Champs The Blue Eye, Gazwan to start wide

Last year’s champions in the two million dollar races will start out wide with both The Blue Eye and Gazwan drawing stall 15 for HH The Emir’s Trophy (Gr1) and HH The Emir’s Sword (Gr1 PA) respectively.
This is in contrast to last year when both these horses had the inside line, starting from Gate 1.
The job for both these horses and also some of the other Qatar-based horses has become that much more difficult with a strong international lineup in this edition.
“This year’s edition is very strong, perhaps the strongest Emir’s Sword edition for a few years to be honest,” Gazwan’s trainer Julian Smart said at the draw.
HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned horse has won three out of four starts since last year’s win, including the Sword Trial earlier this month.
“He is in good form. He had a little bit of a problem in the summer but he is good now. It was a little disappointing last year when after the race we were accused of tactics,” Smart said referring to his use of pacemakers to mark Al Mourtajez in the race.
“But that’s racing and we could use them again. But let’s see what happens.”
Smart has also entered Ba’sil (Gate 13) and Ebraz (Gate 4) in the race, with the former expected to be the pacemaker.
Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Mourtajez will get a crack at the Triple Crown, starting from Gate 10. The Thomas Fourcy-trained horse had won this race in 2015 before finishing third last year.
“I thought last year the first half of the race was very interesting. It was very public. But whatever happened, Al Mourtajez got out of his rhythm, he was out of his comfort zone,” Harry Herbert, racing advisor to HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani said yesterday.
“This year, Julian is not short of pacemakers, so I guess we will have to sit more patiently and see what happens. Hopefully we get the horse in a good rhythm. We saw in Goodwood, he got into a beautiful rhythm, and also at the Arc meeting. He is a very special horse and to be in this position for a shot at the Triple Crown is great. If he can pull it off it will be headline news, very special.”
Other Al Shaqab horses in the race, all Fourcy wards, are Laft Nethar, who has the inside line, and Metrag (Gate 9).
Alban de Mieulle too spoke highly of Al Mourtajez. The Frenchman has Tayf (Gate 8) and Sehab (Gate 5) in the fray for Umm Qarn.
“Olivier Peslier knows his job really well. Tayf is very good. But if Al Mourtajez does it how he did it two years ago, then no one will catch him. I know Gazwan is very good, but Al Mourtajez is Al Mourtajez. Last year was a problem for him, but it’s a race,” De Mieulle said.
Last year’s HH The Emir’s Silver Sword winner, Spaghetti (Gate 6), will be stepping up for the big one for trainer Jassim Ghazali.
The Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned colt has four top-three finishes since last year’s meeting, and will be joined by Tefkir (Gate 12).
Talking about The Blue Eye, his horse in HH The Emir’s Trophy for Thoroughbreds, Ghazali said, “There is pressure. There are some really good horses that have come from outside, from Europe, the US.
“However, the reason I am looking forward to this race is because we can see the level of horses in Qatar against international opposition. If a Qatar horse wins, that showcases the level of our horses in the face of a strong opposition. That is big.
“The Blue Eye is ready for the race and we will give our best to keep the Cup in Qatar.”
Smart’s hopes lie on Fundamental (Gate 1), Migwar (Gate 2) and Duke of Dundee (Gate 3).
“The Blue Eye is in good form but you never know. The track will be very good, I think,” De Mieulle said about the Thoroughbred race.
Asked for his preference among his two horses, he said, “For me it is Migwar, he a very good horse.”
Qatar Derby winner Noor Al Hawa has a favourable draw from stall 4, alongside Ibrahim al-Malki-schooled filly Mango Tango.
Qatar runners Vitally Important (Majed Seifeddine), Fort Moville (Ahmed Kobeissi), Ponfeigh (Deborah Mountain) and Ningara (Mohammed Jassim Ghazali) will begin from the outer stalls, 11-14 respectively, while Al Jeryan Stud’s Dubawi Flame has the outermost start at stall 16 alongside The Blue Eye.
The race meeting’s first every US entry, Royal Albert Hall, trained by two-time Kentucky Derby winner Doug O’Neill, drew stall 7, while Sir Michael Stoute’s Arab Spring will start from 10.