HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani owned Treve being ridden to victory in the Prix de Diane at Chantilly recently.
The countdown for the 92nd edition of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend in the first week of October will begin with the running of the Arc Trial races at the Longchamp racecourse in Paris tomorrow.
Boasting a prestigious programme that attracts the world’s most renowned stables and horses, the Qatar Prix de Vermeille, Qatar Prix Foy and Qatar Prix Niel are a veritable springboard for the participants. An exciting prospect is on the cards as the top Thoroughbreds of the world clash to make their mark on the world stage.
HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani owned Treve (Trevise-Anabaa) will try to book her place in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe when she returns to action in the Qatar Prix Vermeille, a 2,000 metres race for three-year-olds.
Treve showed herself to be one of the best of her generation, winning the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) by four lengths at Chantilly to maintain her unbeaten record of three wins in three starts. Madame C Head Maarek schooled Treve will be ridden by Italian jockey Franco Dettori.
Silasol who finished third to Treve in the French Oaks has an opportunity to match strides with the champion filly again, while O’Brien’s Irish and Yorkshire Oaks second Venus De Milo have another shot at the highest level.
Jane Cecil’s Wild Coco also comes into the race with three consecutive victories behind her. Before winning the Blackrock Fillies Stakes at Goodwood on August 1 this year, the Cecil trainee won the DFS Parkhill Stakes at Doncaster and the Ishares Fillies Stakes last year.
After her two recent wins in the Group Two Prix de la Nonette Shadwell and Group Three Prix De Psyche at Deauville, Godolphin’s Tasaday comes into reckoning in this 2,400 metres race. The Fabre tranee will be ridden by Mickael Barzalona.
German Oaks winner Penelopa is another eyecatching runner along with the other Fabre contender and Prix Jean Romanet winner Romantica.
Flintshire leads a field of 12 for the Qatar Prix Niel. Andre Fabre’s charge emerged as a leading candidate for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after winning the Grand Prix de Paris back in July, supplementing an earlier win in a Chantilly Group Three. Apart from Flintshire (Maxime Guyon astride), Fabre has Ocovango, Vancouverite and Triple Threat in the fray.
Japanese Derby winner Kizuna is unbeaten in his last three starts but most likely needs the race having been off the track since his Classic success at the end of May. The Sasaki trainee will have Japanese rider Totaka Take on the saddle.
Aidan O’Brien’s Epsom Derby winner Ruler Of The World is another formidable contender. Though he could only finish fifth in the Irish Derby, the O’Brien trainee is capable of a much better performance. Ruler Of The World has been entrusted to jockey Ryan Moore.
Alain de Royer-Dupre has a contestant in Shirkapour while Pascal Bary also has a couple of contenders in Preempt and Spirit Jim. Also in the fray is Max Dynamite.
Last year’s runner-up in the Arc, the Japanese runner Orfevre, is set to get his European campaign rolling in the Qatar Prix Foy, which he won last year. The Y. Ikee trained Orfevre will be ridden by French saddle artist Christophe Soumillon.
The Group Two race for older horses features Aidan O’Brien’s dual Derby winner Camelot, while 2011 Melbourne Cup and Hong Kong Vase winner Dunaden, sporting the colours of Pearl Bloodstock go into the race with huge reputations. Camelot will be partnered by Ryan Moore, while Dunaden will be ridden by James Peter Spencer.
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani owned Very Nice Name after an extraordinary campaign in Qatar with five wins and later finishing a credible third to St Nicholas Abbey in the Sheema Classic in Dubai, will be hoping to make his mark in this elite company. The Alban de Mieulle trained Very Nice Name will be ridden by champion jockey Oliver Peslier.
Mandour, Now We Can, Stellar Wind, Going Somewhere, Haya Landa and Pirika also feature on the 10-strong list.
