In a scintillating finale to the three-day His Highness The Amir Sword Festival, Lady Princess bagged the biggest prize in Qatar that was missing from her CV when the brilliant Arabian racemare clinched the Amir Sword for Purebred at Al Rayyan Park Saturday.
Jockey Jim Crowley guided Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned favourite Lady Princess to a thrilling victory, which was the six-year-old’s third victory in last four outings. Lady Princess had finished third at last year’s Amir Sword race but since then had won Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood and the Jewel Crown in Abu Dhabi, making her a top favourite Saturday.
The five leading contenders, the defending champion Mon’nia, a three-time winner of the prestigious title Ebraz, Munir Du Soleit, Abbes and Lady Princess all found themselves towards the rear in the early stages.
However, Lady Princess – piloted by Crowley and trained by Frenchman Thomas Fourc – came with a late strong run to collar her rival Abbes and powered her way to the finish line in the 2400m run. Maxime Guyon-guided Ebraz came third in the sensational Group 1 Purebred Arabian – the third leg of the Triple Crown. Mwarid and Mon’nia settling on fourth and fifth positions respectively.
The races were attended by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who crowned the winners of the high-profile races on final day of the three-day festival.
Lady Princess’ victory also completed a grand double for owner Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari and jockey Crowley, who earlier claimed the HH The Amir Silver Sword with Moshrif. The winners got richer by $570,000, while the runners-up received $220,000 with third-place winners walking away with $110,000.
Lady Princess
Outbox stuns favourites to clinch HH The Amir Trophy
Ahead of the HH The Amir Trophy – Saturday’s first major race over the exact distance and the same prize-pot – a lot of favourites were mentioned including the last year’s winner Noor Al Hawa and Hellenistique.
But it was the lowest-rated Outbox, steered by Hollie Doyle, who defied big guns to win HH The Amir Trophy by half-length for trainer Archie Watson. “Outbox ran a cracker but she (Hollie Doyle) gave him a great ride. She got him out and into a good position and he travelled well the whole leg. Really good,” Watson told Gulf Times.
Praising Qatar’s organisation, the British trainer said she loved the atmosphere on a “brilliant” racing day. “Lovely day for racing, a great place to be and a good trip to come over to Doha. My first time here in Qatar straight from the UK, and it is fantastic, a great atmosphere here and everyone’s very welcoming to us. It’s been really, really good,” she added.
Outbox became the second horse to carry the Hambleton Racing silks to victory in Qatar. Ridden handily throughout the one mile four furlong contest, Doyle kept things simple on the seven-year-old gelding, sending him into the lead rounding the home bend and keeping French challenger Mutabahi at bay by half a length at the line. Fellow Team British Racing traveller Fox Tal picked up third place honours for Andrew Balding and owners King Power Racing Ltd.
Outbox followed in the hoofprints of former stablemate Maystar, who won the Al Rayyan Stakes at Doha in 2019. The result means that both horses that Watson has so far selected to compete at Doha have brought home Qatari riches for their connections. Noor Al Hawa, ridden by Alberto Sanna, ended up on fourth spot while Tomas Lukasek-helmed In the Night completed the top 5 club.
Meanwhile, Moshrif was in a class of his own as the colt – ridden by Crowley – stormed to one-and-a-half-length victory in the $250,000 HH The Amir Silver Sword. The Francois Rohaut-trained four-year-old dominated the race as he completed a clear win over Guyon-guided Sahab and Monda – ridden by Tom Marquand – who finished second and third respectively.
Also Saturday, HH The Amir Shalfa honours went to Marquand-steered Thunderstone, who pipped Always Waitin – guided by Marco Casamento – by quarter-of-a-length to bag a win for trainer Jassim Ghazali. Eduardo Pedroza-guided Pazeer secured third position in the race.
Earlier, Guyon, who won Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup title with Pao Alto on the second day, bagged victory for Ghazali, riding Nuance to a dominant win in Al Rayyan Mile – Thoroughbreds (Class 1).
It was third title of the day for jockey Guyon, who rode Samlla to a big triumph at the Qatar International Cup, and Black Pearl to another commanding win at the Al Rayyan Breeders Cup.
Taxiwala, with Ronan Thomas in the saddle, also notched up a title, winning the Dukhan Sprint.
RESULTS
HH The Amir Sword
(Gr 1 PA) – Purebred
Arabians (3rd Leg of the Triple Crown) $1,000,000 2400m (For 4YO & Up)
His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with the winners of HH The Amir Sword Festival at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park Saturday.
Jockey Jim Crowley guided Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned favourite Lady Princess to a thrilling victory, which was the six-year-old’s third victory in last four outings. Lady Princess had finished third at last year’s Amir Sword race but since then had won Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood and the Jewel Crown in Abu Dhabi, making her a top favourite Saturday.
The five leading contenders, the defending champion Mon’nia, a three-time winner of the prestigious title Ebraz, Munir Du Soleit, Abbes and Lady Princess all found themselves towards the rear in the early stages.
However, Lady Princess – piloted by Crowley and trained by Frenchman Thomas Fourc – came with a late strong run to collar her rival Abbes and powered her way to the finish line in the 2400m run. Maxime Guyon-guided Ebraz came third in the sensational Group 1 Purebred Arabian – the third leg of the Triple Crown. Mwarid and Mon’nia settling on fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Connections of Outbox celebrate after the seven-year-old gelding won HH The Amir Trophy.
The races were attended by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who crowned the winners of the high-profile races on final day of the three-day festival.
Lady Princess’ victory also completed a grand double for owner Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari and jockey Crowley, who earlier claimed the HH The Amir Silver Sword with Moshrif. The winners got richer by $570,000, while the runners-up received $220,000 with third-place winners walking away with $110,000.
Lady Princess
Outbox stuns favourites to clinch HH The Amir Trophy
Ahead of the HH The Amir Trophy – Saturday’s first major race over the exact distance and the same prize-pot – a lot of favourites were mentioned including the last year’s winner Noor Al Hawa and Hellenistique.
But it was the lowest-rated Outbox, steered by Hollie Doyle, who defied big guns to win HH The Amir Trophy by half-length for trainer Archie Watson. “Outbox ran a cracker but she (Hollie Doyle) gave him a great ride. She got him out and into a good position and he travelled well the whole leg. Really good,” Watson told Gulf Times.
Praising Qatar’s organisation, the British trainer said she loved the atmosphere on a “brilliant” racing day. “Lovely day for racing, a great place to be and a good trip to come over to Doha. My first time here in Qatar straight from the UK, and it is fantastic, a great atmosphere here and everyone’s very welcoming to us. It’s been really, really good,” she added.
Connections of Lady Princess celebrate after the six-year-old mare won the HH The Amir Sword for Thoroughbreds at Al Rayyan Park Saturday
Outbox became the second horse to carry the Hambleton Racing silks to victory in Qatar. Ridden handily throughout the one mile four furlong contest, Doyle kept things simple on the seven-year-old gelding, sending him into the lead rounding the home bend and keeping French challenger Mutabahi at bay by half a length at the line. Fellow Team British Racing traveller Fox Tal picked up third place honours for Andrew Balding and owners King Power Racing Ltd.
Outbox followed in the hoofprints of former stablemate Maystar, who won the Al Rayyan Stakes at Doha in 2019. The result means that both horses that Watson has so far selected to compete at Doha have brought home Qatari riches for their connections. Noor Al Hawa, ridden by Alberto Sanna, ended up on fourth spot while Tomas Lukasek-helmed In the Night completed the top 5 club.
Meanwhile, Moshrif was in a class of his own as the colt – ridden by Crowley – stormed to one-and-a-half-length victory in the $250,000 HH The Amir Silver Sword. The Francois Rohaut-trained four-year-old dominated the race as he completed a clear win over Guyon-guided Sahab and Monda – ridden by Tom Marquand – who finished second and third respectively.
Also Saturday, HH The Amir Shalfa honours went to Marquand-steered Thunderstone, who pipped Always Waitin – guided by Marco Casamento – by quarter-of-a-length to bag a win for trainer Jassim Ghazali. Eduardo Pedroza-guided Pazeer secured third position in the race.
Earlier, Guyon, who won Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup title with Pao Alto on the second day, bagged victory for Ghazali, riding Nuance to a dominant win in Al Rayyan Mile – Thoroughbreds (Class 1).
It was third title of the day for jockey Guyon, who rode Samlla to a big triumph at the Qatar International Cup, and Black Pearl to another commanding win at the Al Rayyan Breeders Cup.
Taxiwala, with Ronan Thomas in the saddle, also notched up a title, winning the Dukhan Sprint.
RESULTS
HH The Amir Sword
(Gr 1 PA) – Purebred
Arabians (3rd Leg of the Triple Crown) $1,000,000 2400m (For 4YO & Up)
Horse, Trainer, Jockey :
1. Lady Princess (FR); Thomas Fourcy, France; Jim Crowley
2. Abbes (FR); Alban Elie De Mieulle; Olivier Peslier
3. Ebraz (GB); Rudy Andre Nerbonne; Maxime Guyon.
HH The Amir Trophy (QA Gr 1) Thoroughbreds (Class 1) $1,000,000 2400m (For 4YO & Up)
1. Outbox (GB); Archie Watson, UK; Hollie Doyle
2. Mutabahi (FR); Henri-Alex Pantall, France; Olivier Peslier
3. Fox Tal (GB); Andrew Balding, UK; David Probert
HH The Amir Silver Sword – Purebred Arabians $250,000 1850m (For 4YO Only)
1. Moshrif (FR); Francois Rohaut, France; Jim Crowley
2. Sahab (FR); Alban Elie De Mieulle; Maxime Guyon
3. Monda (FR); Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, France; Tom Marquand
HH The Amir Shalfa –
Thoroughbred Open Handicap (Class2) $250,000
2000m (For 4YO & Up)
1. Thunderstone (IRE); Jassim Ghazali; Tom Marquand
2. Always Waitin (USA); Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain; Marco Casamento
3. Pazeer (FR); Bader al-Balushi; Eduardo Pedroza
Al Rayyan Mile (QA Gr2) Thoroughbreds (Class 1) $250,000
1600m (For 3YO only)
1. Nuance (GB); Jassim Ghazali; Maxime Guyon
2. Scherzo (FR); Georges Mikhalides; Tom Marquand
3. General Panic (GB); Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki; Tomas Lukasek
Dukhan Sprint (QA Gr 3) Thoroughbreds (Class 1) $250,000
1200m (For 3YO Only)
1. Taxiwala (IRE); Osama al-Dafea; Ronan Thomas
2. Regional (GB); Edward Bethell, UK; Kevin Stott
3. X Force (IRE); Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki; Tomas Lukasek
Qatar International Cup (Gr1) Purebred Arabians $250,000 1600m (For 4YO & Up)
1. Samlla (FR); Francois Rohaut, France; Maxime Guyon
2. Jabalah (FR); Alban Elie De Mieulle; Ronan Thomas
3. Djafar (FR); Jassim Ghazali; David Allan
Al Rayyan Breeders Cup – Local Thoroughbreds $250,000
2000m Turf (For 4YO & Up)
1. Black Pearl; Bader al-Balushi; Maxime Guyon
2. Equinoxe; Alban Elie De Mieulle; Ronan Thomas
3. Shaman Bu Thaila; Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki; Tomas Lukasek
1. Lady Princess (FR); Thomas Fourcy, France; Jim Crowley
2. Abbes (FR); Alban Elie De Mieulle; Olivier Peslier
3. Ebraz (GB); Rudy Andre Nerbonne; Maxime Guyon.
HH The Amir Trophy (QA Gr 1) Thoroughbreds (Class 1) $1,000,000 2400m (For 4YO & Up)
1. Outbox (GB); Archie Watson, UK; Hollie Doyle
2. Mutabahi (FR); Henri-Alex Pantall, France; Olivier Peslier
3. Fox Tal (GB); Andrew Balding, UK; David Probert
HH The Amir Silver Sword – Purebred Arabians $250,000 1850m (For 4YO Only)
1. Moshrif (FR); Francois Rohaut, France; Jim Crowley
2. Sahab (FR); Alban Elie De Mieulle; Maxime Guyon
3. Monda (FR); Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, France; Tom Marquand
HH The Amir Shalfa –
Thoroughbred Open Handicap (Class2) $250,000
2000m (For 4YO & Up)
1. Thunderstone (IRE); Jassim Ghazali; Tom Marquand
2. Always Waitin (USA); Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain; Marco Casamento
3. Pazeer (FR); Bader al-Balushi; Eduardo Pedroza
Al Rayyan Mile (QA Gr2) Thoroughbreds (Class 1) $250,000
1600m (For 3YO only)
1. Nuance (GB); Jassim Ghazali; Maxime Guyon
2. Scherzo (FR); Georges Mikhalides; Tom Marquand
3. General Panic (GB); Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki; Tomas Lukasek
Dukhan Sprint (QA Gr 3) Thoroughbreds (Class 1) $250,000
1200m (For 3YO Only)
1. Taxiwala (IRE); Osama al-Dafea; Ronan Thomas
2. Regional (GB); Edward Bethell, UK; Kevin Stott
3. X Force (IRE); Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki; Tomas Lukasek
Qatar International Cup (Gr1) Purebred Arabians $250,000 1600m (For 4YO & Up)
1. Samlla (FR); Francois Rohaut, France; Maxime Guyon
2. Jabalah (FR); Alban Elie De Mieulle; Ronan Thomas
3. Djafar (FR); Jassim Ghazali; David Allan
Al Rayyan Breeders Cup – Local Thoroughbreds $250,000
2000m Turf (For 4YO & Up)
1. Black Pearl; Bader al-Balushi; Maxime Guyon
2. Equinoxe; Alban Elie De Mieulle; Ronan Thomas
3. Shaman Bu Thaila; Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki; Tomas Lukasek