Sheikh Mohamed’s Teppal wins Gr1 at Longchamp

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Teppal stayed unbeaten after winning the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) (Gr1) at Paris Longchamp yesterday.The filly travelled along the inside rail not far from the leaders under Olivier Peslier and accelerated well on the home straight. Even though the David Simcock-trained filly had only run twice before, she managed to resist the attacks of her rivals, imposing herself by a short neck. Coeur de Beauté took the second place, a head of Wind Chimes while Capla Temptress came fourth. “I’m made up. It’s just nice to get a horse good enough to compete in a race like this and so to train a first Classic winner is fantastic. We were hopeful beforehand as she’s very streetwise and she was in good shape. We weren’t overly fussed when the course was changed and Olivier gave her a great ride,” Simcock said.Teppal has made her seasonal comeback in this race and over a mile (1,600m). As a two-year old, she won twice over seven furlongs. The filly has been entered in the Coronation Stakes (Gr1) to be run on June 22 at Ascot.‘Indicator for Future Qatari successes’Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) chairman Issa bin Mohammed al-Mohannadi extended his congratulation on the big victory to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed.“This victory came at an excellent time for Qatari horses,” he said. “It gives an indicator that the season will see many Qatari successes overseas. It also confirms the high standard of horses running in such races, especially as the French 1000 Guineas is one of the most important races run in Paris and the runners are known for this high calibre, particularly as it is a group 1 race.”Al Shahania Stud director Abdulrahman al-Mansour was palpably pleased with the win. “It is a good start for us in the European races this season,” he said. “It is good to have a filly like Teppal. This latest victory is a Group 1; she will have a bright future.“I dedicate this victory to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, owner of Al Shahania Stud, who is keen to own the best breeds, which in turn adds to our excellence in races. The last season, which has just ended, was fantastic for Al Shahania as we won the top races. We look forward to continuing such victories overseas. In the near future, we will be there in several races with high ambitions and expectations.”QREC general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi too wished His Highness Sheikh Mohamed on the win, adding, “We are very happy with this victory, especially as it is a group 1 race. Teppal’s excellence adds to our confidence that there will be plenty of victories by Qatari horses overseas this season. We always look forward to realising results up to the standard of Qatari racing, and the talents and skills showcased by Qatar’s horses in various races.”