The 2023 renewals of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Qatar Prix Denouste, a 1500m Maiden for three-year-old Purebred Arabian Colts and Geldings, and Qatar Prix Djebellaa II, a 1500m Maiden for three-year-old Purebred Arabian Fillies, were run at Tarbes Racecourse, France, on Thursday.
As ever, the two events were exciting and proved they could be steppingstones towards the upcoming Group races of the year, especially as some promising Arabians were on display in the two fields.
Ghassan II gets off the mark with ease
A largely anticipated success, the three-year-old purebred Arabian Ghassan II (Tabarak x Coulha Zine) carried the colours of his owner and breeder, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa al-Thani to victory in the Qatar Prix Denouste.
In a 1500m contest, reserved to colts and gelding who had never previously won, the Didier Guillemin trained Ghassan II was heavily supported in the market and was bidding to go one better than his second placed finish at Bordeaux on his debut three weeks earlier.
Ridden by Clement Merille and quickly getting across from his wide draw, Ghassan II tracked the early leader Zeinark (Manark) through the opening section of the contest and travelled strongly. With his ten rivals covered on the turn into the straight, the colt was asked for an effort by Merille and was soon in command.
Ghassan II crossed the line with two lengths to spare over the E. Pouey and L. Rouzand owned and C. Courtade trained Schalimar d’Ibos (Al Tair), who was ridden by Mickael Forest. The Haras De Mandore owned and D. Watrigant trained Zeinark completed the frame as he was further two and a half lengths behind in third under jockey Fabrice Veron.
Speaking after the race, the winning trainer Didier Guillemin said: “Ghassan II ran a nice on debut and followed up well here. He is a very good-looking horse with plenty of class. He is quite powerful and takes his work well. They are all very good signs for the future and he could be quite nice.”
Kavala De Bouzouls wins in style
Earlier on the day, proving extremely professional for her racecourse debut, the three-year-old purebred Arabian Kavala De Bouzouls (AF Al Buraq x Udoka De Bozouls) let her rivals a merry dance before taking the Qatar Prix Djebella II.
Trained by Philippe Sogorb, ridden by Alejandro Gutierrez Val and sporting the colours of her owner Marcel Mezy, Kavala De Bozouls faced seven rivals for the 1500m contest, six of whom were also making their racecourse debut.
Lightly supported in the market pre-race, Kavala De Bozouls was sharp away from stall five and sent straight into the lead by Gutierrez Val. Travelling strongly throughout, the bay filly maintained her advantage all the way to post and scored comfortably by half a length. The Patricia Musial owned and J. De Mieulle trained AJS Zehba (Josco Du Cayrou) finished a very good runner-up under jockey Alexandre Gavilan. Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Anasheed (Al Mamun Monlau), trained by JF. Bernard and ridden by Gary Sanchez, showed some late promise to take third as she was a further quarter of a length behind.
Speaking after the contest, winning trainer Philippe Sogorb said: “We haven’t worked her that much, but she has been very professional at home. It was a bit of a last-minute entry, but I thought she would be able for it. She went to the front and the tactics worked well. I think she should progress nicely”.
