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In a pioneering move within Qatari horse racing, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), chaired by chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah, has decided to introduce races for purebred Arabian show horses, starting from the new season set to kick off next month.This decision reflects Qatar’s keen interest in Purebred Arabian show horses, the global championships held for this category in the country and Qatar’s prominent standing in the world of Arabian show horses in general. Accordingly, QREC will launch this new initiative with races reserved for Purebred Arabian show horses, beginning with nine races scheduled across the upcoming season.Of these, eight races will be staged at Al Rayyan Racecourse and one at Al Uqda. These races have been included in the new season’s programme, which has been announced. They will be part of various race meetings rather than standalone race days exclusively dedicated to this category. Entries will only be accepted for local bred horses from Arabian show horse strain, as confirmed by QREC’s Horse Show Section. Apprentice and Qatari rider allowances will not be claimed in any races of this series.The first of these races will feature in the ninth meeting of the season, the Al Thakira Cup Day at Al Rayyan dirt track, on 12 November, as Race 7 for maiden Purebred Arabian show mares aged four years and older over 1,000m.The second will be staged in the 15th meeting, the Ras Laffan Cup Day at Al Rayyan dirt track, as race 7 for maiden Purebred Arabian show horses aged four years and older over 1,000m.The 18th meeting, the Bu Samrah Cup Day at Al Rayyan dirt track, will include Race 7 for maiden Purebred Arabian show mares aged four years and older over 1,000m.The 24th meeting, the Zekreet Cup Day at Al Rayyan dirt track, will see the addition of a new race for maiden Purebred Arabian show horses aged four years and older over 1,000m.The fifth race of this category will take place at the 31st meeting, the Umm Al Zubar Cup Day at Al Rayyan dirt track, with a 1,000m race for four years and older Purebred Arabian show mares, which have not won more than one race.In the 33rd meeting, the Baidda Algaa Cup Day at Al Rayyan dirt track, Race 8 will be reserved for four years and older Purebred Arabian show horses, which have not won more than one race, and will be run over 1,000m.The 45th meeting, the Ras Rokn Island Cup Day at Al Uqda dirt track, will feature Race 8 for Purebred Arabian show mares aged four years and older that have not won more than one race, to be run over 1,100m.The 55th meeting, the Fuwairit Cup Day at Al Rayyan dirt track, will stage Race 7 for Purebred Arabian show horses aged four years and older that have not won more than one race, to be run over 1,100m.The final race for this category will take place in the 66th meeting, the Qatar Gold Sword & Trophy Day at Al Rayyan. While the rest of the card will be contested on turf, this race alone will be run on the dirt track. It will be Race 5, the concluding contest for Purebred Arabian show horses and mares aged four years and older over 1,200m. Horses and mares which have won a qualifying race will have first priority to run.Thereafter, preference will go to novice stallions and mares based on the number of times they have finished second, then third, then fourth. Horses that have not finished in the first four in the previous races will not be eligible to participate. Subsequently, maiden horses and mares will obtain priority to run based on their number of second, third and fourth places in this order.A horse or a mare without any placing in the first four in the previous races will not gain a run in this race.

The Strikin Viking, a progressive three-year-old gelding, gained the biggest success of his career with victory in the Gr.3 155th Casino Baden-Baden Goldene Peitsche, Germany’s historic sprint contest, run over 1200m at Baden-Baden. The race, open to 3-year-olds and upwards, drew a strong international field of ten sprinters. Trained by Hamad al-Jehani, ridden by Faleh Bughenaim and carrying the silks of Wathnan Racing, the gelding came into the race on the back of a solid third in the Listed Queensferry Stakes at Chester. Building on that effort, he stepped up again to secure his first Group success. Quickly into stride, The Strikin Viking broke well and was soon among the leaders, disputing the pace in the opening stages with the favourite Arabie on the stands’ side. The pair pressed on while War Bride tracked close behind and Zerostress raced handily against the rail. Travelling smoothly in front, The Strikin Viking held a narrow advantage as Arabie began to come under pressure approaching the final two furlongs. Sent for home by Faleh Bughenaim, he opened up a clear length advantage while Arabie weakened inside the final furlong. War Bride found room and gave chase, closing strongly while Zerostress also picked up late. But The Strikin Viking was always in control, showing both grit and speed to hold off War Bride by three-quarters of a length at the line. Zerostress finished well to take third. Bred by Tally-Ho Stud, The Strikin Viking is out of Asmeen, an unraced mare. He is a half-brother to Chorlton Lane, a winner over 1400m at two and Gr.3-placed over 1600m at three. Asmeen is out of Askeria and is a half-sister to Ashraf, a dual winner over 1600m and 1900m and fourth in Listed company over 2000m at three, as well as to Askerana, a winner over 2000m at three.

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.