The Qatar Arc Trials day, sponsored by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, took place at ParisLongchamp yesterday with the runners aspiring for the biggest races and titles on the weekend of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe lining up for their final preparation.  Sheikh Ali bin Jassim al-Thani, ambassador of Qatar to France, presented the trophies to the winners of the Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert (Group 3) and the Qatar Cup — Prix Dragon (Group 1 PA), which is the final rehearsal for the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Group 1 PA). The card included nine races and all of them were marked by the name of Qatar.


Qatar Prix Vermeille: Tarnawa floors the opposition 
Owned by Aga Khan, the filly Tarnawa outclassed the opposition in the Group 1 race. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, Tarnawa initially settled at the rear of the pack. In the final turn, she came to take the lead from Laburnum, and placed an extraordinary acceleration in the straight. Raabihah, who sat last for a long time, finished very quickly to take second place coming a long way back, just ahead of Dame Malliot. Tarnawa had only raced once this year, winning a Gr3 in Cork. Tarnawa has not been entered in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and will therefore have to be supplemented. 
Soumillon said: “I waited before I found a good stride. When I saw Pierre-Charles Boudot advancing, I followed him and he took me to the lead. Then I just needed to slow her acceleration. She’s really fast. It isn’t me who decides whether or not to run in the Arc. This win, however, bodes well for the autumn.”


Qatar Cup: Fazza Al Khalediah Returns To Form
Winner of the Qatar Arabian World Cup in 2018, Fazza Al Khalediah is one of the best pure Arabians in the world when his legs are not troubling him. Owned by Polska AKF SP Z.O.O, he was ruled out of the competition for almost a year after finishing second in the Dubai Kahayla Classic (Group 1 PA) in March 2019. 
Back at ParisLongchamp, he dominated the Qatar Cup (Group 1 PA), giving a courageous performance under Soumillon to defeat Messi Bel and Lightning Bolt.


Qatar Prix Du Petit Couvert: A First Group Win For Air De Valse
Air De Valse was the surprise winner of the Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert (Group 3) under Ronan Thomas. Coming here off a good second place in the Barrière Prix de Meautry (Group 3) for her first career start at Group level on August 30 at Deauville, she confirmed that she is a Group class on the quick ground at ParisLongchamp. Quickly out of the starting gate, she took the lead and controlled the race from the off. She held off a strong attack from the favourite Wooded, in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing, who took second place. English raider Lady In France came in third. 


Qatar Prix Foy: Anthony Van Dyck Beats Super Stayer Stradivarius
Favourite in the Qatar Prix Foy (Group 2), the super stayer Stradivarius lost to the Irish raider Anthony Van Dyck, ridden by Mickael Barzalona. The French jockey put his partner in the lead, with a steady pace. Stradivarius travelled on his flanks. He accelerated in the straight, while gradually moving to the rail and Anthony Van Dyck dug deep to hold off Stradivarius by only a few metres. Naganol Gold took third place. 


Qatar Prix Du Pin: Earthlight As Expected
It was mission accomplished for Earthlight, the hot favourite coming into the Qatar Prix du Pin. Never under pressure, the colt, winner of two Group 1s as a two-year-old, found his stride to put some disappointing starts as a 3-year-old behind him. He finished in front of Tropbeau and Manjeer respectively. He is trained by André Fabre and was ridden by Barzalona.


Qatar Grand Handicap Des Arc Trials: Prince Hamlet For Spain
There was a highly contested photo finish in the Qatar Grand Handicap des Arc Trials. Prince Hamlet, ridden by Tony Piccone, won by the absolute minimum in front of True Romance and Ronan Thomas on the line. Prince Hamlet came here off a win last time out in San Sebastian.


Qatar Prix Haxo: Prosecco Opens The Day
The 2020 renewal of the Qatar Arc Trials opened with the Qatar Prix Haxo, the first handicap of the year for two-year-olds. It was Prosecco, for trainer Andrea Marcialis and jockey Boudot who won with a strong finish in front of Vents Contraires and Akamu. It was the first win for this colt owned by E.P.E. Bloodstock Ltd.


Qatar Prix Du Pont De Grenelle: Femina Continues Her Ascent
Femina was the easy winner of the Qatar Prix du Pont de Grenelle at ParisLongchamp. Trained by Carlos Laffon-Parias for Wertheimer & Frère, she came here off a win at Deauville on August 16. Ridden by Maxime Guyon, she ran in mid-division in the 1,400m race. Coming to the outside in the straight, she demolished her rivals with a devastating acceleration to finish over a length in front of Troilus, with Barakatle in third.


Qatar Prix Miromesnil: Predetermined Proves His Worth
Owned and trained by Jacques Bertin, Predetermined was not one of the most prominent competitors in the Qatar Prix Miromesnil, a handicap over 1,300m. However, he was the one who won the race, adding a fifth victory to his account.
After sitting in fifth position in a race led by Duquesa Penguin, Predetermined showed a nice turn of foot 150m from the line, easily taking the lead, accompanied by jockey Arnaud Bourgeais. Carrying top weight in the race, he won by two-and-a-half lengths. Heptathlete looked to make a showing, but he could not follow the eventual winner in his acceleration and finished second.