Tribune News Network
Chicester (UK)
In presence of H.E. Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi Chairman of the Qatar Equestrian Club (QREC), the 2024 renewal of the Qatar Goodwood Festival kicked off on Tuesday.
The world-famous five-day Festival is one of the highlights of the flat racing season in the UK and Europe. Held on the world’s most beautiful racecourse, the Festival features class racing, with several black type races bearing the name of Qatar.
The opening day of this year’s edition of the QREC-sponsored Festival had an eight-race card, where top-class racing was on display at the unique racecourse which was built in 1802.
The feature event was the Gr1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes. H.E. Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, crowned the connections of Kyprios, who managed to reclaim his title for the second time, having already won it in 2022.
Present on the opening day as well were Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya, President of the Asian Equestrian Federation and QREC Vice Chairman, Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Attiya, QREC Board Member, Ahmed bin Mohammed Alabdulmalik, QREC Board Member, Abdulla bin Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, Ahmed Al Sheebani QREC Director of Support Services and Salem Khejaim Al Adbi, QREC Director of Public Relations & External Communications and Marketing.
Racing will continue on the second day (Wednesday) of the Festival and the Qatar International Stakes (Gr1 PA) will take centre stage as one of the world’s top Arabian races and the first leg of the Doha Triple Crown.
This race is the first round of the Triple Crown Award launched by Qatar, and is awarded to the owner of the horse that wins the three rounds of the award. The second round is held in the Qatar World Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses in France during the Qatar Arc de Triomphe Prize race, and the Golden Sword of His Highness Amir, which is designated for purebred Arabian horses and is held on the last day of HH the Amir’s Sword Festival in February at the Al Rayyan Racecourse of QREC.
Nine horses have been declared including: the big favourite and title holder Al Ghadeer, who is owned by Al Shaqab Racingas are Al Wakrah and Afjan; Fareedhat El Izz for Al Nujaifi Racing Ltd; Ska de l’Aigle, the representative of Abdullah bin Fahad A H Al Attiyah; Al Zeer onwed by Mohammed bin Fahad AH Al Attiyah; Winds of Fortune and Upstart Crown presented by James Owen and Abiyah Athbah for Dilmun Racing.
Another Goodwood Cup for top class stayer Kyprios
It was the Irish-trained Kyprios (Galileo) who took the Gr.1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival on day one of the meeting.
Owned by Moyglare, Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Westerberg, Kyprios was coming to this race on the back of a Gr.1 success when landing the Gr.1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot when last seen. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, the six-year-old won this race in 2022.
Ridden by loyal partner Ryan Moore, Kyprios was always close to the pace in a race led by Gregory (Golden Horn) early on and Al Qareem (Awtaad) after six furlongs. Traveling confidently in the straight for home the son of Galileo quickly pulled clear to win by four lengths. Sweet William (Sea The Stars) ran on for second. Gregory was a brave third.
"I thought there would be pace with Al Qareem”, said the sinning jockey after the race, "He is usually a free-going horse and it took him a while to get there to get past Gregory. My horse obviously stays well so I was going to be forward anyway. It was all very smooth and you know obviously he has done the track record.”
Bred by Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd, he is out of Polished Gem (Danehill), who is a daughter of Gr.1 winner Trusted Partner (Affirmed) & a half sister to Gr.1 winner Dress To Thrill (Danehill). He is also a half brother to Gr.1 winner Free Eagle (High Chaparral), Gr.2 winner Custom Cut (Notnowcato), Dual Gr.1 winner Search For A Song (Galileo), Gr.2 winner Sapphire (Medicean), Gr.3 winner Falcon Eight (Galileo), Listed winner Amma Grace (Galileo) and Gr.3 winner Valac (Dark Angel).