly strengthen this partnership and to attract more sponsors because their presence brings about many benefits and the QREC management appreciates the role of the success partners.”

BIG IT IS BIG RESPONSIBILITY FOR QREC

Will the impressive success of Qatar in organising the World Cup 2022 have a tangible impact on the level of QREC’s sponsorship of major races such as the Qatar Goodwood Festival and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe?

“We all feel proud of the impressive organisational level of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which was the first in terms of organisation and hosting in the Middle East and the Arab world. Qatar was able to win this global challenge and present a bright image to the world regarding the Arabic worlds. The gains have been limitless and this fact brings us a greater responsibility because we will seek to maintain the image presented by Qatar in the World Cup.

“This will not be limited to local events and race meetings throughout the season or international events held in Qatar such the HH The Amir Sword Festival. It will also extend to external activities and, in particular, at the level of the sponsorship of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France and the Qatar Goodwood Festival in England.

“We have big aspirations in these two major racing events with a view to investing Qatar’s resounding success in organising the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.”

Big plans ahead for ambitious Al Jeryan Stud

You can hear the passion and excitement and pride in trainer Mohammed Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah’s voice when he talks about his stable’s horses, the family’s stud farm Al Jeryan Stud and his training business.

And Al Attiyah has good reason to be enthusiastic about training racehorses – he has already sent out 14 winners through the 2022-23 season in Qatar, and on January 28 enjoyed a double at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s 11th meeting of the season at Al Uqda racecourse. The family’s homebred Arabian AJS Anayid and the Thoroughbred gelding Karakoul, who was purchased at Goffs in Ireland just last November, both put first victories by their names, with the latter winning the feature race of the day, the Wadi Al Sail Cup

“When we bought Karakoul from Goffs he had some good form in Ireland, but was still a maiden,” says Al Attiyah. “I was hoping that he would progress, I don’t know how much more he can improve but I’m hopeful that he can go forward from this.”

Al Attiyah, whose name on the racecard is listed as M.H.K. Al Attiyah in order to differentiate himself from a training relative with the same name, found a love for horses and racehorses 16 years ago.

“My interest started in 2007 when I started going to the races, and then I bought my first horse,” recalls the trainer. “I became attached to the sport! Just a couple of years later, we set up Al Jeryan Stud. The biggest supporter has been my father, he’s funded setting up the stud, buying the broodmares and racehorses and got us started.

“My older brother Khalifa also had a huge role in finding some of the best broodmares we had at the stud.”

His father purchased the land at Al Jeryan in the 1980s and when the family decided upon the new breeding venture, it was the natural location to build the farm; in a very short time the stud has become a very successful breeding enterprise. But training was always the “itch” that Al Attiyah wanted to scratch, feeling that was the path that he would take within the growing operation.

“I always thought that one day I’ll be training my own horses, so when it came to around it wasn’t really like something unexpected,” he says, adding: “I’m really enjoying it. I always try to learn and improve myself more, you never stop learning.”

The focus at the farm is to continually improve the quality of the horses that are being reared, and that focus on achieving excellence is carried through into the training side of the operation.

“We have concentrated on trying to breed the horses ourselves, and are always trying to improve the breeding because we were new to this industry,” says Al Attiyah.

“We try to improve our bloodlines and improve the way we raise our horses.”

And while Al Attiyah, who trained 20 winners last season, is an ambitious man, the plan is not to grow the training stable too large, keeping the numbers realistic and aim for quality on the track.

“We want to keep the numbers at 45 to 50 horses with probably 10 or 15 two and three-year-olds. I’m not planning to increase the number, I want to focus on the quality. I’m happy with the results we have had so far based on the number of horses in the stable.”

It is a family business through and through, and is a complete operation from breeding at Al Jeryan Stud through to success on the racecourse, and that “whole” approach gives Al Attiyah a lot of personal satisfaction, seeing the horses right from their first days of life.

“I enjoy everything about training,” he says. “I especially like that we are working with our own homebreds, you get to see the horses from birth, how they grow into racehorses, it’s exciting to see them develop. You break them in, then you start training them and start to have plans, you try to guess which one is going to be good – you are not always right!”

Many of the Arabian homebreds on the stud are by the excellent stallion Al Albahar, who belongs to the family and stands at Haras de Thouars in France.

One of his leading runners is the brilliant five-year-old mare Sahab, who enjoyed a fantastic year in 2022, and in training with Thomas Fourcy. She won the autumn’s Qatar Arabian Trophy at Longchamp for four-year-olds, having also won the Qatar Silver Sword in April, finished second in the HH The Amir Silver Sword and won the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy. In December she finished second in December’s Qatar International Derby.

“Her sire Al Albahar is one of the top Arabian stallions in the world,” says Al Attiyah with pride. “We bought him as he is by Amer, one of the best-ever Arabian sires, and is out of Al Hanoof, who was a very good mare herself.

“The thing that makes him different than other Amer stallions is that he’s an outcross to all the French and American bloodlines, which is what really got us interested in him and, thankfully, it has worked out really well. He produces some really nice horses.”

The Al Attiyah family appreciates the excellent work done by the Haras de Thouars team at the farm found half-way between Bordeaux and Toulouse in the south of France.

“Haras de Thouars is a really good stud, they are really professional people to work with, they have done a good job looking after him for so long. Most of our mares are covered by him, but there is huge demand for him around the world, too,” says the trainer. For the Thoroughbred branch of the training business, Al Attiyah buys Thoroughbred mares in Europe pregnant to some of the region’s leading sires and ships them home to the family stud to foal down. The resulting offspring will then gain a QA suffix and are able to run in the local Thoroughbred races.

“I like to buy mares who are in-foal to some of the top sires in Europe, who are good over 7f to a mile,” he says.

Al Attiyah will also buy some Thoroughbreds in training, such as Karakoul, and likes to buy a good looking, athletic horse. The trainer also focuses on the form the horse may have already achieved ahead of pedigree.

“If I have to choose between a horse with a pedigree and one that doesn’t have a good physique, or a horse with a good physique yet a moderate pedigree, I’d go with the one who has a good physique, generally I believe that most good horses also look good.

“When buying a horse for Qatar they need to have speed and pace to travel, because generally races here are run at a decent pace. You need horses who are quite quick, a horse with a good turn of foot. I do look at the pedigree, but the form is more important – if a horse’s form is good then I can leave the pedigree. To have a good pedigree as well, that is a plus.”

In a global marketplace there is a lot of competition to try and buy the best.

“There are now a lot of people from Saudi trying to buy horses, but, as most of their racing is on Dirt, most don’t mind buying a horse with form on the soft ground or the All-Weather. When we try and buy horses to bring to Doha, if they pass the vet and are really sound, then they attract buyers from Hong Kong and Australia as they are looking for the same type of horse. It can be difficult to buy the nice ones.”

As he says the recent increases in prize-money as announced by QREC this year will certainly help him and his fellow Qatar-based trainers and owners head to the sale ring with greater firepower and improved chances to bring the best horses that money can buy to race in Qatar.

Al Attiyah is very much looking forward to the big meeting at Al Rayyan racecourse in February and has several horses who will have live chances in the big races and others over whom he is to mull entry options.

“Yes, I’m hoping I’ll have some horses who could run really well. In the big local race I will have two, AI Buraq and AJS Barood – they are decent horses who I think will be competitive.

“AJS Saaeq will probably be one of the favourites to for the Gulf Cup, while AJS Berline, who was a top sprinter last year, has not really been in form this season, I’m hoping she will come back to her best for the big Arabian Sprint Cup.

“The most exciting one for me is AJS Jamran, who is likely to be of the favourites for HH The Amir Silver Sword, I’m hoping he can run a good race. He will be joined by AJS Medawi.”

With ongoing big plans to continue to push to get horses capable on a regular basis for the big races in Qatar, and hopes that the stable could house horses with the ability to run further afield and abroad, Al Attiyah is setting his sights high.

With a top-class family-owned stud farm behind him, support of his enthusiastic father, a leading Arabian stallion standing in France owned by the family, top class broodmares bought and with clearly a good eye for horses and a talent for training, the sky is indeed the limit. Race followers and fans should not be surprised to see more and even better horses carrying the AJS prefixes and winning Qatar’s top races.

A man on a racing mission

Jockey Alberto Sanna is out to ride

“as many winners as he can”

Talented and ambitious, the Sicilian-born jockey

Alberto Sanna is very content with his life in Qatar. He is a man who has established his work life balance in his favour and is now happily optimising life for himself, his family and his career.

When Winning Circle phoned Sanna for this interview, the call was initially turned down. Not to be discouraged, we phoned back and this time the call was answered.

“Hi Alberto, we are just phoning for the interview as we agreed before, is this an ok time to speak?,” we asked.

Sanna answered: “Apologies, I was just on the phone organising my upcoming rides, I have been asked by trainer Fawzi Nass to ride Los Andes, he runs this week in the qualifier for the Saudi Cup.”

Sanna, an international go-to jockey, is a man very much used to making things happen for himself – he is a freelance jockey in Qatar and does not use an agent, he phones and organises all his own rides.

Highly practical, he says, “Nobody can look better after yourself than yourself!”

In Sardinia, Sanna’s family did not have any interest in horses, but as a toddler he was put on a horse which, even at such a nearly age, ignited an interest. As a teenager he was given a horse for a birthday present, and the young man was smitten.

He recalls: “I always dreamed of being a jockey and spent a lot of time looking at magazines, newspapers and the reports – then there was no internet and there was only one meeting a week in a Sunday.

“At home we had pets and chickens, but on my 14th birthday Dad gave me horse and a bridle. We did not have a saddle so I rode bareback! After school I would do my school work and then ride all evening – we had a forest next to the house and I would ride all around there. It was my life until I was 17.” His family would not let the budding jockey entertain ideas of a riding career until he had finished his education, but as soon as he has able he was signed on at the jockeys’ school in Pisa.

Despite having to leave his Sicilian home and live in a city far away and over the Tyrrhenian Sea, the young man did not suffer from home sickness – he was so immersed in the learning experience, working hard, embracing the opportunity and appreciating the start that he had been given. For a short time, the well-run school became home from home.

He modestly says that initially he had “little talent”, but he was granted his apprentice license and after 38 rides kicked home his first winner, within 20 hours he had added a second.

“I ended that first season with five winners, and then the following season I lost my claim – I rode 50 winners and won the Italian apprentice title,” he reports.

“ When I was 22, I won my first Classic, the Italian 2,000 Guineas, which was brilliant, but I also had some significant down points through my early career – I had a lot of injures and I was out every season for three or four months, it slowed it all down significantly.”

The man openly admits that riding success coming at such a young age was a little too much for him to handle.

“I am Italian – I like clothes, I liked showing off, I bought expensive cars. I went around doing some silly and pretty stupid things,” he remembers with a rue smile.

Sanna’s time to grow up arrived as a 26-year-old when he got married to his wife, and a year later his daughter was born. He knew then it was time to get his head down, concentrate on his career and provide a living for his young family.

A call came from Bahrain to ride, the timing was right for a move and the jockey found his way to the Middle East.

“I’d had enough of Italian racing and was ready to travel and prove myself abroad. My daughter was tiny, and it was tough. I did not know the language, there was no internet.

“But the move was a good teacher of life, because I changed my attitude and started to work properly. Then I got a call to ride in the Guineas in Qatar and I started to spend time between the two countries before relocating to Qatar.”

Hong Kong came knocking for him to ride in 2017 after a space in the jockey ranks became available through injury to one of its members. Sanna relished the opportunity and feels it is where he learnt the most and that the experience really took his riding forward. However, the intense environment in the Far East was not an atmosphere in which he thrived as a person. Sanna has now ridden in eight different countries, won a championship in Bahrain and Qatar, and ridden Classic winners in Europe, but he has made the Gulf region and Qatar his home. He visits Italy now on a “busman’s holiday” and makes those trips a success – last October he won the Premio Lydia Tesio (G2) on Romagna Mia and the previous May took the Italian 2,000 Guineas on See Hector for German trainer Henk Grewe.

“I have seen a lot of changes in Qatar over the time I have been here both at the racecourse and life in general,” reflects Sanna. “There is a new

racecourse, which has an amazing surface, things have really stepped up a level in the last few years. The racing is now on the global stage.

“ The prize-money is very good and we are happy with that.”

Looking a little more broadly, he adds: “Qatar racing is a really good place for families because there is no betting, it is a good place for the kids to come and see the horses. When I was young I Iiked to see the horses and the races, that really set the interest for me.

“ The local Qataris and Arab people love horses and they are part of the region’s tradition.”

Now in his 20th year as a jockey, Sanna reflects on his past hero: “My idol was Gerald Mosse – now he is good friend of mine!”

With the benefits of experience, he has thoughts as to how a young person should develop his or her riding skills: “I think that the younger riders need to listen to the older generation and listen to advice from the older jockeys, I think that is the most important thing.

“But they also they need to look at the race, don’t just think in terms of the prize-money or the reward. They need to focus on the horses, their own behaviour with owners and the trainers, and learn how to work with horses – if they become good horse people then they will be good jockeys.”

He is a firm believer in the importance of exercise and the need to be as fit as possible for race riding. His exercise regime of choice is on his bike and Sanna puts in many hours and relishes the opportunity to get around Qatar, although at present most of his bike riding is in the gym.

He also appreciates what an individual life a jockey can have and the opportunities it creates.

“It is a really strange job, in the morning you can be talking to the groom who is brushing your horse,

in the evening you can be chatting with a prince, a Sheikh or a queen,” he says. “In just one day you can have many experiences, there are not many jobs like that when you can be talking to everyone right from the base to the very top in 24 hours.

“You also have to be very grateful to the people who work behind the scenes, they work hard with the horses. The jockeys are only briefly in the newspaper, for instance, I rode Noor Al Hawa eight times and won seven races on him, some of the biggest in Qatar, but I never rode him in the morning.”

Sanna nominates the Al Wasmiyah Farm-owned superstar horse as the best he has ridden in Qatar. Those big race success included the HH The Amir Trophy in 2021 when the pair beat Berkshire Rocco. Now a ten-year-old, the son of Makfi is at stud in France at Haras du Grand Courgeon.

“I am never ashamed to ring up an owner for a ride, this is business,” he smiles, adding: “But as a freelance it is very hard to find the rides on the big day. Two years ago I won three races on Amir Sword day, I think it will be difficult to do it again.”

At the time of writing, this season Sanna has ridden in 281 races in Qatar, more than any other jockey, and that is in spite journeying abroad most weekends to ride. He has ridden 32 winners and won QAR 230,798 in prize-money earnings. He admits he has little free time to pursue other interests and the Italian, who supports Juventus, has even put football to one side in his pursuit of winners.

“I have always loved to win the best races, but I was champion jockey in Bahrain and champion jockey in Qatar, and the more you eat the more you get hungry! Now I want to win everything! I want to prove that I am a good jockey and I am able to ride more winners than anyone.”

Alban de Mieulle currently heading the trainers’ championship again, another success would give him a fourth consecutive title in as many years, but this time it will be a first for his new patron Wathnan Racing.

Son of an owner-trainer from west France, and with an uncle who trained National Hunt horses, at the age of 18 de Mieulle began working during the summer at the Haras de Maulepaire for his uncle Bertrand de Tarragon. When de Mieulle took out his own licence it was for Thoroughbreds to run on the Flat and over fences in France.

However, on the recommendation of master Arabian trainer Jean Pierre Totain, de Mieulle was offered and then accepted the position as Arabian trainer to HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani. He flew to Qatar in 1995.

Though he was used to seeing Arabians race in France, training them was to be a new experience, but he made an immediate impact from the purpose-built training facility at Umm Qarn, found to the north of the capital. His first Arabian runner in the maroon and white silks of His Highness, Sarki D’Espiens, had run four times in France and was still a maiden, however on arrival in Qatar and under de Mieulle’s care he won his first two starts and added two more before the season had ended.

When asked how he found adapting to training Arabians the trainer smiles: “For me the difference between them is that

Trainer

Alban de Mieulle has his sights set high for Wathnan Racing

Since his arrival in Qatar, Alban de Mieulle has been a leading trainer of Purebred Arabians –to the end of last season he had trained nearly 1,100 winners in Qatar and won a total of 15 trainers’ titles.

Arabians are more intelligent than Thoroughbreds, with Arabians with you have to respect them!”

Winner after winner followed, including with some of the very best Arabians in the world who have gone on to shape the modern Arabian racehorse breed. They include General, the first consecutive winner of the Qatar Arabian World Cup, and his sister Al Dhama. Between them the pair won 17 Group 1PA (or international races) and were placed in 13. Returning from injury to win back-to-back HH The Amir Swords, Al Dahma has since produced the Group 1PA winners Yazeed and Marid. Both were trained by de Mieulle and both now stand as stallions in France.

“Iam lucky to have had so many good horses when I trained for Sheikh Abdullah,” comments de Mieulle. “General was one of the best, and Al Dahma, but there was also Dahess, who won 28 races across five different countries, as well as Djebbel, Djelmila, Dhemis, Majd Al Arab, Nizam and his son Tabarak, all HH The Amir Sword winners.

“Now I have Abbes, whom I train for Wathnan, he is one of the best in the world now, along with Lady Princess and First Classs, who I also trained for a time, so we will see what happens in the Sword!”

Abbes is out of Raqiyah, another former de Mieulle-trained multiple Group 1PA winner. Since arriving in Doha this winter, Abbes has been unbeaten for de Mieulle and

Wathnan securing the Qatar National Day Cup (Gr2PA) and the HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3PA). He was only beaten half a length by Lady Princess in last year’s HH The Amir Sword (Gr1PA) and this year seems to have strengthened and matured.

“Abbes is very well and has improved since he arrived in Qatar,” says de Mieulle. “He won last time very easily, the field was not so strong, however how he won shows that he’s still progressing. We learned from his run in the World Cup in Paris in October, which was a little disappointing, that he doesn’t like soft, however he loves the quick ground in Doha.”

Explaining the new establishment, de Mieulle says: “Wathnan Racing have kept the same stable and the same staff as Sheikh Abdullah’s Umm Qarn, the name of the company has changed. I am trainer for Wathnan Racing now, but we keep going like it was. However, I am just training in Qatar; there is new management looking after the breeding operation for Wathnan Racing.

“We still use Ronan Thomas, who is a very good jockey and a very nice person, and Soufiane Saadi who is also very good. More importantly for me with the operation is to have good management, and they take care of everything. Most of my staff come from India, they love what they do, it’s so important that they love horses.”

Alongside Abbes, who is due to run in the HH The Amir Sword, de Mieulle hopes to run Jabalah in the Qatar International Cup (Gr1PA) over a mile, a race in which the seven-year-old finished second last year. He has had a perfect preparation this year – he won the HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup (Gr2PA) over the same course and distance in January, however de Mieulle admits the challenge will not be easy.

“Jabalah is a good horse, but he will be against Sahab, a very good filly mare owned by Mr Al-Attiyah,” says the trainer. “She is one of the best for me in this race. It is the perfect distance for this filly mare who I trained last year, so I know her well and she is the one to beat.”

Of the Thoroughbreds due to run at the big meeting, he particularly picks out Bolthole saying: “I think he will perform well but it will be a very, very tough race, with some very good horses entered. I also expect Inverness to run good race with him, against higher-rated horses.”

Both horses were amongst nine purchases made at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in Newmarket last autumn. Inverness, a three-year-old son of Highland Reel who had won twice on quick ground in the UK when trained by Charlie Hills. Now four, he won the Khor Al Adaid Cup, a Qatar Group 3 over 2800m on his local debut in January and heads for the Amir Trophy, along with Bolthole, a dual winner in the UK for Michael Bell. By Free Eagle, he won the Qatar Derby Trial in December and most recently finished second in the HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamada Al Thani Rifle. Another purchase at that sale was Persian Royal. A fourtime winner in the UK, he has run three times in Qatar and finished third in December’s Qatar Derby, a local Group 1. Hamaki, who finished second on his first start in Qatar in January’s Khor Al Adaid Cup, heads to the Saudi Cup to contest the International Handicap. Last year, de Mieulle trained the first two home in the race, which is Friday’s

feature race for Thoroughbreds, with Lauderdale and King Shalaa, and the last-named will try to go one place better this year.

De Mieulle was also in action on Wathnan’s behalf at the bloodstock sales held by Arqana on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend in France when buying Bariloche. The son of El Kabier has won both his subsequent Doha starts under Thomas and is a likely runner in the Al Rayyan Mile.

Earlier that same week in France, Wathnan was the leading buyer at the Arqana Purebred Arabian Sale purchasing 12 lots. They included the €150,000 purchase Salwa, who is a half-brother to Abbes and by another de Mieulle-trained Group1PA winner, Kalino. Salwa heads to Saudi for the Al Mneefah Cup, now a Group2PA, a race won by de Mieulle with First Classs in 2022. Also bought at the Arqana sale was Hazal, who is by Dahess and out of the three-time Group1PA winner Kiss De Ghazal. She finished second in December’s Qatar Oaks.

Of his purchases de Mieulle comments: “Some of them have won and some are later maturing types. We have nice stock for the future. We were lucky to buy Abbes privately, he’s our best horse, but we have some nice three-year-olds who will wait for next season as we don’t want to rush them.

“We don’t have a lot of Thoroughbreds in our stable and for our new owners we are under new instructions to increase the numbers, which is why we went to Tattersalls. We try to choose the best we can and we have not been disappointed; like the Arabians, some will be better next season.”

Confirming that they will continue to purchase both breeds at the sales, he also observes: “I think Wathnan will breed in Qatar, France and maybe England, though I do not know at this stage. We already have two Arabian broodmares at stud in France.”

Currently Wathnan has around 70 horses, including youngstock in Qatar split at roughly 40 per cent Thoroughbreds to 60 per cent Arabians. It is a division that de Mieulle expects to remain constant.

He says: “Like everybody, Wathnan wants to win big races with Thoroughbreds, but in Qatar they want to try to be leading owner with both breeds.”

Describing the experience of the recent football World Cup held in Qatar as “fantastic”, he hopes that the event’s success will now allow further investment into Qatar’s racing industry.

“PostWorld Cup I’m sure there will be focus on improving the racing facilities,” he says. “The prizemoney increase for the Amir Sword meeting is most welcome and next year the plans are to increase prize-money for the whole season.

“A lot of young Qataris are very interested in horseracing, so I’m sure if Qatar can improve the facilities for trainers, that will help to expand and progress the sport, though the programme will also need to improve along with it.”

Having won some of the most prestigious Arabian races around the world, many more than once, de Mieulle responds quickly when asked of his next target: “The goal to keep going and winning!! I am not 20 years old, but it is everybody’s dream to win these big races.”

Irish eyes are smiling in Qatar

In January we spoke with Charles O’Neill, CEO of Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM), about the organisation’s long term and valued sponsorship of the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, as well as the extensive horseracing links between Ireland and Qatar.

The two-year disruption caused by COVID has meant that O’Neill has not been able to travel to Qatar for the big meeting at Al Rayyan racecourse since 2020. This year, the Irishman is very much looking forward to his trip, renewing acquaintances, and to be on track for the mile Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, which has increased this year’s prize-money.

HOW LONG HAS ITM SPONSORED IN QATAR AND HOW DID THE LINK UP COME ABOUT?

We have sponsored the race since 2015 and it was through the late Mark O’Hanlon, who was very keen for ITM a sponsor a race in Qatar. Eventually we got to do it, but, sadly, Mark was not around to see his plans come to fruition.

After the first year we moved into a more set arrangement with Qatar and the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup was established as the headline race on day two of The Festival, which was a huge honour.

The Irish Ambassador comes to the races to present the trophy, and it is hugely important for our Ambassador. I’m hoping this year once again that Her Excellency Alison Milton will be at the races to present the cup.

WHAT IS SO POSITIVE ABOUT THE SPONSORSHIP?

We sponsor in Qatar, and Qatar sponsors at The Curragh, it has been a brilliant move for ITM. QREC is just a great outfit to work with, the team does a great job and looks after us so well.

What Qatar is aiming to do with its racing industry is brilliant and for ITM to be part of it is a great opportunity. Irish horses have a great history of racing in Qatar, and trainer Ado McGuinness won the ITM Cup race a couple of years ago, Joseph O’Brien has lots of runners at Doha and Aiden O’Brien, too. It is a place Irish trainers want to go – the welcome is excellent, the prize money is good, the equine welfare is great, everything is top drawer. It works very well for us and long may continue.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR ITM TO HAVE A PRESENCE IN QATAR AND IN THE BROADER GULF AREA?

What is happening in the Gulf in the world of racing is really phenomenal.

The whole world is focusing on the region’s racing from January through to the end of April – racing is taking place in the Gulf states and it’s very much in the media and the press.

The region’s Turf racing is very important so for ITM as it is a huge equine market for us. At every sale there are a lot of people buying yearlings to race in Ireland and then transfer to the Gulf.

Qatari buyers also support the Irish horses-in-training sales, which is massively important and Irish horses race in the region after careers in England and Ireland. It is an important part of the circle of European racing and Qatar is to the fore of that.

Irish horses are excelling out in Qatar – In The Night, who is by Shamardal, is doing really well, and one of the top horses at the moment Emperor Maximus, although Frenchbred, is by the Irish stallion Holy Roman Emperor. There is a lot of very good Irish-bred horses doing really well in Qatar, who were bought by their owners at horsesin-training sales, yearling sales or are homebreds.

The Irish Marketing Cup is a great race in Qatar, and it’s one of the important races of the year. It is one that we believe is key and we are hoping, now that Qatar’s racing is becoming even bigger, Ireland can be an even bigger part of the ongoing development of racing in Qatar.

DO YOU THINK ITM’S PRESENCE AS A SPONSOR HAS HELPED ENCOURAGE IRISH TRAINERS TO SEND OVER HORSES TO RUN?

It has been huge. Trainers often ring to ask us, what’s it like to run horses in Qatar, what are the track conditions like, what is the course like? The fact that we’ve been to Al Rayyan Racecourse a lot of times is really helpful – they can trust our judgement and can be sure that we know what we are talking about.

And no matter how good I tell them it is, their experience is always better – a trainer such as Ado McGuinness just can’t wait to travel over every year. They get such a great welcome, and are looked after brilliantly by the chairman HE Issa bin Mohammed Al-Mohannadi and the team. Everything is just done as it should and the quarantine facilities are state-of-the-art; that’s what trainers and owners want.

And when owners, trainers and horses are looked after so well, and with such great conditions on course for the horses, winning is the only secondary product because the experience is so good. All the connections enjoy their trips.

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR TRIP?

I just can’t wait to get out this year, it has been a few years since I have travelled over due to COVID and a couple of family things, I can’t wait!

I’m really looking forward to this year to getting back out, getting to know Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC’s new acting CEO, meeting up with the QREC team, as well as the local trainers.

I’ve built up a lot of good friends in Qatar, I just can’t wait to see the city and the whole setup, see what has been newly developed, and just meeting so many good friends again.

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PRIZE-MONEY INCREASES….

The prize-money for the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup is now $500,000, which is huge, and it’s going to make for a great race. There are quite a few Irish-trained horses entered and they’re hoping they get a run, but it’s going to be very competitive.

The meeting’s big races, the HH The Amir Sword and the HH The Amir Trophy, are both worth $2.5 million each, and they will be up there with the best racing in the world. But in the end it is down to the race itself and to have it on the big day is going to be truly special, and it will be some day’s racing.

I’m really looking forward to just getting out and I’m hoping Evan Arkwright, racing and sponsorship manager at The Curragh, is coming out with me, as well as Joey Cullen, Goffs director of marketing.

There are a few Irish making the trip, there will be an Irish delegate to meet and, fingers crossed, the Irish Ambassador will be there and will have a great day as well.

RACING IN THE WHOLE GULF REGION IS BECOMING MASSIVELY IMPORTANT…

It’s just so important, I’m looking forward to seeing the new racing developments, seeing if there is anything we can learn and if there are any ideas we can take back to Ireland. Or if there is anything we do to help in reverse. I am passionate about the training and education of young people in the sport, getting more young people into the industry with proper training and proper opportunities.

OVER THE YEARS YOU MUST HAVE SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES AND CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENTS AT THE TRACK AND THE RACECOURSE?

The biggest one has been the improvement in the track’s ground and the facility. And that’s the most important thing as people want the horses to come home, safe and sound – a lot of money has been spent in improving the facility and the quarantine facilities, which is so positive. The Qatar organisers put a huge amount of work into getting the track right, it is in pristine condition for the race.

When the jockeys ride the track, they must be on the pace. It is not an easy place to ride, it not a simple place, but it’s good solid racing, and the best horses generally do win, and that’s what you like to see, a good fair track. Like everywhere, draw is important and tactics are important.

It is really important for international owners that everything is done to the highest standards. If you’re going to attract people to race their horses overseas, the highest possible standards have to be met, and Qatar is leading the way.

King Shalaa stamps his authority in the Barzan Cup

The Guineas and Barzan Cup meeting showcases the best Qatari milers in the new season and sets the scene in November.

Headlining the card is the Barzan Cup, a Qatari Group 3 contest for three-yearolds and upwards in which Wathnan Racing’s King Shalaa made amends for his short-head second in the previous year’s Guineas to win by 2l.

Trained by Alban de Mieulle and ridden by Ronan Thomas, the fouryear-old gelded son of Al Shaqab Racing’s stallion Shalaa was keen in the early stages, but had the speed to come clear of the pack. King Shalaa was a ready 2l winner from Abdulatif Al Emadi’s Pazeer, with Sharq Stud’s Usak a further length back in third.

CONFLICT OVERCOMES SCHERZO IN A THRILLER

The Thoroughbred Guineas for three-year-olds is also a Qatari Group 3 contest, and the race produced

a thrilling finish between 51 East Racing’s Conflict and the Al Wasmiyah Farm-owned Scherzo. Conflict broke well and led; he was settled on the rail in mid-division with Scherzo forced to race wide. On entering the home straight, Conflict was best placed to sprint up the rail and, though Scherzo quickly made ground racing in the centre of the track, he was kept at bay by Conflict and jockey Carlos Henrique. Nasser Al-Eida’s Hapap, also closed quickly though was still over 2l adrift in third.

ARABIAN GUINEAS DOUBLE FOR AL JERYAN STUD

There was a double in the two remaining Guineas races, for local bred Thoroughbreds and for Purebred Arabians, for Al Jeryan Stud, trainer M.H.K Al Attiyah and jockey Szczepan Mazur.

The Purebred Arabian Guineas for four-year-olds, was decided by a photo

in which AJS Saaeq prevailed by a short head. The son of AF AlBahar had been a close third on a return to action two weeks earlier, which may have given him a fitness edge over HE Sheikha Iman bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Hargan, who idled slightly when hitting the front, giving AJS Saaeq the advantage when it mattered. Mohammed Al-Sowaidi’s Poseulo Py, also a son of AF AlBahar, made good headway in the straight to take third place.

In the local bred Thoroughbred Guineas, AJS Barood made a winning return to action, travelling smoothly into the lead entering the home turn. Despite racing greenly in front, the colt was over a length clear of the late challenge made by Sheikh Faisal Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani’s Al Warkah who just got up to best Mohammed Abdulhadi S Al-Hajri’s Achika by a short head for second.

Subahiyah takes the Listed Qatari Oaks on debut

A showcase of the best three and four-year-old Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian Fillies, the ten races on Qatar Oaks Day proved to be the perfect warm up to the Qatar International Derby meeting the following day. The headline event, the Qatar Oaks, a Qatari Listed contest for Thoroughbreds over 2000m, went the way of Al Shaqab Racing’s Subahiyah, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden by Faleh Bughanaim. Subahayih had previously won or been placed in all of her starts in France and impressed on her debut in Qatar when winning by nearly 3l from the fast-finishing Muneerah and Midheaven, who was a further length behind in third.

A homebred daughter of Le Havre, Subahayih is the second foal to race out of Gherdaiya, who was Group 3 placed in the Al Shaqab Racing’s colours in France when trained by Andre Fabre.

Al Shaqab Racing also scored on the card with another homebred in the Qatar Oaks for local four-year-old Purebred

IMAGE DUE CROATE COVERTS TRIAL VICTORY TO BIG RACE SUCCESS

The Qatar Oaks for four-year-old Purebred Arabians was closely contested with Al Shahania Stud’s Image Du Croate, who was already a Group 1 PA winner in France, adding to her tally with a half-length win over Hazal, with Al Wakrah a nose behind. Since arriving in Qatar, she has joined trainer Rudy Nerbonne and she was placed on her Qatari debut in the Oaks Trial behind Al Wakrah. Travelling smoothly throughout in the main event, ridden by Maxime Guyon, Image Du Croate always looked to be in command despite the narrow margin of her win.

A READY WIN FOR AL WARKAH

In the Qatar Oaks for three-year-old Local Thoroughbreds, Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani’s homebred filly Al Warkah, ridden by Alberto Sanna and trained by Mohammed Khaled Elahmed, put her considerable race experience to good use, winning readily by 2l. Messaouda stayed on well to be second on only her second start, whilst in third was Achika. Al Warkah had three starts in Poland before her export to Qatar in October

Arabians with Osaila. Held up in the rear by Bughanaim, she made steady progress in the straight to win a shade easily by 2l from Haraiqu, with long-time leader Manakel in third. Trained by Eric Lemartinel, Osaila is by the champion sire Amer and is a sister to Al Shaqab Racing’s Group 1PA Qatar International Cup winner, Aba’ath.

2021 and has since raced eight times prior to this outing, winning or placing on all bar two of those starts.

NO TEAR AL MAURY OAKS WINNER ON DOHA DEBUT

The mile Qatar Oaks for three-yearold Purebred Arabian fillies saw Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s No Tear Al Maury secure an impressive victory under Mickael Barzalona on her debut for trainer Thomas Fourcy in Doha. Boasting solid form in France where she was a Group 2PA winner in September, before placing in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1PA), both races over

2000m, she showed an excellent turn of foot dropped back in trip, easily reeling in Nazwa on the run in, to win by a half a length. The pair were well clear of Felowah in third.

ROMA GETS OFF THE MARK

Noora Racing’s Roma broke her maiden in good style in the mile Qatar Oaks for three-year-old local Purebred Arabians. The daughter of Al Mourtajez led almost from the outset and turned in a very professional performance under Alberto Sanna to win going away from Aziza by 3l. Rowaah Zakhir kept on for a good third place.

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Emperor Maximus ruled the Qatar Derby

QATAR INTERNATIONAL DERBY MEETING: 29 DECEMBER 2022

The Qatar International Derby meeting at Al Rayyan Racecourse is always a highlight of the racing season.

The meeting was held under the patronage of HE Salah Bin Ghanem Al-Ali, the Minister of Sports and Youth, and His Excellency presented the trophies to the connections of Emperor Maximus, winner of the day’s feature, the Qatar Derby (QA G1) for Thoroughbreds, in presence of HE Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman.

Al Rufaa Racing’s Emperor Maximus, ridden by Marco Casamento for trainer Gassim Ghazali, put up an improved performance to win the headline contest. Placed in five of his six starts in France, the son of Holy Roman Emperor had finished second on his Qatar debut, though was out of the frame in the Derby Trial.

Winning next time when stepped up in trip, the return to 2000m for the Derby proved no problem – Casamento had him handily placed in third throughout. Entering the final 500m, Emperor Maximus responded readily to Casamento’s urgings, quickly challenging the leader Upton Park, to go clear by less than 2l at the line. Persian Royal stayed on for third.

FIRST RUN OVER 2000M IN QATAR IS A WINNING ONE FOR MOSHRIF

Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Moshrif, ridden again by Jim Crowley, confirmed his three-year-old Derby win of last season with success in the Qatar International Derby (Gr2PA) for four-year-olds.

A dual Group 1PA winner in France over 2000m, this was the Francois Rohaut-trained four-year-old’s first attempt over the distance in Qatar, which saw him win by 5l over Sahab, a greater margin than in the previous year’s contest. Hargan was a further two and a half lengths away in third.

AL GHADEER ENJOYS SUCCESS ON AL SHAQAB RACING DEBUT

Last year’s Group 3PA Qatar Derby for three-year-old Arabians may have heralded the arrival of a new star, Al Ghadeer, dropping back to a mile for the first time, continued his winning streak.

He is another top performer trained by Rohaut, and the son of world champion Al Mourtajez was making his debut in the Al Shaqab Racing colours having won two Group 1 PA contests in France for Al Wasmiya Racing.

Despite racing freely in the early stages, Maxime Guyon soon gave Al Ghadeer his head allowing him to stride on and, though given a sustained challenge by AJS Jamran in the straight, he prevailed by half a length. The pair finished well clear of the third, AA Feel The Burn.

ARQANA PURCHASE BARILOCHE WINS THE AL RAYYAN STAKES

In the Al Rayyan Stakes for two-year-old Thoroughbreds, Wathnan Racing’s Bariloche, trained by Alban de Mieulle and ridden by Ronan Thomas, gained his second win at the Al Rayyan course.

Bariloche, who was purchased at the Arqana Saint-Cloud Arc Horses In Training Sale in October, reeled in the Archie Watson-trained British raider Eddie’s Boy, who was attempting to win from the front. The locally trained Mister Staple was a further length adrift in third.

THREE LOCAL DERBIES SEE SUCCESS FOR AL SHANANIA STUD, ABDULLAL AL-MESNAD AND AL RABBAN RACING

The Qatar National Derby for local bred four-year-old Arabians was decided in a three-way-photo with Al Shahania Stud’s Muale’m, ridden by Lukas Delozier, winning by a nose from Naheb Al Naif, with Al Mirage a head behind. By Al Shahania’s HH The Amir Sword winner Mared Al Sahra, the winning colt is trained by Rudy Nerbonne.

In the mile Qatar Derby for local bred three-year-old Arabians, Abdullah Al-Mesnad’s Hadlan maintained his unbeaten record in three starts. Ridden by Tom Marquand for trainer Wasim Al Sahn, the pair went to the front early on and stayed there, and resisted a spirted challenge from Layeq in the straight. Tajamhor finished behind them in third. Hadlan looks an exciting horse for the future.

Al Rabban Racing’s Harb, trained by Ibrahim Al Malki and ridden by Tomas Lukasek, won the Qatar Derby for local three-year-old thoroughbreds by a nose, from AJS Barood, with Torkia a head behind.

Purchased in utero at the Tattersalls December Sales in 2018 by Al Rabban Racing and Jackson Stops Bloodstock, this was the son of Time Test’s first attempt at 1850m and an improvement on his two previous outings over shorter trips.

Exciting action on HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy Day

PRINCESS MOURTAJEZ EASY WINNER OF THE SILVER CUP

The HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Silver Cup for four-year-old Arabians produced another clear winner in Princess Mourtajez, trained by Zuhair Mosen and ridden by Ronan Thomas for owner Salmeen Abdulla Al-Jabri. Settled towards the rear by Thomas, the filly took her time to pass the long-time leader Hadlan, but she did it well in the end, with Bhar Al Jasra closing for third, beaten a head. This was a second win for the daughter of Al Mourtajez since her 2022 arrival in Doha from France where she had been placed four times.

SHGARDE THE SPRINT WINNER

The His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy Day featured a nine-race card with HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani present to crown the winners of His Highness’s Cups and Trophy. His Excellency Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, was also present during the trophy presentation ceremony.

AJS SAAEQ BATTLED TO BIG RACE VICTORY

The HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy contest for local Arabians over a mile concluded the meeting and produced a real thriller for the race goers. The eventual winner, Al Jeryan Stud’s AJS Saaeq, ridden by Szczepan Mazur, was one of three horses in a battle for the lead as they entered the straight, and the M.H.K Al Attiyah-trained five-year-old claimed the front pitch 200m from the line. Sealine, one of the best local-bred runners of recent years, chased him home. Abida was three-quarters of a length away in third.

That was a second win on the day for Al Jeryan and trainer M.H.K Al Attiyah, who also won the earlier Charm Spirit Cup for Thoroughbreds with Arabic Channel.

JABALAH WINS THE CUP FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

The race was preceded by the HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup (Gr2PA) in which Wathnan Racing’s Jabalah was the clear winner under Ronan Thomas for trainer Alban de Mieulle.

This was a second success in the race for Jabalah, a son of Al Mamun Monlau, and he showed a great turn of foot to overtake Poseulo Py in the closing stages, putting nearly 3l between him and the runner-up Sayaad. Shalaa was a further half-length behind in third.

The Majd Al Arab Purebred Arabian Sprinter Championship (Gr3PA) held over 1100m saw Shgarde secure his eighth career victory. Racing in the colours of Sharida bin Nasser bin Sharida Al-Kaabi, the five-yearold son of AF AlBahar, trained by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, continues to go from strength to strength in the sprint division.

Last year’s winner AJS Berline set a strong pace in front and tracked by Shgarde, who was ridden by Alberto Sanna, put up a good battle in the straight when attempting to repel Shgarde’s challenge. However, Shgarde had the edge, going two and a half-lengths clear, with the pair well ahead of Salsabeel in third.

IN THE NIGHT MAINTAINS FORM IN THE UMM QARN CUP

In the preceding race for Thoroughbreds, the Umm Qarn Cup over 2000m, Ibrahim Al Malki’s In The Night prevailed by a head in a three-way photo finish, ridden by Tomas Lukasek. Racing prominently on the rail throughout, In The Night was pressed all the way to the line by King Pacha, though the pair were nearly caught by the fast finishing Pedro Cara, who secured second place. It was the six-year-old gelding’s fifth win in succession.

QUEEN KICKS UP A STORM IN THE FRENCH KING CUP

The French King Cup for local Thoroughbreds over a mile saw another success for Wathnan Racing and de Mieulle victory going to Queen Storm, who was partnered by Soufiane Saadi.

Travelling well in mid-division, the five-year-old daughter of Trade Storm hit the front at the 200m pole, and pulling ahead for a decisive two and three quarter-length victory to win going away from Al Buraq. Al Adheed was just over two lengths adrift in third.

A double day for Wathnan Racing and Alban de Mieulle

Wathnan Racing and trainer Alban de Mieulle had good cause to celebrate with Sealine and Abbes winning the two most valuable races on the card at the Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy meeting.

Recording his 13th career win in the Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy for local Purebred Arabians, Sealine showed his class to defy advancing years in the capable hands of Ronan Thomas. Thomas settled the eight-year-old just off the pace on the rail and, though briefly trapped behind a wall of horses, the pair made the most of the gap to stay on well, winning with a bit in hand from AJS Saaeq and Ezzat Nafs.

ABBES: A HORSE FOR THE AL RAYYAN COURSE

In the Qatar National Day Trophy (Gr2PA) Abbes maintained his good run of form at Al Rayyan where he has either won or finished second in all his six starts at the track.

With the pace set by stablemate Bin Al Tair, Abbes was settled towards the rear, with Jabalah just behind. The field compressed turning for home, forcing Thomas to bring Abbes wide, whilst Jabalah was able to work his way through on the rail. By the 200m marker Abbes was clear and soon extended his lead to 5l, leaving Jabalah to win the battle with Arion for second.

IN THE NIGHT: MAKES IT FOUR WINS IN A ROW AND NINE CAREER WINS

The Al Safliya Cup, a Qatari Group 3, saw trainer-owner Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki’s In The Night keep his unbeaten record for this season intact, bringing his total career wins to nine. Partnered as usual by Tomas Lukasek, the five-year-old raced prominently throughout, taking the lead 800m from home. King Pacha and Usak gamely gave chase, but were unable to reel in the son of Shamardal.

The world’s best Turf horse headlined the Qatar Goodwood Festival

Baaeed, rated by the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings as the best Turf horse in the world after Flightline, maintained his nine-race unbeaten run of form with a scintillating victory in the mile Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1).

The Shadwell Estates-bred four-year-old maintained his perfect race record of nine from nine, all of his victories to that point coming over the mile distance.

In second and third were the Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner and subsequent Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Modern Games and the previous Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes winner and 2022 July Cup (G1) winner Alcohol Free, who was subsequently bought for 5 million guineas at the Tattersalls December Sale.

Baaeed, a son of leading sire Sea The Stars, was held up on the Sussex Downs, before making his move to lead inside the final furlong. He quickly put a length between himself and Modern Games, the Charlie Appleby-trained son of Dubawi. It was a straightforward victory for the William Haggas-trained star four-year-old.

Jockey Jim Crowley said: “He’s never going to be exuberant and win by 10l, but the feeling I got from him between the 3f and 2f, no horse can give you that sort of feel. He’s got everything. Good horses like that tick all the boxes.”

Baaeed went on from Goodwood to York where, stepped up in trip to 1m2f, he won the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes from Mishriff, and was retired, as was planned pre-race, after a below-par run in October’s Qipco Group 1 British Champion Stakes when fourth. He stands at Shadwell Stud at a fee of £80,000 and is exciting new option for breeders.

LADY PRINCESS: THE ARABIAN QUEEN OF GOODWOOD

Goodwood’s Qatar International Stakes (Gr1PA) held over 1600m is the first stage of the Triple Crown, which precedes the 2000m Qatar Arabian World Cup at Longchamp and culminates in the 2400m HH The Amir Sword in Doha.

Held at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, the race was a highlight for Arabians on the Sussex Downs and the race lived up to its billing.

As in 2021, Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s wonderful mare Lady Princess and Jim Crowley kept a top-class field at bay. She was winning the fifth leg in her sixrace sequence of top level victories.

She won by a neck from the Xavier ThomasDemeaulte-trained Hattal, who put in a promising run on his debut against older horses. He is owned by Yas Horse Racing Management

In third place was HE Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Samlla for Francois Rohaut and jockey Maxime Guyon with Abdullah bin Fahad Al Attiyah’s Djafar in fourth for Rohaut as well and jockey Tom Marquand.

THE SPEEDY KHAADEM SPRINTS TO KING GEORGE QATAR STAKES VICTORY

Khaadem won the Group 2 King George Qatar Stakes, a first Group 2 win for the six-year-old son of Dark Angel, who is trained by Charlie Hills. He proved the win was no fluke next time out with a fourth placing to the European sprinter of the season Highland Princess in the Nunthorpe Stakes (G1).

NASHWA STAMPS HER CLASS IN THE QATAR NASSAU STAKES

The Group 1 1m2f Qatar Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares was won by Nashwa, the daughter of Frankel building on her last-time-out Group 1 Prix de Diane Classic victory in June in France.

At Goodwood, she was held up in rear by her usual jockey Hollie Doyle, made headway 2f on the outside and went clear to win by just under 2l putting in her best performance of the season.

After a subsequent second in France in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l’Opera and a fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she is staying in training for this season, connections believing she will be an even better filly as a four-year-old.

SEA LA ROSA CLIMBS THE RANKS IN THE GROUP 2 QATAR LILLIE LANGTRY STAKES

Sea La Rosa chased down the strong-running Urban Artist to take the Group 2 Qatar Lillie Langtry Stakes. It was the progressive filly’s first Group 2 victory and a building block to her Group 1 win in October’s Qatar Prix de Royallieu at ParisLongchamp.

She is tough and tenacious and a fine example of one by her sire Sea The Stars.

Quality throughout over the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend

The Qatar-sponsored Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting held at ParisLongchamp on October 1-2 and Saint-Cloud on September 30 was a meeting of the highest quality and order. Total prize-money on offer over the weekend was €10.4 million and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the richest race in Europe with a prize fund of €5 million. The recently published Longines World’s Best Races has rated the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as the third-best race in the world in 2022. In fact, a further two Qatarsponsored European races made it into the Longines top ten – the Qatar Sussex Stakes and the Qatar Prix de Jockey-Club. The Arc was won by the brilliant Alpinista, the daughter of the record-breaking Juddmonte Farms sire Frankel. Bred by Kirsten Rausing’s Lanwades Stud, the mare’s victory in Paris saw her maintain an eight-race winning sequence, six of those wins at Group 1 level.

The race in France was run on very soft ground, which played to the mare’s strengths, and the result was never in doubt – jockey Luke Morris had her prominent throughout, she made smooth progress 3f from home, led a furlong out and won by an eased down half a length.

Morris said of the Sir Mark Prescott-trained five-year-old: “She’s so versatile and so tough. I couldn’t believe how well she was going, coming into the straight. I was just trying to

conserve her for as long as I could. When I needed her, she dug in very deep.”

Her victory took her prize-money earnings to over £3.2 million and accolades as the world’s highest-rated mare or filly of 2022. She was retired to stud after the big race victory.

ARC RUNNER-UP VADENI KICKED OFF THE SEASON WITH QATAR PRIX DU JOCKEY-CLUB

Second to the mare at ParisLongchamp was the three-yearold colt Vadeni, winner of the Qatar Prix du Jockey-Club staged right at the beginning of the European Flat season. A dual winner as a two-year-old in 2021 and successful in the Prix de Guiche (G3) in May, he was massively impressive at Chantilly on that first weekend in June, producing a fine turn of foot having travelled well throughout the race.

The son of Churchill maintained that form throughout the season and went on to beat the multiple Group 1 winner Mishriff in the Eclipse Stakes and then finished third to Luxembourg at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Stakes. He was Longines-rated the second best three-year-old on the year on Turf and stays in training with Jean-Claude Rouget for 2023. A bid to go one place better in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 2023 has been earmarked by his trainer as his main target for the year.

KYPRIOS, THE STAYER OF THE YEAR, WINS THE QATAR PRIX DU CADRAN

A fine staying performance was put in by Kyprios in the Qatar Prix du Cadran (G1), the son of Galileo winning his sixth race in a row and his fourth Group 1, and following up from his previous Qatar Goodwood Cup victory.

It was arguably the four-year-old’s most impressive performance of the season – despite drifting markedly left in the home straight on the soft ground, he still won by a staggering 20l. The Moyglare Stud-owned and bred fouryear-old was in a race of his own and dominated from 3f out.

“Kyprios is a great horse and it’s a privilege to have him. He has an unbelievable capacity for covering any amount of distance. He obviously has an incredible heart and lungs. Ryan [Moore] rode him handy all the way and his opponents just fell away as they turned into the straight and he got left there. That’s what happened when he came up the straight. He lost a shoe halfway up the straight as well,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien after the race.

He will be an exciting prospect for 2023 and will have all the top Group 1 staying races on his agenda again – the Ascot Gold Cup, the Qatar Goodwood Cup and the Qatar Prix du Cadran. He handles fast ground, good ground and soft ground, he is adaptable and dependable and could become one of the greatest European staying horses of all time.

JUVENILE COLTS AND FILLIES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY

The opening race on Sunday’s card, the 7f Group 1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere for two-year-old colts, was won by the Andre Fabre-trained Belbek, a colt owned by Nurlan Bisakov, ridden by Mickael Barzalona and by the Britishbased stallion Showcasing.

A winner of the Group 3 Prix du Bois Longines, the colt had subsequently been beaten in the Group 2 Prix Robert Papin and Group 3 Prix de Cabourg, but this was his first outing over 7f, which he appeared to appreciate, while the soft ground suited.

On the Arc weekend, Saturday’s Group 1 1m6f Qatar Prix de Royallieu went to the William Haggas-trained Sea La Rosa (Sea The Stars). She had previous won the Qatar Lille Langtry Stakes (G3) at Qatar Goodwood Festival, the mare proving the value of the intertwining of form lines through the Qatar-sponsored European summer Flat racing Festivals.

A brave and tough mare, Sea La Rosa, who is owned by Sunderland Holdings, chased the pace though the race at Paris, and wore down the pace-setter Ottilien in the home straight.

Sea La Rosa won by a length from Jannah Flower, who is by Al Shaqab Racing’s Olympic Glory, and she is owned by Al Shira’aa Farms. It was an admirable performance from the consistent filly.

He will be readied this year for a three-year-old Classic campaign.

The fillies’ juvenile race, the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, was won by Blue Rose Cen giving a first Group 1 winner for the young trainer Christophe Head, and the first leg of a Group 1 double on the Arc card for her sire Churchill.

She is owned by Spanish connections Yeguada Centurion and went into the race on the back of three previous victories and a first Group race success in the Prix d’Aumale (G3).

Connections expect her to excel at a mile this year and she will be given a Poule d’Essai des Pouliches and 1,000 Guineas campaign.

AL SHAQAB RACING’S VICTORY IN THE QATAR PRIX DE L’OPERA

Also for the females, the Group 1 1m2f Qatar Prix de l’Opera (G1), went to Place du Carrousel, owned in partnership between Al Shaqab Racing and breeder Ballyllinch Stud. She is by the Irish farm’s leading sire Lope De Vega and in six racecourse starts has only finished out of the first two placings once when disappointing down the field in June’s Prix de Diane (G1).

Place Du Carrousel stayed on strongly to beat race favourite Nashwa in the Prix de l’Opera, and the Andre Fabretrained mare could take highest order over middle-distance this season.

KINROSS KICKS OFF HIS 2022 GROUP 1 DOUBLE IN THE QATAR PRIX DE LA FORET

The Ralph Beckett-trained and Frankie Dettori-ridden Kinross took the concluding Group 1 of the meeting, the Qatar Prix de la Foret. It was the first part of a Group 1 double for the Kingman gelding, who subsequently won the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes (G1). He concluded his season with a third place in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Keeneland.

Qatar dominates the Arabian Group 1 races on Arc weekend

It was a clean sweep for Qatari owners in the four Group 1 Purebred Arabian races over the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend, and included victory in the Qatar Arabian World Cup worth a cool €1 million and the weekend’s Arabian race highlight.

LADY PRINCESS MAINTAINS HER WINNING STREAK

Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Lady Princess went one better than in 2021 to secure Europe’s most valuable Arabian race, the Qatar Arabian World Cup (G1PA), whilst wins from some exciting young horses in the supporting races, gives plenty of encouragement that Qatar will maintain their prominence in the sport for years to come.

Half of the 16 horses who lined up for the Qatar Arabian World Cup boasted top level victories in what was one of the strongest renewals for many years. Previous winners Ebraz and Hoggar De l’Ardus were carrying the colours of HE Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani,

whilst Al Kuwari’s Hadi De Carrere, winner of the Obaiya Arabian Classic, the most valuable Arabian race on Dirt, was also in the field.

Others with winning course and distance form were Lady Princess, Hattal and Teema, whilst First Classs had stepped up to this 2000m trip to win Dubai’s Kahayla Classic for the HE Sharida Al-Kaabi and been finished second in Prix Dragon, the trial for the big race, three weeks earlier.

Conditions were very testing and would have gone against many of the runners, including First Classs. Lady Princess had no such worries having won the Qatar Arabian Trophy

des Juments on heavy in 2020 and, partnered again by Jim Crowley, she was settled at the rear of the substantial field, along with Ebraz.

Khateer Alkhalediah set the pace, however he was not fast enough for the hard-pulling Soko, who briefly headed the field, before Hattal took it up on the rail to go clear 300m from home. First Classs tried to challenge, but was bettered by the old rivals Ebraz and Lady Princess, who played their hands late as usual, up the centre of the course.

At the 100m metre pole, Lady Princess had Ebraz’s measure, as age, and no doubt the two-kilo weight allowance, took their toll, but it was typical of Ebraz to go down fighting, the king carried out on his shield, the most gallant of adversaries to the acknowledged queen. Djafar, in the colours of Abdullah bin Fahad Al-Attiyah, kept on for third place. Lady Princess gave Al Kuwari and Crowley a first success in the race, however it was now Fourcy’s third win in a row and fifth overall, equalling Julian Smart’s previous record.

SAHAB WORKS HARD IN THE TROPHY DES JUMENTS

The previous day, Sahab, also trained by Fourcy and racing for Mohammed bin Fahad Al-Thani, impressed in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (G1PA). Though her final winning margin over Al Wasmiyah Racing’s Monda was a diminishing length, and she had to work hard to escape the pack entering the home straight, but in a matter of strides was readily in the lead 400m out.

Athbah Stud’s Sultana kept on solidly to the line to keep Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Wakrah in third place.

TROPHY DES POULICHES GOES AL SHAQAB RACING’S WAY

Friday’s Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (G1PA) at Saint-Cloud was dominated by Al Shaqab Racing, the team securing a one-two with the Fourcy-trained Nour Al Maury winning by three-quarters of a length from Mezown,

whilst Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s No Tear Al Maury finished just over a length away in third. The win was also a notable first European PA Group 1 success for jockey Faleh Bughenaim.

AL GHADEER: THE SON OF AL MOURTAJEZ IMPRESSIVE

In the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (G1PA), Al Ghadeer confirmed himself as the most promising son from the first crop of world champion racehorse Al Mourtajez. He had won the Al Rayyan Cup by an impressive 5l on his first start in Al Wasmiyah’s colours in August, and was strongly fancied at Saint-Cloud. As in the fillies’ contest, the field came over to the stands’ side in search of better ground, but it could not stop Francois Rohaut’s charge, who won eased down by 2l from Madrassa, with a further 3l back to was Joe Star.

Zoom Art & Design is a Qatar based creative services and logistic solutions firm specialized in Conferences, Live Events, Sport Events, Exhibitions and Corporate Events. Started in 2000, over the past 23 years through our success Zoom Art & Design has grown in prominence to be Qatar’s leading company in this field.

We believe in the power of ideas. For over two decades our work has been defined by a singular belief – everything is possible. This is achievable only with access to appropriate resources. By focusing on building our human and technical assets, Zoom has been able to deliver nearly 4,000 turnkey projects and events for Qatari brands and institutions domestically and around the world.

ALMAS (QA)

CHESTNUT, 1999, TO STUD 2011

GR.1 WINNER OF H.H. THE EMIR’S SWORD AND H.H. THE HEIR APPARENT TROPHY HALF BROTHER TO JAAFER, MULTIPLE GR.1 WINNER WHO ALSO WON THE EMIR’S SWORD FROM THE FAMILY OF SIRES DJAMEL, DORMANE, MEBROUK AND MADJEL

QATAR NATIONAL STUD STALLIONS

DEBAAL (USA)

CHESTNUT, 2011, TO STUD 2021

A FULL-BROTHER TO TALENTED TM FRED TEXAS, WHO WAS A THREE-TIME GROUP 1PA WINNER OF THE UAE CUP STAKES (TWICE) AND THE DUBAI KAHAYLA CLASSIC, THE BEST 4-YO COLT AND HORSE OF THE YEAR 2011 IN USA. DAM IS AN UNRACED HALF-SISTER TO ATEEJ, RUNNERUP IN THE QATAR INTERNATIONAL CUP

MU’AZZAZ

(QA)

GREY, 2004, TO STUD 2013

A NINE-TIME WINNER, INCLUDING THE GROUP 1PA WINNER OF THE DUBAI INTERNATIONAL STAKES, THE GROUP 2PA INTERNATIONAL STAKES AND THE AL ROMAIHI CUP. FULL-BROTHER TO THE BRILLIANT 19-TIME WINNER EBRAZ, A THREE-TIME HH AMIR SWORD WINNER, AND MARED AL SAHRA, ALSO WINNER OF THE HH THE AMIR SWORD

PHARFADET (FR)

CHESNUT, 2006, TO STUD 2012

HALF BROTHER TO QATAR OAKS WINNER MAXENSSE, OUT OF THE SIX TIME GR.1 WINNER MY PRINCESSE FROM A STRONG GR.1 WINNING FAMILY THAT INCLUDES THE SIRES DJEBBEL, MAJD EL ARAB AND DJELMIDOR

MEBROUK (FR)

CHESTNUT, 1996, TO STUD 2010

GR.1 AND TRACK RECORD SETTING WINNER OF H.H. THE EMIR’S SWORD FULL BROTHER TO DORMANE, CHAMPION ARABIAN RACING SIRE OF HIS GENERATION OUT OF THE INFLUENTIAL FOUNDATION MARE MANDORE AND BY CHAMPION MANGANATE

MAHJOOD (FR)

CHESTNUT, 2018, TO STUD 2023

HALF-BROTHER TO 19-TIME WINNER, EIGHT-TIME G1 WINNER, THREE-TIME HH THE AMIR SWORD (G1 PA) WINNER EBRAZ, AS WELL AS THE G1 PA WINNERS MARED AL SAHRA, MU’AZZAZ (SEE ABOVE) AND RAAHAH

HARRAN (GB)

CHESTNUT, 2007, TO STUD 2016

WINNER OF INTERNATIONAL DERBY (G1 PA). RAN 46 TIMES TO WIN NINE RACES, PLACED 23 TIMES. HALFBROTHER TO HH THE AMIR SWORD WINNER AZIZ ASFS

SAND VICTOR (USA)

GREY, 2011, TO STUD 2021

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

MARED AL SHARA (GB)

GREY, 2002, TO STUD 2009

HH THE AMIR SWORD WINNER AND THREE-TIME G1 PA WINNER, SIX TIME G1 PA PLACED. SIRE OF G1 PA WINNER CHADDAD AND G2 PA WINNER JUMUH

BOBY

DI

JOB BAY, 2008, TO STUD 2014

TOUGH AND CONSISTENT CHAMPION 2YO HAVING WON OR PLACED IN ALL 8 CAREER STARTS FULL BROTHER TO 3 TIME URUGUAYAN CHAMPION GANDHI DI JOB BY THE CLASSIC PRODUCING SIRE, JOB DI CAROLINE, HIMSELF A GRANDSON OF DUAL CLASSIC WINNER THE MINSTREL

ERDOGAN

(GB)

BAY, 2014, TO STUD 2020

ONE OF THE BEST BRED HORSES IN THE WORLD! BY A SUPERSTAR OUT OF A SUPERSTAR BY THE LEGENDARY FRANKEL, OUT OF ONE OF THE BEST FEMALE FAMILIES AROUND, MULTIPLE GR.1 WINNER DAR RE MI IS DAM OF CHAMPION 2YO, TOO DARN HOT, LAH TI DAR, SO MI DAR AND DE TREVILLE

THOROUGHBRED

VALE OF YORK (IRE) 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

THOROUGHBRED

REDBACK (GB) CHESNUT,

1999, TO STUD 2003

THE SIRE OF GR.1 E P TAYLOR STAKES WINNER AND IRISH 1000 GUINEAS RUNNER-UP, LAHALEEB, QUEEN MARY STAKES WINNER, GILDED AND QATAR DERBY AND OAKS WINNER, LADYANNE A GROUP WINNER AT TWO AND THREE YEARS AND CLASSIC-PLACED BBY MARK OF ESTEEM, 2000 GUINEAS WINNER AND SIRE OF EPSOM DERBY WINNER, SIR PERCY

THOROUGHBRED

AFANDEM (FR)

BAY, 2014, TO STUD 2022

THIRD IN THE GRADE 1 SECRETARIAT STAKES AND A WINNER AT TWO. WINNING DAM IS A HALF-SISTER TO THE TOP CLASS GERMAN GROUP 1 WINNER ELLIPTIQUE AND BY THE STRONG SIRE INFLUENCE ZOFFANY

THOROUGHBRED

WINDSOR PALACE (IRE)

BAY, 2005, TO STUD 2014

WON THE GR.3 MOORESBRIDGE STAKES BEATING SIX-TIME GR.1 WINNER, ST NICHOLAS ABBEY. ALSO THIRD IN THE GR.1 TATTERSALLS GOLD CUP BY CHAMPION SIRE DANEHILL DANCER

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 MEANDRE FROM THE FAMILY OF GROUP 1 WINNERS, AND SIRES, VICAR, ASTRONOMER ROYAL AND ITSMYLUCKYDAY

THOROUGHBRED

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