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Romeo At, carrying the colours of Wathnan Racing, recorded the biggest success of his career by winning the Gr.1 (PA) UAE President Cup - UK Arabian Derby - over 2000m at Doncaster on Saturday. The race was reserved for four-year-olds and attracted a field of six runners.Trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte and ridden by Tom Marquand the four-year-old Purebred Arabian colt showed plenty of courage to win at the highest level on his first start outside France.The colt had already shown good form this season, winning the Gr.3 (PA) Prix Damas over 1600m at Bordeaux on his seasonal return. He then earned two places at Gr.1 (PA) level over 2000m, including a third-place finish in the Gr.1 (PA) Doha Cup (Prix Manganate) on his latest start. The victory at Doncaster, therefore, gave Romeo At the first Gr.1 (PA) success of his career.Romeo At broke well but was immediately steadied by Tom Marquand, who initially tried to settle him behind. The colt raced quite keenly, however, and after around 200m his jockey allowed him to stride forward. Very free in the early stages, Romeo At moved into second position behind the leader Sab’Aan Al Shahania, with Laffan racing in third. The order remained mostly unchanged down the back straight, although Al Sharid moved forward to race alongside Laffan. Romeo At, meanwhile, began to settle better as the runners approached the final turn.Turning into the straight, Marquand moved Romeo At away from the leader while keeping him in second position. Sab’Aan Al Shahania was still in front, with Laffan close behind, while Al Sharid came under strong pressure and began to lose ground. Inside the final 300m, Romeo At was still travelling comfortably while the leader was already being strongly ridden. Laffan looked to be the main danger and was also still travelling well.Approaching the final 200m, Laffan came up alongside Romeo At and the pair began to pull clear of the others. Romeo At responded well when challenged and found more under pressure. Inside the final 100m, the two colts continued to fight, but Romeo At proved the stronger and stayed on gamely to win by one and a half lengths. Laffan finished second while Sab’Aan Al Shahania took third further back. 

Haseef (Al Mourtajez x Ghazwa), carrying the Wathnan Racing’s silks, won the UAE President Cup - Central European Derby (Gr3 PA), run over 2000m at Sluzewiec, Poland, on Sunday, 28 September. Ridden by FalehBughenaim, the four-year-old colt scored for trainer Damien de Watrigant, decisively pulling clear in the closing stages of the race reserved for four-your-old and up Purebred Arabians. Katrain de Ghazal (Gazwan), trained by Élisabeth Bernard for Helal Alalawi and ridden by Mickaël Forest, managed to hold off Power Bolt (Al Mourtajez) for second place. Haseef had previously finished second in the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Sprint (Gr3 PA), narrowly beaten by the smart Al Wakrah (TM Fred Texas), owned by Al Shaqab Racing. Before that, he had recorded a commanding success in the Prix Damas (Gr3 PA). Damien de Watrigant said: “The fast ground and strong pace suited him. Under these conditions, he remained calm and was able to see out the 2,000 meters. As for the next stage of his campaign, we’ll need to discuss it with the Wathnan team, but today he showed us that traveling does not unsettle him. He could therefore travel abroad this winter. I am pleased to see their colours shine. He keeps on improving. Last time, he was beaten because the 1,400 meters were too short.”

RB Mary Lylah, fresh from her breakthrough at the top level in the Gr.1 (PA) Liwa International Stakes at La Teste, confirmed her excellent form by winning the Gr.3 (PA) UAE President Cup at Istanbul Veliefendi in Turkey on Sunday. The race, run over 2000m, was the 12th leg of the Arabian Purebred Classic Series.Trained by Alban de Mieulle, ridden by Daniel Tudhope, and carrying the colours of Wathnan Racing, the 5-year-old mare showed once more her consistency and toughness, securing the 12th win of her career.In a race led by Kocek, RB Mary Lylah travelled in fifth, racing two wide. Positions remained unchanged until the final bend, where she began to improve. Turning for home, she was carried out wide by Tuncer, who drifted left, but she was still travelling easily, her jockey yet to ask for any effort. Once given the signal, she quickly surged to the front inside the final 300m and went clear under a hands-and-heels ride, scoring by a dazzling seven lengths margin. Kati Zamani finished second, while Kralkarinka took third.Bred by Diane Waldron (USA), RB Mary Lylah comes from a rich family. She is out of Rich Kinkga, a triple winner in the United States including the Gr.3 (PA) Arabian Stallion Stakes and twice runner-up in the Gr.2 CRE Run Oaks Arabian Distaff Stakes. She is a half-sister to RB Kindle, an eight-time winner in the USA including the Gr.3 (PA) Delaware Park Arabian Juvenile Filly Championship and runner-up in the Gr.1 (PA) Buzz Brauninger Arabian Distaff Handicap, and to RB Kinetic, a dual Gr.3 (PA) winner in the USA. She is also a half-sister to RB Kinkie, a triple winner in the USA including the Gr.3 Arabian Stallion Stakes.