(From left) QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain, Total E&P Qatar managing director Guillaume Chalmin, Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli and QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani at the Gala Dinner. Right: QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani presents the trophies to Treve’s trainer Criquette Head-Maarek and Al Shaqab representative Nasser al-Sherida.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
Prestigious awards were given away on Tuesday to mark the achievements in 2014 of three outstanding Qatari-owned horses as part of the eight-day HH The Emir 24th International Equestrian Sword Festival staged under the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
An international audience showed their appreciation at a gala dinner held in the St Regis hotel, as Treve, the dual Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Djainka Des Forges, the Qatar Arabian World Cup hero, and Charm Spirit, whose five wins included the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, sponsored by Qipco, at Ascot, were honoured.
Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain welcomed the guests who included US champion trainer Todd Pletcher, Epsom Derby winning trainers Luca Cumani, John Gosden, Sir Michael Stoute and William Haggas.
QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani presented the trophies to the connections of all three champions, representing Al Shaqab Racing for Treve, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani for Djainka Des Forges and HH Sheikh Abdulla bin Khalifa al-Thani for Charm Spirit.
Treve’s trainer Criquette Head-Maarek, who received the trophy alongside Al Shaqab representative Nasser al-Sherida, revealed that the mare had returned to her stable a fortnight ago, in preparation for a season which will see an attempt for a historic third win at the Arc.
She added: “Treve is very well. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani made the decision to keep her in training, after talking to my father, and we will get her ready to do the triple. It has never been done before, but records are there to be beaten.”
Speaking about Djainka Des Forges’ win on Arc de Triomphe day, trainer Julian Smart said: “We have had a lot of great results over the years but to win at Longchamp was exceptional, because it gave massive media attention to Arabian horses.”
Trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Olivier Peslier were on hand to receive the awards for Charm Spirit, and both praised the progress that has been made in racing in Qatar. De Mieulle said: “The difference since I came here in 1995 is fantastic.”
Awards sponsored by Al Shaqab Racing were also made for the Qatar Challenge, in which owners and trainers were invited to nominate five horses to follow in 2014. The first prize worth one million riyals went to Hassan Ali Hassan Al Matwi.
The event also included the draw, which was conducted by 2013 Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli, for the two biggest races of the Qatar season, being run on Thursday 26 February, the HH the Emir’s Trophy for thoroughbreds, worth two million riyals, and the HH the Emir’s Sword for purebred Arabians, worth three million riyals.
Al Shaqab Racing’s Dubday, who will be attempting to repeat last year’s win in the Emir’s Trophy, will start from the widest draw in stall 16. Djainka Des Forges was drawn in stall two in the Emir’s Sword.
