The well-bred Kiss De Ghazal (Dormane-Kade de Ghazal) effectively tackled the opposition to lift the Group I Qatar Total Arabian Trophy, a 2000 metres race for fillies which featured the races at the Longchamp race course in Paris yesterday.
Haif Mohammed al-Ghatani owned Kiss De Ghazal looked invincible on the basis of her blazing workouts and her eight previous victories and was going into the race with an unbeaten record.
In the event, the John Bernard trained Kiss De Ghazal was brilliantly ridden by Jean Bernard Eyquem to claim the event from Dainet Monlou.and Gharraa.
Jockey Eyquem was overjoyed with the performance of Kiss De Ghazal. “I got to ride the filly quietly as before. The pace of the race was very slow and I tried to make my move in the straight but she did not show the speed that she used to do before. I had to take the stick out for the first time in her career and she responded well and we won easy. She is the best filly I have ridden so far in my career. Kiss De Ghazal is a wonderful horse and a true champion.” Jockey Eyquem told Gulf Times.
Her trainer Bernard was equally elated with her ninth straight victory. “She is an exceptional filly. What can one ask of her. She has won all her nine starts and she looks like only getting better.”
Qatar’s Minister of Cuture, Arts and Heritage HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari visited the Heritage Village at the entrance of the Longchamp race course and was pleased with the arrangements made.
“This a great chance for our ministry to be a part of this global event. Horses are part of our culture and this is the place to be in to showcase our culture to the world. We take this opportunity to introduce Qatari culture to the thousands of visitors to the races.”
In the day’s other action, the talented but fragile Byword showed his class to win the Group Two Prix Dollar giving trainer Andre Fabre the perfect boost ahead of what he hopes is an eighth win in Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Fabre, who has the highly-fancied Meandre in Europe’s most prestigious horse race - watched as Maxime Guyon managed to extricate Byword from an awkward spot and eventually run down favourite and last year’s winner Cirrus des Angles.
The Prix Daniel Wildenstein, named in honour of the hugely successful late owner/breeder - had earlier turned into a thrilling finish as the Freddie Head trained Rajasman got up in the final half furlong to edge the favourite Godolphin’s Rio de la Plata in virtually the last stride of the race.
The first of the four Group II races on the card, the Prix Chaudenay saw HH Aga Khan owned Shankardeh take the honours under Christophe Lemaire for young trainer Mikel Delzangles.
A paltry four runners turned up for the Prix de Royallieu but trainer Roger Charlton’s decision to send over Sea of Heartbreak, after initially being reluctant to, paid off as she came with a late run under Olivier Peslier to pip Miss Crissy at the post.
