Abbes, carrying the colours of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, made a winning return at La Teste-de-Buch, capturing the Sheikh Mansour Festival — Prix Dormane (Group 3 PA) on Wednesday.
With Olivier Peslier in the saddle, the Thomas Fourcy-trained colt prevailed by the minimum margin at the main expense of Abdullah bin Fahad al-Attiyah’s Munir Du Soleil who was ridden by Julien Auge and was campaigned at Doha during the winter.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Hoggar De L'ardus was a further 1¼ lengths behind in third under Jerome Cabre.
It was a special day for the French trainer recording a 1-2-3 in this contest.
With this victory under his belt, Abbes cemented his position as the favourite for the Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabe de 4ans (Group 1 PA), the equivalent of the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) for the Purebred Arabians, and which forms part of the Chantilly card on June 20.
The trainer said: “I’ve always held Abbes in high regard. He’s a horse for the big occasion. He was very switched off throughout the race. It’s a very good preparation for the Derby in June. Munir Du Soleil is progressing because Abbes is one of the best PA four-year-olds, if not the best. He has no reason to be ashamed of his second place, and he has also travelled [abroad], with all that entails. He can do very well at Chantilly. Hoggar De L'ardus may also head to Chantilly. He didn't get the rub of the green in the straight. He’s a horse with a sharp turn of foot and a tendency to do things his own way. He is still somewhat tender at this level. However, it bodes well for the Group 1 PA race. I don't know if he'll beat his two stablemates, but we may complete the tricast. All three have the earned the right to tackle the Derby.”
Abbes is out of the high class Raqiyah and herself a multiple Group 1 PA, having won at the highest level in France (including two editions of the Coupe d’Europe), Qatar and Britain, where she provided Olivier Peslier with Group 1 PA success on the King George card.