Sheikh Mohamed’s Min’ha scores first Group win

Bred and owned by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, Min’ha won her first Group race, when she topped the French Arabian Breeders’ Cup Challenge – Pouliches (Group 2 PA) in Toulouse, France, on Friday.The three-year-old filly, who is trained by Francois Rohaut, jumped well from an inside draw although ran keen in the early stages. She then settled in behind the leaders on the rail, relaxing well before they began to accelerate coming out of the final turn. Despite showing some immaturity when under pressure, she went clear to win the 2,000m race for three-year-old fillies by three quarters of a length. She was ridden here by Francois-Xavier Bertras, who had also ridden her in her previous start when she broke her maiden at Dax on just the third time of asking.Al Shaqab Racing-owned Meethag, trained by Thomas Fourcy, was the runner-up under Jerome Cabre. Salma Nour Grine, owned by Mohamed Karimine and trained by Mme JF Bernard, was a further length behind under Fayos Martin Borja.Min’ha is by No Risk Al Maury and is out of one of Al Shahania Stud’s most successful female families, being the daughter of Margouia, who is notably the dam of the champion Assy, winner of the His Highness The Amir Sword (G1 PA).