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Al Shaqab Racing’s Sahlan produced a career best performance to win the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp during the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) sponsored Qatar Arc Trials in Paris Sunday. QREC Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah presented trophies to the winners of the day’s feature races. The card featured nine races in total, including five group contests, all run under the banner of Qatar, with each race brimming with quality, excitement and fierce competition. Al-Attiyah presented trophies for the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon (Group 1) for Purebred Arabians — a key prep for the Qatar Arabian World Cup — which was won by HM Alchahine, owned by Helal Alalawi. In addition, he awarded the prizes for the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Group 1) for Thoroughbred fillies, claimed by Aventure, representing the colours of Wertheimer & Frère. Sahlan, the fast-improving 3-year-old colt, delivered the best performance of his career when capturing the Gr.1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp over 1600m.The prestigious race, open to 3-year-olds and older, assembled a high-class field of 12 runners. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, ridden by Mickaël Barzalona, and owned and bred by Al Shaqab Racing, the homebred colt came into the race full of confidence after his stylish victory in the Gr.3 Prix Daphnis – Samuel Liberman at Deauville. He has now confirmed himself at the very top level. HM Alchahine wins Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon HM Alchahine, a powerful 5-year-old colt, produced a sparkling performance to win the Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon. Hardly asked a question by his rider, he cantered home under a hands-and-heels ride to secure the second Group 1 success of his career. Trained by Mme Jean-François Bernard, ridden by Cristian Demuro, and owned by Helal Alalawi, Hm Alchahine came into the race off a victory in the Gr.2 (PA) over 1600m at Hamburg-Horn, adding to his earlier Gr.2 and Gr.1 wins this season. This latest triumph confirmed his position among the very best of the Purebred Arabian division. Byzantine Dream claims Qatar Prix Foy title Japanese challenger Byzantine Dream made his trip to Paris worthwhile with a gutsy victory in the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Foy at Longchamp, run over 2400m with a field of nine for 4yo and upwards. Trained by Tomoyasu Sakaguchi, ridden by Oisin Murphy, and owned by Kazumi Yoshida, the four-year-old colt has already built a strong reputation over staying trips, most notably when landing the Gr.2 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap in February in Riyadh, a race that carried a winner’s prize of £1,200,000. Dropping back to 2400m here, he showed both class and determination to add another prestigious trophy to his record. As expected, Mont St Michel set a strong pace in front, with his stablemate Los Angeles (Camelot) tracking closely behind. Byzantine Dream was settled in sixth on the inside, waiting patiently. Entering the final straight, the colt looked full of running but was searching for a gap. Up ahead, Los Angeles battled with Sosie, but inside the last 250m Byzantine Dream finally saw daylight. Quickening sharply, he joined Sosie for a thrilling fight inside the final 100m. Brave and determined, the Japanese raider edged ahead near the post to win by half a length. Sosie had to settle for second, while Almaqam finished strongly to take third. Aventure books Arc ticket with dominant Qatar Prix Vermeille triumph Aventure, a progressive 4-year-old mare, stamped her class with a decisive success in the Gr.1 Qatar Prix Vermeille. The 2400m contest, a key prep race for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, brought together six high-class fillies and mares. Trained by Christophe Ferland, ridden by Maxime Guyon, and carrying the colours of her breeders Wertheimer & Frère, Aventure has been in sparkling form all season. Victorious in a Gr.3 over 2000m on her seasonal return, she followed up with a Gr.2 win over 2100m, before finishing second in a strong renewal of the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. With this Vermeille victory, she now heads confidently towards the Arc as one of France’s leading hopes. Cualificar secures Qatar Prix Niel in last stride Cualificar, a 3-year-old colt with a sparkling season behind him, produced a decisive late surge to win the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Niel. The 2400m trialbrought together a field of eight colts, all aiming for a ticket to the Arc. Trained by André Fabre, ridden by William Buick, and owned by Godolphin, Cualificar has been one of the standout performers of his generation this season. Victorious in two Gr.3 contests over 1800m in the spring, he then ran a huge race to finish a close second in the Gr.1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, beaten only half a length. This win over 2400m confirms his place among the best middle-distance colts in Europe.

Afjan showed courage and speed to win the Gr.3 Prix d’Arenberg over 1000m at ParisLongchamp. The race, for two-year-olds, brought together ten colts and fillies.Racing in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing, trained by Henri-François Devin and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, the colt was coming off a very good second place in the Gr.3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville over 1200m. This time, he got his reward and became a Group winner.Settled in midfield, but always in touch, Afjan travelled nicely in a race run at a strong pace, with Stargazed and Shine On Me cutting out the running. Gradually improving into fifth, Afjan was only a length behind the leaders as they came under pressure, still going well under Soumillon, who was motionless in the saddle.Asked for more inside the final 300m, Afjan quickened strongly to join the front rank, battling with Shine On Me and the favourite Havana Anna. In a thrilling finish, he stayed on powerfully to edge ahead in the closing stages, holding off the rallying Havana Anna by a nose. Shine On Me finished third, clear of the remainder.Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Afjan is out of Al Johrah, who won twice over 1000m at two and was placed twice in Gr.2 races over 1000m and 1100m. He is a half-brother to Faleh, a winner over 1000m at three. Al Johrah is out of Bea Remembered, who was placed at Listed level and is a half-sister to Stormy Antarctic, a dual Gr.2 winner and multiple Gr.3 winner, as well as to Balsam, a Listed winner over 1000m at two.