Fouladh, Al Mujahaz are top contenders

Alban de Mieulle trained Fouladh and George Mikhalides saddled Al Mujahaz will once again be pitched against each other in the HH The Heir Apparent Sword race at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club tomorrow.

By Chris Hoover/Doha

Alban de Mieulle trained Fouladh and George Mikhalides saddled Al Mujahaz are the top contenders in the HH The Heir Apparent Sword race for local bred Pure Arabian horses, which features the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club tomorrow. 

Fouladh, will be ruuning in a 2,200 metres race for the first time, but the five-year-old colt has enough class to tackle this disadvantage. The son of Amer out of Jaljalah, Fouladh has been an outstanding performer thus far. He deadheated with Al Mujahaz for the top honours in HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa al-Thani Trophy. He has been unbeaten in his previous three starts, having won nine and placed second four times in his 14 outings. Will Fouladh be able to tackle the grueling trip is what bothers his connections.

“Fouladh has not run a 2,200 metres race till now. He has the potential to win here but we need to see how he tackles the step up in distance. Among the other two runners in the fray, Al Mujahaz and Iftekhar are capable of extending the best. This is going to be an exciting race where we have to beat these challengers. However, I still fancy Fouladh to win here as I feel he will stay the distance,” trainer de Mieulle told the Gulf Times.

The one runner who can really test Fouladh to the hilt is Sheikh Hamad bin Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani owned Al Mujahaz who very nearly beat Fouladh over a mile in his previous start. Bred to stay, Al Mujahaz (Hafid Du Bac-Kerjam) had won the 2,000 National Day Trophy beating the in-form Dahash by nearly three lengths. Over staying trips, Al Mujahaz has a slender edge over Fouladh. Considering the fact that he has been shining in the preparatory workouts, he should make this an interesting finish in this event which offers QR 800,000 in prize money.

Al Mujahaz trainer George Mujahaz was quite optimistic about his ward’s chances in the coveted classic. “This is going to be a re-match between Al Mujahaz and Fouladh and will be an interesting race. Though these two could not be separated in the photo finish last time, I hope we can beat them this time. There are some more quality horses in the race and all of them have a chance to win,” Mikhalides said.

The Heir Apparent Trophy, a Group II Pure Arabian race, which is the other highlight of the day, has a very open look about it. Reputations have often taken a tumble with late-maturing but classic-placed horses, favoured by the terms of the race, coming up trumps in the race.

Umm Qarn’s Tabarak who has won seven of his eight starts, should lift the coveted trophy barring the unforeseen. Having said this, one must stress that Tabarak is not going to have it easy as there are quite a few accomplished runners from Al Shahania Stud, which are capable of raising a winning gallop. While the Alban trainee should win as per the script, if there is any upset, then the beneficiary could be Julian Smart saddled Aziz, Mkeefa and Rathowan. The trio have been out of form but could regain the winning touch when it matters most.

“Tabarak has been one of our best horses at Umm Qarn. He has proved his mettle with seven wins in eight starts, but we are wary of the challenge of Al Shahania Stud who have very good horses running in this race. I think they will be fit and ready now. It will be a tough race,” trainer de Mieulle explained.

Al Shahania Stud’s Aziz, Mkeefa and Rathowan have the opportunity to have a big say in the finish but they all have to beat Tabarak.

“Unfortunately we do not have anything good enough to compete in the Thoroughbred or the local bred Pure Arabian races this year. So all our hopes depend on the Pure Arabian race where we are taking on Tabarak. We have a few runners here and hope to do our best. I know everybody is saying where is Shahania this year, but we don’t have a lot of horses. Our best local bred Laheeb Al Shahania is recovering from an operation. Hopefully he will make an appearance during the Emir Sword weekend. Our only real shot is at the Pure Arabian race and the horse at the moment is Tabarak. Umm Qarn have been having a great season this year. Our horses are running into form as the season has gone by, so if we are not ready for the Heir Apparent weekend, we hope to be ready for the Emir Sword weekend,” Al Shahania Stud trainer Julian Smart said.

The QR 600,000  HH The Heir Apparent Trophy for Thoroughbred (Group I) seems to be in the safe keeping of Umm Qarn’s Very Nice Name, who has been unbeaten since he began his Qatar campaign this season. The only realistic challengers to Very Nice Name would be Yousef Bentaher schooled Amico Mio and Jassim al-Ghazali’s Dubawi King.

Umm Qarn have been dominating the season with 46 wins this season. This could well turn out to be another classic weekend where they could clinch all the three big races of the day.