Lady Princess a class above in the HH The Amir Sword

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.