* His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani crowns winners
* Fazza Al Khalediah wins Arabian feature
John Gosden-trained Enable won the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1) for the second straight year, while Polish raider Fazza Al Khalediah staged a big upset in the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Group 1 PA), as His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani crowned the winners on the big day of the two-day race-meeting at the newly-renovated Longchamp in Paris on Sunday.
The annual Qatar-sponsored event has been held since 2008 under the partnership between the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) and France Galop and will continue till 2022.
Present during the finale of one of the world’s biggest race meetings, were His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, Embassy of Qatar in France Charge d'affaires Nadia al-Sheebi, QREC chairman Issa bin Mohamed al-Mohannadi, Qatar Equestrian Federation and Asian Equestrian Federation president Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah, QREC officials, horse owners and trainers from Qatar, besides dozens of thousands of race-goers who flooded into the iconic Parisian racecourse.
Frankie Dettori rode Enable for his record-extending sixth Arc victory after fending off a late charge from Sea of Class on Sunday.
John Gosden's four-year-old filly became the first British-trained horse to win Europe's top middle-distance race twice and the eighth dual winner of the continent's richest contest.
Enable hit the front two furlongs out but Sea of Class rallied to finish second by a short neck, with last year's runner-up Cloth of Stars third at the redeveloped Longchamp.
Jockey Frankie Dettori celebrates after riding Enable to Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victory at the racecourse in Paris, France on Sunday.
She missed much of the current campaign through injury, but an impressive comeback at Kempton ensured she was a red-hot favourite coming into yesterday’s feature.
“She wasn’t at her best today. I’ve had a difficult year with her and started with a bit more hair than I have now,” Gosden said after the win. “It’s entirely down to the filly and her guts and a lovely ride from Frankie. She’s a wonderful filly and it’s an enormous sense of relief.”
Gosden raised the possibility of Enable staying in training as a five-year-old in a bid to become the first horse to win the Arc three times.
Earlier in the day, Michael Borkowski’s ward, Fazza Al Khalediah, emerged victorious in the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Group 1 PA).
Very well drawn, the Polish raider bided his time before making headway on the inside. He then went clear in the straight to record an easy victory at the expense of French-trained Khataab and Qatari raider Ebraz.
The four-year-old’s nine-race winning streak had been snapped on his previous outing in August this year in Warsaw. But he made amends yesterday under Pier Convertino.
“The success is all down to the horse. He’s the best [Arabian] horse in the world. It’s the first big international victory for Polish [Arabian] racing since the end of the Second World War. My team has done an extraordinary job,” a pleased Borkowski said.
Bought Saturday evening during the Arqana Arc sale for €490,000, Lily’s Candle was quick to reward her new owner, Martin Schwartz, by winning the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac - Critérium for fillies. The filly travelled in the rear end of the pack and squeezed through on the inside of the home straight. She battled for the win and hit the post a shade cosily of Matematica, who was on her second time out. It was her trainer Fabrice Vermeulen’s first Group 1 win. Star Terms (Sea The Stars) came a close third.
In the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) - Sponsored by Manateq, Royal Marine became a Group 1 winner on his third public outing.
Last years' winner of the Group 1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac, Wild Illusion, won the Prix de l'Opéra Longines (Group 1), after having problems to enter in the starting stalls.
She finished in front of Magic Wand, who looked like the winner for a while, and also beat the French contender Homérique who made a good final effort.
Mabs Cross, the British filly ridden by Gérald Mossé, came with a strong run to take the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longines (Group 1) in the final strides. Gold Vibe, having been tracked by the winner, had to settle for second. Soldier’s Call rounded up the top three.
