Mister Ginoux wins Qatar International Trophy

Sheikh Tamim bin Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani and Sheikh Hamad bin Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani hold the trophy as QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani (third from right), QREC vice-chairman Abdul Aziz al-Malki (second from right) and QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain (right) look on at the QREC yesterday. Right: Mister Ginoux, with French Jockey Julien Auge is led in after winning the Qatar International Trophy at the QREC yesterday.

By Chris Hoover/DohaAl Shaqab Racing’s Qatar Derby winner Mister Ginoux (Amer-Nacree Al Maury) prevailed by half length over Al Anga to win the QR one million Qatar International Trophy, a Group I Pure Arabian race for four years old and over, which featured the races at the Qatar racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.Though Mister Ginoux was going into this race without the benefit of a race run since his Derby run in December, he carried enough fitness to produce a winning gallop to down the aspirations of Al Shahania Stud’s Al Anga, who came through a rough passage but failed to collar the winner. French jockey Julien Auge rode a brilliant race, producing Mister Ginoux in the nick of time to annex the coveted trophy. The Thomas Fourcy trained Mister Ginoux was an experienced horse having run with the best horses in the European circuit. His victory in the French Arabian Breeders Challenge Poulains in Toulouse, France in October 2014 was indicative of his immense talent and accordingly he was strongly fancied by his connections. He surely did not disappoint. “It was a fantastic finish because it looked as though he was beaten but he came back to win. It was a great victory. I was not that confident with two or three furlongs out but it is amazing to see the turn of foot the horse showed. In the end, he was a very impressive winner. But he had to do it the hard way. Al Shaqab has a great team and trainer Fourcy has a brilliant success rate which is quite staggering for the last year or so,” Al Shaqab Racing Consultant Harry Herbert told the Gulf Times. Speaking about the prospects of Al Shaqab at the Dubai Racing Carnival, Herbert said. “Toast Of New York is coming along well for the Dubai World Cup. The preparations have been going on pretty well. From America, Todd Fletcher is preparing Mshawish but I am not sure whether he will run in the Godolphin mile or any other race. We will make a decision on that fairly soon. Dubday after his run here tomorrow may go for the Gold Cup, the long distance race. This race might give him the best chance. We are all hoping for the best for the future.”