Shaqab’s Snaad takes Prix Barzan

Al Shaqab Racing’s Snaad, ridden by Stephane Pasquier, is led in by Al Shaqab’s racing consultant Harry Herbert (right) after winning the Prix Barzan at Longchamp Racecourse yesterday. Pictures: Juhaim

By Mikhil Bhat/Paris Al Shaqab Racing’s Snaad won the Prix Barzan yesterday as the Qatari contingent had a reason to cheer for on the opening day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris.The Qatari challenge had come up short in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy with HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Gidwa and Al Shaqab’s Bint Jakkarta finishing second and third behind Royal Cavalry of Oman’s Sylvine Al Maury.In the Prix Barzan, French jockey Stephane Pasquier, starting from the seventh gate on the Invincible Spirit progeny, made his move 300m from the end, going past Mihad, Qatar Light and Barbara, to finish two-and-a-half lengths ahead of Ship Rock. Dylar finished third.“Well it is always nice to win at the end of the day,” Al Shaqab Racing’s consultant Harry Herbert told Gulf Times yesterday. “The horses have run well today, they haven’t won but they have run well. The percentages here have been fantastic for Al Shaqab.He added: “Everything is about tomorrow now. We just hope and pray that the mighty Treve can win her third Arc and that would be more important than any percentage.”Earlier, in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy, jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem and his mare Sylvine Al Maury knew they had a target marked on their back, but they stuck to their tasks and took a win ahead of Gidwa and Bint Jakkarta.The favourite, owned by Royal Cavalry of Oman, was led by stablemate Bellone du Croate till right at the beginning of the final straight, even as Gidwa, Bint Jakkarta and Al Shaqab’s Majida jostled for places behind.On the straight, David Michaux, having done his job of a pacemaker on Bellone du Croate, moved aside and let the four go for it.With one and a half furlong to go, Sylvine Al Maury, who had won twice in as many months at La Teste-de-Buch over 1900m coming into yesterday’s 150000 euros race, began pulling away.Leaving it till the end didn’t really work for the Qatari challenge, and Gidwa finished two and a half lengths behind the winner.Julian Smart-trained Gidwa had moved to racing in Europe after three wins in Doha. Her s result yesterday only indicates improvement since her seventh place finish in the Qatar Derby des pur-sang arabe de 4ans (Gr2 PA) and fifth place in the Qatar International Stakes (Gr1 PA).Bint Jakkarta and Majida had finished second and third respectively in the Prix Nevadour (Gr1 PA) behind Sylvine Al Maury in August this year.Yathrib finished fourth yesterday, just like she finished in Prix Nevadour, splitting the Al Shaqab Racing duo with Majida ending up fifth.In Qatar Prix Dollar, Al Waab led for the first half of the race but got overwhelmed by the rest of the field and finished last in the Group II 200000 euro race. Free Port Lux, ridden by Thierry Jarnet and trained by Freddy Head, won the race.In Prix Horse Racing Abroad, Sherida al-Kaabi’s Arabian Peninsula made the best use of a gate 1 start to run third behind Helis and Enjoy the Silence. As the race progressed, Enjoy The Silence grew stronger and eventually won the race as Arabian Peninsula, being ridden by Aurelien Lemaitre, finished seventh.