Al Shaqab general manager Khalifa bin Mohammed al-Attiyah receives the winner’s trophy from Mo Done after Dubday won Betfred Glorious Stakes in the presence of QREC general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi and Fred Done, the sponsor of the race. PICTURES: Juhaim
By Chris Hoover/Chichester, England
Qatar’s champion trainer Jassim al-Ghazali tasted his maiden success in the European circuit with Al Shaqab Racing’s Dubday claiming victory under Frankie Dettori in the Betfred Glorious Stakes in the opening event of the penultimate day’s racing of the Qatar Goodwood Festival at the Goodwood Racecourse yesterday.
Dubday won Qatar’s most prestigious race, HH The Emir’s Trophy, for the second time in Doha in February and has acquitted himself well in two Listed contests in Britain this summer. He was second to Telescope at Newbury in May and was beaten by a head by Gospel Choir at Newmarket on June 27. He has also won four other races in Qatar to maintain an unbeaten record.
Dubday and Dettori returned to the winner’s enclosure to the cheers of the Qatari delegation that has assembled here in huge numbers.
Dettori rode a patient race aboard Dubday for much of the mile-and-a-half contest before switching wide to mount his challenge halfway up the home straight.
That move proved crucial as favourite The Corsican looked to be cantering on the far side of the track, only to find the gap closing in front of him and he ended up caught in a pocket.
Once in the clear, The Corsican began to motor home, but Dubday was already away and gone and passed the post three-quarters of a length ahead of the favourite.
“This win is for Qatar. Dubday has given me the first win abroad and I am delighted with this victory. My congratulations to HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani and the whole team. Dubday had finished second to some good horses earlier in Newbury and Newmarket and today he was simply superb to win the way he did. It is a very special race for me as this Festival is being held under Qatar’s sponsorship. It is not easy to win a Group race in the UK, but Dubday has done it for us. He is an amazing horse,” a delighted Ghazali told the Gulf Times.
“This is an amazing win and this absolutely tops it all. The Qatar champion comes to Goodwood and delivers, it is simply unbelievable. To win here in front of this fabulous crowd and on the first year of Qatar’s sponsorship is sensational. It is a wonderful training achievement for Jassim al-Ghazali,” Al Shaqab racing consultant Harry Herbert said.
Winning jockey Dettori, celebrating his third success of the five day Festival, said, “It is the first winner for Qatar in the UK and I take my hat off to trainer Jassim, who has done a fabulous job with Dubday. I am so proud for the team, well done. It means a lot for everyone. This was the main target and it has come off.
“I thought it was going to be a bit tricky, so I angled him out wide and in fairness, he picked up really well. He just idles a bit in front, but when he heard The Corsican coming he put his head down and ran on. He showed guts and determination and is a decent horse. He is a local star in Qatar.
“It is a great victory for us, with the first horse from Qatar to win a Group race in England. It’s fantastic. Qatar is sponsoring this meeting, we have had a fabulous season and it was a big achievement to take this horse from Qatar to here and win,” Dettori added.
Al Shaqab Racing general manager Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Attiya was elated with the success of Dubday. “This is an historical victory for Qatar. Sheikh Joaan is very keen to bring laurels to the country and this victory is dedicated to Qatar. We know the value of this win and trainer Ghazali deserves this victory as he has worked hard towards it.”
After The Corsican had finished three-quarters of a length second, its trainer David Simcock acknowledged that Dubday had been a game winner, saying: “It happens here at Goodwood. Our horse has run really well and picked up well, but the other horse [Dubday] has gone again when we got to his quarters. We were level with [third-placed] Windshear, but we’ve gone away from him, but the winner went too.
“Ours is an improving horse and he’s run extremely well and fair play to him.”
