100th edition of Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend kicks off at Paris Lonchamp
*Thrilling races on Day 1 and all look forward to prestigious titles on Day 2
Mdmar – Paris
Photo :Zuzanna Lupa
ParisLongchamp hosted day 1 of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend on Saturday, 2nd October. The day had a nine race card with six of them group races. The races saw thrilling contesting among top-class horses. The senior management of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) were there and presented the trophies to the winners of the various races.
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MANOBO LEADS HOME APPLEBY/GODOLPHIN ONE-TWO
Leading home a one-two for his owners Godolphin, the highly progressive three-year-old MANOBO (Sea The Stars x Tasaday) held on bravely to land the Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Group 2).QREC Acting CEO, Mr Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, presented the trophies to the winners.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden to success by jockey James Doyle, the enormous colt was stepping up in to 3,000m for the first time and he now remains unbeaten in four career starts.
Out smartly from stall six and amongst the early leaders, Manobo was a shade keen through the opening stages of the marathon contest. Atler Adler (Alderflug) took the field along early on but was quickly taken on and passed by Interpretation (Galileo). Having being reined back by Doyle, Manobo was settled in mid division of the nine runners and travelled well down the back straight. With a steady pace being set by Interpretation, Manobo was always within close proximity of the leaders and took closer order around the outside of the field on the downhill run to the straight. Taking over in the lead at the 400m pole, Manobo was sent clear by Doyle. He was quickly followed through towards the inside by stable mate Kemari. The two pulled clear of the field inside the final 200m, but having stolen first run, Manobo held on to win gamely by three quarters of a length. Tides Of War (Galileo) ran on well inside the final 100m and finished a was an eye-catching third.
Winning trainer Charlie Appleby said after the race;
“Manobo is still learning his trade. That was an excellent performance from him. We are also very happy with Kemari. Having first and second is great. The Cadran is probably an option with Manobo for next season.”
LAST GASP SUCCESS FOR TEEMA
Carrying the colours of her owner/breeder YAS Horse Racing Management, the four-year-old pure-bred Arabian TEEMA (Bibi De Carrere x Dahwa) broke her maiden in thrilling style when landing the Qatar Arabian Trophy DesJuments (Group 1 PA). QREC Vice Chairman and President of the Asian and the Qatar Equestrian Federations, Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, presented the trophies to the winners.
Leading home a one-two for both her trainer Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte and owners YAS Horse Racing Management, Teema was having her fifth career start and finished third in the 2020 Qatar Trophy des Poulices (Group 1 PA). She was ridden to success by jockey Ioritz Mendizabal.
Settled just behind the leaders for the 2,000m contest, Teema travelled well under Mendizabal through the early stages of the contest. Stablemate and eventual second Elaf(Rabbah De Carrere) took the field along at a steady gallop. With little change to the order throughout the race, Teema was well settled and on turning into the straight, was on of the last on the bridle. Inside the final 400m, the filly was angled out for a run by Mendizabal and began to stay on stoutly. Elaf held onto a two-length lead deep inside the closing stages and despite staying on well, Teema looked booked for second. Inside the final 50m, Teema launched one final attack and managed to snatch victory by a nose on the post. Petite Leia (Josco Du Cayrou) finished a further three-lengths back in third.
Winning trainer Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte said after the race:
“Teema suffered with a few health issues last year, she ran a lovely comeback race last time out and came on well from that race. When she relaxes in her races, she is capable of producing a strong acceleration at the finish. Elaf is as tough as they get, but she doesn’t show it at home. Even if she doesn’t have a huge turn of foot, she never stops galloping”
REAL WORLD HOLDS ON GAMELY
Continuing his incredible rise through the ranks, Godolphin owned four-year-old REAL WORLD (Dark Angel x Nafura) held on gamely to land the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2). QREC Board Member, Mr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Ali, presented the trophies to the winners.
Trained by Saeed Bin Suroor and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Real World secured a first win at Group 2 level and in doing so, narrowly denied titleholder The Revenant (Dubawi) a third successive success in the race.
Carrying the second colours of Godolphin, Real World was quickly away from the stalls and was settled in behind early leaders Novemba (Gleneagles) and Century Dream (Cape Cross). Owing to his huge stride, Real World travelled powerfully for Dettori, one wide off the rail. Steady fractions were set through the first 800m of the 1,600m and on the downhill run for home, the field began to bunch up as The Revenant remained in mid-division. Entering the straight, Novemba applied pressure to the field and kicked for home. As Century Dream struggled to go with the leader, Real World began to close. Real World and Novemba battled hard from the 300m pole, while The Revenant was forced to make his challenge wide. Inside the final 100m, Real World began to break clear of Novemba. The Revenant stayed on strongly inside the final furlong, but the line came just in time for Real World, who won by a short head. Novemba finished a further length and a half back in third, while Century Dream faded and finished fourth.
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“He has progressed massively this season. He won very well at Royal Ascot and then went on to win a Group 3. I had a little doubt about the soft ground as he had never encountered it before, but he has managed it nicely. He is a beautiful horse and will get further too. We will discuss it with Sheikh Mohammed, he may go to Dubai as Champions Day will come too quickly. He is not quite the finished article yet and we need to give him time between his races. We will have a look at all the big races, even the Dubai World Cup (if he handles the dirt). We could also aim him towards Saudi Arabia in preparation for Dubai. He has gotten stronger and as the season has gone on, he has become more mature too”
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TRUESHAN STAMPS AUTHORTY IN CADRAN
Staying superstar TRUESHAN (Planteur x Shao Line) repaid the patience shown by his owners The Singula Partnership and landed a second successive Group 1 success when taking the Qatar Prix Du Cadran. QREC Chairman, H.E. Mr Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, presented the trophies to the winners.
Due to unsuitable ground conditions, the Alan King-trained five-year-old had not been seen since winning the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup back in July. Relishing the step up to 4,000m for the first time, Trueshan produced a career-best effort to score under jockey James Doyle.
Front running Alkuin (Maxios) set a strong pace through the early section of the race and was followed by Bubble Smart (Intello). The pair pulled twenty lengths clear of the peloton through the early stages of the race. Stradivarius (Sea The Stars) led the leading group, while Trueshan sat in the middle of the bunch. With little change to the order through the first 3,000m of the contest, James Doyle and easy-travelling Trueshan continued to track Stradivarius. Turning for home, the early leaders came back as the field began to bunch up. Stradivarius pulled his way through to the lead, while Trueshan was switched inside horses. Once asked to go on, the pair drew clear of the field and locked into a ferocious duel up the home straight. Inside the final 150m Trueshan began to pull clear of the paddling Stradivarius and went on to win by four and a half lengths at the line. Stradivarius took second, while Bubble Smart ran on well again close home and finished a further length back in third.
Dan Hurworth, assistant trainer to Alan King said after the race:
It’s magic !! I also ride Trueshan out everyday and it is because of horses like him that we get out of bed in the mornings. Today, we didn’t particularly have too many worries, apart from the new distance. We knew the ground would be fine and he adapts well to most things. Everything has gone well since his arrival in France, and I guess that the Gold Cup at Ascot will be a target next season”
LOVING DREAM CLAIMS FIRST GROUP ONE
Having just her seventh career start, the Lordship stud owned and bred filly LOVING DREAM (Gleneagles x Kissable) showed extreme tenacity to claim her first a first success at Group 1 level, when landing the Qatar Prix Du Royallieu. QREC Chairman, H.E. Mr Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, presented the trophies to the winners.
Trained in Newmarket by John and Thady Gosden, the three-year-old had already shown a flicker of class when winning the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot in June, before bombing out when finishing fifth behind Snowfall in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks. A fantastic ride by Frankie Dettori saw the three-year-old score a narrow success on her first attempt at 2,800m.
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A crucial moment on leaving the stalls, Loving Dream needed some rousting along by Dettori having broken slowly and grabbed the lead against the rails. Once in front, the filly travelled sweetly and looked to appreciate the underfoot conditions. Race favourite, the French-trained Valia (Sea The Stars) was held up amongst the back markers through the early stages. Setting her own fractions up-front, Loving Dream stacked the field up on the downhill run to the straight. On turning for home, the pace was cranked up and Loving Dream was flanked by both Believe In Love (Make Believe) and also Joie De Soir (Fastnet Rock). The trio battled hard up the run-in, as Valia also stayed on strongly from the back of the field. Briefly headed by Believe In Love inside the final 150m, Loving Dream battled back stoutly and stuck on bravely to win by a short-head. Valia couldn’t quite close on the front pair and finished two lengths back in third.
Winning trainer Thady Gosden said after the race:
“When Roger’s (Varian) filly came with her challenge, of course we were a bit worried. But she is very tough and has lots of talent. And when Frankie is on form…he’s tough to beat! Especially when he is in front! She has managed the distance well and the ground was fine, but she also goes well on good ground. We will have a good think now with her owner/breeder, but Ascot could be next for her”
DUBAI HONOUR COMPLETES AN ENGLISH CLEAN SWEEP
Crowning what was an extremely successful day for English-trained horses, the Mohammed Obadia-owned DUBAI HONOUR (Pride Of Dubai x Mondelice) displayed and electric turn of foot to take the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar. Mr Fahad bin Ahmad Jassim Al Hamar, Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of Qatar in France, presented the trophies to the winners.
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Trained by William Haggas, Dubai Honour’s success ensured that all five Group races (reserved to thoroughbreds) on the day were won by British-trained runners. Partnered by James Doyle (who also rode a treble) Dubai Honour is now a dual Group 2 winner in France, following his success in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville in August.
Tasman Bay (Le Havre) took the field through the opening stages of the 2,000m, while Dubai Honour was settled last of the ten runners. MagnyCours (Medagliad’Oro) was caught wide throughout and ran keen under Barzalona. On the turn for home, Dubai Honour was one of the first off the bridle but was always in touch with the leaders. Once in the straight, he began to close and at the 200m pole made a strong challenge between horses. Heading Tasman Bay shortly after, Dubai Honour went clear of the field and galloped strongly through the line, going on to score by one and a half lengths from MagnyCours. Early leader Tasman Bay ran with plenty of merit and held on well for third.
Winning jockey James Doyle said after the race:
“He has progressed massively! Only two races ago he won a handicap. I rode in the race he won at Deauville, and he done it well that day. I was wondering how it would work out with his draw but the fact that we finished at the second winning post helped. I wanted to get him going early and he was really rolling coming down the straight” .
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Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe- 100th edition
The Qatari victories over the last two days coincided with the fast approaching last and big day of the 100th edition of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which will have its curtain fall on Sunday, October 3. The Qatar-sponsored racing extravaganza has been taking place for years through cooperation between the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club and France Gallo, the authority responsible for horse racing in France. The finale will feature seven consecutive Gr 1 races, confirming the event’s standing and prestige as one of the most important races in Europe and the world. Among the nine races in the Sunday card, there are two iconic races considered as the most prestigious and toughest contests. The first will be the Gr 1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup, which is regarded the world championship in this type of racing. It will be directly followed by the Gr 1 Qatar Prix Arc de l’Arc de Triomphe, which is also considered the world’s top race on turf. Staged at ParisLongchamp on the second and final day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the nine race card will start at 3:15 pm Qatar time and will be broadcast live on Al Kass Channel 1 in the order below:
- 03:15 pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac – Criterium Des Pouliches, 2YO fillies,1.600m
- 03:50 pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium), 2YOs, 1,400m.
- 04:25 pm: Gr1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup, 4YO+, 2,400m
- 05:05 pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe, 3YO+, 2,400m
- 05:50 pm: Gr1 Prix De L’opera Longines, 3YO+, 2,000m
- 06:25 pm: Gr1 Prix De L’abbaye De Longchamp Longines, 2YO+, 1,000m
- 07:00 pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix De La Foret, 3YO+, 1,400m
- 07:30 pm: Qatar Grand Handicap Des Flyers Presente Par RMC, Class 1, 3YO+, 1,400m
- 08:00 pm: Qatar Prix De La Centieme Edition De L’Arc, Class 2, 3YO+, 1,400m
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The “Midmar” website for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
