The 2016 Qatar International Derby, which will take place on December 28-29, has attracted a host of international runners.On Thursday, December 29, the feature race is the US$500,000 Qatar Derby for Thoroughbreds, which is for three-year-old colts, geldings and fillies, and will be run over a mile and two furlongs (2,000m). Dual Group 3 winner Noor Al Hawa has been entered by Melbourne Cup winning trainer Andreas Wohler (Germany) and there are two British entries with Richard Hannon’s Listed Stakes winner, Steel of Madrid, and Eve Johnson Houghton’s, Scarlet Dragon. Last year’s Qatar Derby winning trainer Mario Hofer (Germany) has entered Noble House.The stand out race for Thoroughbreds on Wednesday, December 28, is the US$100,000 Al Rayyan Stakes for two-year-old thoroughbred colts, geldings and fillies, run over 7 furlongs. This race was won last year by British trainer, Brian Meehan, with his 2-year-old Perkunas. This year’s running sees a number of international entries; Mark Johnston (UK) has entered multiple winner, Masham Star, and Hofer has Hyper Hyper entered in the valuable 1,400m contest. The Norwegian-trained Trouble Of Course, who has won three of his four starts in Scandinavia, is also entered by Niels Petersen.There is also a Pure Arabian Derby on Wednesday worth US$100,000 that has attracted three French-trained entries. Thomas Fourcy, trainer of Champion Arabian Al Mourtajez, has entered Zikreet and Ateej in the 7f contest. From Oman, Ibn Azazi, Petit Monsieur, Dowy Du Croate and Maisoor have all been entered to complete the international line up.Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi said, “We are delighted to attract plenty of international runners for this year’s Qatar International Derby. This event has really developed internationally and following wins in the 2015 feature races for British, South African and German trainers, we are excited to see how the international challengers fare at the end of December.”
December 21, 2016 | 11:10 PM