Tribune News Network
Paris
The opening day of Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was held at the ParisLongchamp racecourse on Saturday with a nine-race card, including six group races.
Present at the ParisLongchamp and crowning the winners were HE Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Thani Al Thani - CEO of the Qatar Media Corporation, HE Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi - QREC Chairman, Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah - President of the Asian Equestrian Federation and QREC Vice Chairman, Dr. Ghanim bin Mubarak Al Ali - Assistant Undersecretary of Culture Affairs of the Ministry of Culture, Ahmed bin Mohammed Alabdulmalik - QREC Board Member, Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi - QREC Racing Manager and Ahmed Amanalla Al Sheebani - Director of QREC Support Services Department.
Illinois wins gamely the Qatar Prix Chaudenay
A top class colt, Illinois (Galileo) claimed his second Gr.2 victory when landing the QREC sponsored Gr.2 Prix Chaudenay.
Owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor and trained by Aidan O’Brien, Illinois confirmed previous good runs to win the 3000m contest.
Strongly fancied, the favourite Illinois, ridden by Ryan Moore, made all at a good pace. Niggled along from the false straight, The Irish-trained got headed by Trafalgar Square (Kendargent) just inside the final 300m but rallied gamely to win by two lengths. Trafalgar Square went second while Strassia (Kendargent) ran on for third.
Winning trainer said after the race: “He’s lazy but he stays very well. He only does what he has to do. He ran a great race in the Leger last time, we were delighted with his run and this is a lovely race.”
Bred by Coolmore, he is out of Danedrop (Danehill), a half brother to multiple Gr.1 & Arc winner Danedream (Lomitas), a full brother to Gr.3 winner Venice Beach (Galileo) and a full brother to Gr.3 winner Broadway (Galileo).
First Group 1 (PA) for Are’ej in Qatar Arabian Trophy
The Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Juments, saw the YAS Horse Racing Management owned — Are’ej (Dariya) who came to this race on the back of a Gr.3 (PA) winner.
Trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeault who took the two Gr.1 (PA) on Friday at Saint-Cloud, the Purebred Arabian filly continued to improve and is now a Gr.1 (PA) winner.
With Alexis Pouchain in the saddle, Are’ej had to deal with the wide draw but managed to get a prominent position from a slow pace set by Sawarim (Munjiz). Still not pressed on over 300m out, the improving filly showed good attitude when striding on for victory to win by one length. Mantahare (Af Albahar) ran a good race in second while the well fancied Normal Al Maury (Azadi) went third.
The winning jockey said, “Beforehand we wanted to be patient to save her turn of foot. But considering the state of the track it’s hard to come back from behind from a slow pace. So I went in front with Mickael and she did the job very well.”
Kyprios continues his stellar in Qatar Prix du Cadran
Winner of his last five starts, the six-year-old Kyprios (Galileo) landed the Gr.1 Qatar Prix du Cadran for the second time.
Owned by Moyglare, Magnier, Tabor, Smith & Westerberg, the top class colt is now an eight time Gr.1 winner and made it a double on the card for trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore.
Kyprios (Galileo) led the race at an even tempo and looked to be doing the minimum with his ears pricked. With Trueshan (Planteur) trying to challenge the hot favourite entering the final straight, Kyprios found extra to win by two lengths. Trueshan was a brave second while Coltrane (Mastercrafstman) bounced back to form to grab third.
Winning jockey said after the race: “He’s proved himself as an expecional stayer, it would have been a big ask to run him over one mile and half (Arc), a distance he has not been running for so long, he has the talent but he’s a stayer.”
Ramadan bounces back in a fast & furious Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein
After a poor effort in the Gr.1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp when last seen, Ramadan (Le Havre) got back to his best to win the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein.
The Nurlan Bizakov — owned is trained by Christopher Head, and was ridden by stable jockey Aurelien Lemaitre over the 1600m contest.
Always in a prominent position in a strong-run race led by Glady Tiger (Zoffany), the superb colt looked to be suited by the circumstances. After avoiding the tired pacemaker at the end of the false straight, Ramadan gradually closed on the favourite Alcantor (New Bay) and gamely held on to win by three quarter of a length. Andromede (Sea The Stars) finished like a train in second while Alcantor took third.
The winning jockey, said, “There was a lot of pace. My horse likes to be ridden close to the pace though. The other day, it was a hard race when he got tired at the end but we gave him a bit a freshness since and it did him good.”
Grateful wins the Qatar
Prix DE Royallieu
A winner of the Gr.3 Darley Irish EBF Stanerra Stakes earlier this year, the three-year-old filly Grateful (Galileo) carried on improving by winning the QREC sponsored Gr.1 Prix de Royallieu.
Jayarebe proves tough in the Qatar Prix Dollar
Runner-up of the Gr.2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville on last start, Jayarebe (Zoffany) landed his first victory at Gr.2 level by winning the Qatar Prix Dollar.
Trained by Brian Meehan, the three-year-old had smart form in UK and came to this race with big ambitions from connections. Owned by Iraj Parvizi, the thoroughbred was ridden by Sean Levey.
Jayarebe made all at an even tempo with Calif (Areion) traveling on his outside. With the favourite Anmaat (Awtaad) challenging the long time leader, Jayarebe found more to win and beat the strong finisher Almaqam (Lope De Vega) by a head. Birr Castle (Cloth Of Stars) ran on for third.
