Trainer de Miuelle set for greater glory

Trainer Alban de Mieulle (right) leads in Very Nice Name (Oliver Peslier up) after winning HH The Emir’s Trophy at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. Very Nice Name will be one of the two Qatari runners in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the Longchamp racecourse in Paris on October 6

By Chris Hoover/Doha

De Mieulle has been training for Umm Qarn since 1995 and has saddled over 1000 winners in his career that began in France in 1978. Very Nice Name, under the care of de Mieulle, was an outstanding performer in Qatar this year, while remaining unbeaten in five starts and later finishing a credible third to St Nicholas Abbey in the Sheema Classic in Dubai.

Very Nice Name finished ahead of the much accomplished Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden to etch his name in the elite group.  In its latest start, Very Nice Name was second behind Japanese contender Orfevre in the Qatar Prix Foy.  

Last year’s runner-up Orfevre is likely to go into the Euros 4.8 million race as the favourite.

“It has been a dream of mine to saddle a runner in the Arc. Though it has taken a while to come to this level, I am glad that I will be in the Longchamp paddock when Qatari owners will be making their debut in the richest race on turf. I must thank HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani for all the support and trust he has in me. Very Nice Name is a very talented colt and has impressed with each run. I would rate him as one of the top ten in the world,” de Mieulle told the Gulf Times.

“I want to thank everybody for this honour, especially the race sponsor Total E&P Qatar and the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. So for a person who trained only Pure Arabian race horses, going to the Longchamp racecourse is something unbelievable,” said the Frenchman.

Though it could be the beginning of many more glorious years of his career, de Mieulle was glad that Qatar was making its mark in the world of Thoroughbred racing. “Qatar was well known for its Pure Bred racing. It is a well known fact that Qatar is the pioneer when it comes to breeding top class Pure Arabians. Since the last three years, Qatari-owned horses have been making their mark in Thoroughbred racing, They own some of the best colts and fillies in the world. We are ready to compete with the very best and I am sure that Qatari-owned horses will dominate in the near future.”

”This could well be the beginning for me and I hope to be back here next year too.”

Qatar has made giant strides in the world of Thoroughbred racing. Qatari-owned horses have won major classics in the recent past. HE Sheikh Fahad bin Abdulah bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Dunaden began the conquest while winning the Melbourne Cup and the Hong Kong Vase. It was later followed by HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani’s Olympic Glory and Treve who have made their mark as champion horses.

Though de Mieulle hopes that Very Nice Name will make him proud next month, he was candid enough to say that it would be a tough race for his champion colt. “This is one of the biggest races ever and we get to compete with the world’s best horses. Very Nice Name has done very well so far and to be a part of the line-up in the Arc itself is a big achievement. He is in good form and we will hope for the best on October 6.”

Talking about the other Qatari challenger HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-hani -owned Treve, de Mieulle said. “She is a brilliant filly who has been unbeaten in her four starts. She has the class to win here but has to beat many experienced horses. Treve will go on to become one of the best horses in the world in the coming years.”

De Mieulle was a former French army parachuter before he gained a trainer’s license in France in 1976. Given his experience and confidence, de Mieulle is set for greater glory.