Sheikh Abdullah, Al Shaqab Racing celebrate wins by Yardan and Divertissement

The French seaside track of Cagnes-sur-Mer saw two winners in Qatari colours to open the race meeting on Monday. While His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Yardan topped the Prix de Fabron, Divertissement bagged the Prix de Caucade in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing.

The first race of the day, the Prix de Fabron, a newcomer’s race over 1,500 meters on the all-weather, reunited 9 colts and geldings. The three-year-old colt Yardan, ridden by French Champion jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, was sharply away before settling in fifth position with plenty of cover.

In the final turn, the pacesetter Grace Bay held his lead with Yardan coming to the rail. Once in the straight, the Henri-Alex Pantall trained colt looked to be blocked in behind the leaders with plenty of running and nowhere to go.

The leader came under pressure from all sides and, moving slightly off the rail, left the opportunity for a decisive move from Boudot to take Yardan up a small gap that briefly opened up on the rail. Yardan, showing a professional attitude on his first start in competition, quickly took the lead from Grace Bay, who fought back bravely. They ran neck and neck to the line, but Yardan proved the stronger, holding on to his lead to win by a nose.