Sheikh Abdullah’s Tayf wins Qatar Arabian World Cup

In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani and HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatari-owned horses continued to dazzle on the second and final day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at ParisLongchamp yesterday.
His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Tayf won the Qatar Arabian World Cup in thrilling fashion, while Al Shaqab Racing’s Wooded sprinted to a memorable victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Group 1).
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani received the Qatar Arabian World Cup trophy on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, while HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani also crowned the winners of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1), which was won by French-trained Sottsass.
Qatar Racing and Equestian Club (QREC) CEO Nasser bin Sherida al-Kaabi participated in the trophy presentations of the other races.
Thomas Fourcy saddled the winners in all the Group 1 races for Purebred Arabians (PA) of the weekend, including Tayf, who won the world championship race for PA for the first time in five appearances.
Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari’s Lady Princess had won the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (Group 1 PA) for four-year-old fillies on Day One of the weekend on Saturday. On Friday, at Saint-Cloud, Al Shaqab’s Alawsj won Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Pouliches (Group 1 PA) for fillies and Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari’s Hadi De Carrere landed Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Poulains (Group 1 PA) for colts.
One of the most experienced campaigners in the field, success in the 2,000m Qatar Arabian World Cup had eluded Tayf. However, yesterday under Olivier Peslier, Tayf entered the winner’s enclosure.
Tayf raced mid-division before going on the offensive in the open stretch, as Messi tried to give his rivals the slip after taking the advantage. Tayf clawed his way up before taking a win in thrilling fashion at the post.
The favourite and defending champion Ebraz had to settle for third, having been unable to unleash his habitual finishing kick on this occasion.
Fourcy said, “I had won this race on two previous occasions with Al Mourtajez, who was a genuine crack performer. However, with Tayf it’s different. Alban de Mieulle and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani decided to send me the horse to train, and it hasn’t been simple due to the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. I would like to thank them for placing their trust in me. My job has consisted getting the horse into condition, but, above all, to get him in the right frame of mind. Olivier Peslier rode a peach of a race. Ebraz kept him up to his task in the closing stages. The horse will be returning to the Qatar stable of Alban de Mieulle in a few weeks’ time. I imagine that he will be aimed at (His Highness) the Amir’s Sword.”
Peslier added, “It’s not so much a case of magic Peslier but magic Fourcy! The horse had previously won on this type of ground, and so I was confident. Last time out at Goodwood, he was in need of the race after a lay off. He really hit his stride today. Judged by the way he was responding to the cut and thrust of the race, I said to myself ‘things are going well’.”
Two hours later, Al Shaqab Racing’s Wooded was the first French-trained winner of the 1000m Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Group 1) sprint.
Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard in Chantilly, Wooded, under Pierre-Charles Boudot, got the better of last year’s winner Glass Slippers, while Liberty Beach finished third. Graffard was overjoyed with the result, “I was roaring! I am over the moon for him, he’s a horse I love.”
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