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Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Fahda came up with a dazzling performance while clinching the Qatar Arabian Trophy for three-year-old Fillies, which featured the races at the Saint Cloud racecourse in Paris yesterday. |
Jockey Vincent Cheminaud brought the Thomas Fourcy trained Al Fahda into contention in the final furlong and came with devastating strides to overhaul the front runners and win the Euros 100,000 event in virtually the last stride of the race.
QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (right)
presents the Qatar Arabian Trophy to connections of Al Fahda.
With her stablemate and favourite Bint Jakkarta unable to deliver, it was Al Fahda who came to the rescue with a sustained challenge even as Sylvine Al Maury had stolen a march. With the winning post fast approaching, Cheminaud got that extra bit from Al Fahda and edged out Sylvine Al Maury by the shortest of margins.
Bint Jakkarta ran on to finish third ahead of another Qatari challenger Mindza.
“It is fantastic to start on a winning note. It is a great way to start a very important weekend for Al Shaqab. It is terrific to begin our campaign with a first and third finish here. Everybody is absolutely thrilled and though we have no runners tomorrow at Longchamp, Sunday is going to be a big day,” Al Shaqab Racing Consultant Harry Herbert told the Gulf Times.
“We are very pleased with the draw for all our three horses. It is better to be drawn low than too high as the ground quickens up pretty fast. Our horses are in great shape and Wow Signal and Olympic Glory are also ready for the other Group I races. They have been working very well coming into these races. I always thought personally that Olympic Glory will be hard to beat in his favourite seven furlong trip. They will go at a furious pace and that will suit him too. Coming off from a strong pace is very much in his bag. Right now we are looking forward to it and we are hopeful that it will be a massive day for Al Shaqab,” Herbert added.
Jockey Cheminaud had a word of praise for Al Fahda. “She is a good filly and Al Fahda seemed to like the soft going. She will be very good as a four year old will go on to achieve greater success.”
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain was ecstatic with the performance of Al Fahda. “It is a good win for Al Shaqab Racing. My congratulations to HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani and his team.
"It has been good start for Qatar and it is nice to see our horses doing well everywhere. I wish them all the best for two more days of exciting races at Longchamp.”
The Thomas Fourcy saddled Al Mouwaffak effectively tackled the opposition to lift the Group I Qatar Total Arabian Trophy for three-year-old colts, which was the other main event of the day. Lady Wish took the second place ahead of Al Shahania Stud’s Wathah.
