With less than three weeks to go, there are 26 entries, including last year’s winner Gazwan, owned by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, and this year’s Qatar Cup - Prix Dragon topper Yazeed, owned by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, so far for the 2,000m Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1 PA).
The 1 million euro race is the second leg of the Doha Triple Crown, which carries a USD 1 million bonus for any horse that wins three of the world’s biggest Group 1 Purebred Arabian races — Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood, Qatar Arabian World Cup on the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day at Longchamp and HH The Amir’s Sword in Doha.
Francois Rohaut-trained Muraaqib won the leg in Goodwood this year and features among the entries for the October 7 race at the revamped Parisian track.
Alban de Mieulle-trained Yazeed won the Prix Dragon on the Qatar Arc Trials Day on Sunday over the course and distance, leaving behind Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte-schooled Shahm by a short neck. Shahm has also been entered for the big one next month. The victory was also Yazeed’s first in a Group 1 fixture.
Another De Mieulle charge, Tayf, winner of last year’s Qatar International Stakes, finished fourth in the Dragon.
Apart from Gazwan, winner of HH The Amir’s Sword this year, trainer Julian Smart has Ebraz, Aaley Al Magam and Reda in the list.
Ebraz, who had won the Dragon last year, was rested for this year’s edition, but should go for the Qatar Arabian World Cup.
There are five entries from Thomas Fourcy’s stables, all owned by Al Shaqab Racing. Zikreet had a run over course and distance in the Dragon and finished fifth. Khataab, who finished fifth in last year’s World Cup, and Rijm, third in the Gr1 President of the UAE Cup on Saturday, have been entered too. The other two are Al Mouwaffak and Al Walid.
Khalifa bin Hamad al-Attiyah’s Rodess Du Loup is fresh off a Group 1 win in the President of the UAE Cup at Doncaster and had been tipped by the owner to have a go on the Arc day.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Thani’s Rajeh, second at Doncaster, has also been entered by Rohaut.
Jockey Maxime Guyon (centre) rides Gazwan to victory in the 2017 edition of Qatar Arabian World Cup in Chantilly, France.
