Fakhira lands Gr1 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments for Khalifa bin Sheail
- On eve of flagship Sunday
- Qatari dominance continues at ParisLongchamp
Paris – JDG
HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani headed a distinguished turnout at ParisLongchamp as the opening leg of the QREC-sponsored Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend took centre stage on Saturday, 3 October. A packed nine-race card, highlighted by three Group 1s and three Group 2s, delivered further top-tier success for Qatari runners, carrying forward the winning momentum from Friday’s dual Group 1 Arabian strike by Al Shaqab Racing’s Msaieed and Balsam at Saint-Cloud.
Qatar’s dominance in world Purebred Arabian racing shone through once again as Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Fakhira captured the Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (2,000m). Showing tenacity, the chestnut filly surged from off the pace with a devastating late challenge to snatch victory in the season’s premier contest for four-year-old Arabian fillies.
Senior QREC leadership and France Galop dignitaries presided over trophy presentations across the remaining Group contests throughout the card.
QREC Board Member Mr Khalifa bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, accompanied by France Galop Board Member Mr Francis Teboul, handed over the silverware for the opening Gr.2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay after Jabracadabra scored under Ebbe Verhestraeten for trainer Amy Murphy and owner Kevin Freeman
QREC Board Member Mr Abdulrahman bin Mansour Al-Mansour presented the honours for the Gr.2 Qatar Prix du Dollar alongside France Galop Chairman Mr Guillaume de Saint-Seine, following an impressive display from the George Scott-trained Wimbledon Hawkeye, who was ridden to victory by Christophe Soumillon for owner Victorious Forever.
Qatar Tourism Chairman HE Mr Saad bin Ali Al-Kharji alongside France Galop Chairman Mr Guillaume de Saint-Seine, presented the trophies for the Gr.1 PA Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments following Fakhira’s impressive victory under Christophe Soumillon for owner Khalifa bin Sheail Al-Kuwari and trainer Thomas Fourcy.
Fakhira (Al Mamun Monlau), the chestnut Purebred Arabian filly, produced a remarkable late run to land the 2000m contest. Held up well off the pace, she came from the rear of the field with an impressive turn of foot to claim the biggest race of the season for four-year-old Purebred Arabian fillies. She is trained by, ridden by Christophe
QREC Vice Chairman Mr Rashid bin Nasser Sraiya Al-Kaabi and France Galop Board Member Mr Anthony Baudoin awarded the trophies for the Gr.1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu after Fairy Glen captured top-flight fillies and mares honours for owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, trainers Simon & Ed Crisford and jockey Mickael Barzalona.
Following the marathon Gr.1 Qatar Prix du Cadran, QREC Board Member Mr Abdulrahman bin Mansour Al-Mansour and France Galop Vice Chairman Mr Arnaud de Seyssel crowned the winning connections after Caballo De Mar proved relentless over the 4,000m trip in the hands of jockey Oisin Murphy, giving trainer George Scott and owner Victorious Forever a memorable triumph.
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The Group-race action concluded with the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein, where QREC Deputy CEO Mr Ahmed AmanAlla Al-Sheebani and France Galop Deputy CEO Mr Henri Pouret presented the prizes following a sharp performance by . Qirat, who sealed the mile contest for Juddmonte, partnered by jockey Silvestre de Sousa for trainer Ralph Beckett.
Fakhira Makes It Three at the Highest Level in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments
Fakhira (Al Mamun Monlau), a four-year-old Purebred Arabian mare, won the Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments over 2000m. The race was open to four-year-old Purebred Arabian fillies & mares, and attracted a field of twelve runners.
Carrying the colours of Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari, trained by Thomas Fourcy, and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, the homebred filly produced another strong performance and claimed her third Gr.1 (PA) success.
Fakhira had won the Gr.1 (PA) Liwa International Stakes over 2000m at La Teste on her previous start. Before that she had taken the Gr.1 (PA) Critérium des Pouliches – Yas Racing over the same course. This latest win took her record to five victories from six starts.
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Fakhira broke well and settled behind the leaders. Her stable companion Labwa Al Cham (Al Mourtajez) went to the front, but she was soon joined on the outside by Kiaora Du Soleil (Mahabb), who took over the lead. As the field found its place, Fakhira dropped a little further back and raced in the third row, just behind her other stable companion Amjaad (Azadi). Into the first bend, Kiaora Du Soleil still led, with Labwa Al Cham in second, while Fakhira was back in ninth, still tracking Amjaad. Into the false straight the order was unchanged, though Fakhira used a slight move forward from Amjaad to close on the leaders. She still had a few lengths to make up. Coming out of the final bend, Kiaora Du Soleil was still in front and travelling easily, while Christophe Soumillon switched Fakhira towards the outside. She looked full of running. Inside the final 400m, Fakhira quickened and was soon alongside Labwa Al Cham, with Kiaora Du Soleil still leading. Inside the final 200m, Kiaora Du Soleil was the only rival left in front of her. Inside the final 100m, Fakhira went past Kiaora Du Soleil and won by one and a quarter lengths. Kiaora Du Soleil finished second, with Amjaad taking third.
Winning trainer said after the race: “She doesn’t give in, she’s very tough. François’s filly is a very good-looking filly, with plenty of scope and a lot of action. She’s run a very good race today. Soumillon took a little while to get going, but after that she went, she’s a real champion. She’s proving to me that she can go even harder and quicken to some very good fillies.”
Jabracadabra Takes the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay
Jabracadabra (Cracksman), a three-year-old gelding, won the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay over 3000m. The race was open to three-year-olds and attracted a field of eight runners. Trained by Amy Murphy, ridden by Ebbe Verhestraeten, and owned by Kevin Freeman, Jabracadabra produced a strong performance to claim his first Gr.2 success.
Jabracadabra had won a Listed race over 2400m at Craon on his previous start. Before that he had finished fifth over 2000m at Deauville, and second in the Gr.3 Prix Hocquart over 2200m at ParisLongchamp. He had also won over 2000m at Saint-Cloud earlier in the season.
Jabracadabra jumped well and was soon settled in fourth, just behind his stable companion Victoire Magique. Winday (Galiway) led the field at a slow pace. Down the back straight the order remained unchanged. Winday still led, Victoire Magique raced in second, and Jabracadabra travelled in his slipstream. The favourite Pierre Bonnard was second last, detached from the main group. Into the false straight the pace quickened a little, but the positions did not change. Coming out of the false straight the tempo rose sharply. Most of the riders were already asking for an effort, while Ebbe Verhestraeten only eased Jabracadabra towards the outside. Jabracadabra kept closing on the outside and moved into second, with Winday still in front. Victoire Magique began to weaken, and Space Waltz (American Pharoah) came wide to join Jabracadabra. Inside the final 200m, Jabracadabra took the lead, while Space Waltz and Winday fought for second. A hundred metres out, Jabracadabra was alone in front. He found more and won by two lengths. Space Waltz finished second, with Winday taking third.
Wimbledon Hawkeye Strikes in the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Dollar
Wimbledon Hawkeye (Kameko), a four-year-old Thoroughbred colt, took the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Dollar over 1950m. The race was open to horses aged four and upwards and brought together a field of seven runners.
Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, trained by George Scott, and owned by Victorious Forever, Wimbledon Hawkeye ran out a clear winner and added a Gr.2 to his record.
He had finished second in the Gr.1 Irish Champion Stakes over 2000m at Leopardstown last time out. Before that he had won the Gr.3 Prix Gontaut-Biron over 2000m at Deauville, and he had also finished third in a Gr.1 over 2000m at Munich.
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Wimbledon Hawkeye jumped well, but Christophe Soumillon took a hold and settled him in fourth, just behind First Look (Lope De Vega). Seagulls Eleven (Galileo Gold) led the field, with Silawi (Dubawi) racing in second. Into the first bend the order was much the same, until Zaydann (Dubawi) came up on the inside of Wimbledon Hawkeye. The winner was still tracking First Look, but he was now fifth. Coming out of the final bend, Seagulls Eleven was still in front and Silawi still second, while Wimbledon Hawkeye was closing on the outside, still on the bridle and travelling with plenty in hand. A hundred and fifty metres out he produced a good turn of foot and joined the leaders, with Zaydann now in front. He battled Zaydann, while Seagulls Eleven was still there but just beginning to shorten. Wimbledon Hawkeye found more and won by half a length. Zaydann finished second, with Seagulls Eleven taking third.
Fairy Glen Lands the Gr.1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu
Fairy Glen (Farhh), a five-year-old mare, won the Gr.1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu over 2800m. The race was open to fillies and mares aged three and upwards and attracted a field of eleven runners.
In the colours of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum, trained by Simon & Ed Crisford, and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, who won for the third time in three rides, Fairy Glen claimed her first Gr.1 success.
On her return she finished second in a Listed race over 2000m at Yarmouth. Before that she had won the Gr.2 Dubai Gold Cup over 3200m at Meydan, and the Gr.2 Balanchine over 1800m at Meydan.
Fairy Glen was taken hold of soon after the start and settled in last place. Cameo led the field at an even pace. Coming out of the first bend, Cameo was still in front, with Sugar Island (Dubawi) in second, while Fairy Glen remained at the back. Halfway down the back straight, Santorini Star (Golden Horn) moved up on the outside and took second behind Cameo. Fairy Glen gained one place and tracked the favourite Sunly (Night Of Thunder). Entering the penultimate bend, the pace quickened sharply. A group of four pulled a few lengths clear: Cameo, Santorini Star, Sugar Island and Consent. There was then a gap, and Fairy Glen was still last. Into the straight she was still tracking Sunly, who was making progress on the wide outside. Inside the final 300m, Consent led, with Amelia Earhart close up, while Sunly and Fairy Glen were closing quickly on the outside. Inside the final 100m the race became a battle of four. Fairy Glen finished fastest on the outside and won by a short head. Sunly finished second, with Amelia Earhart taking third.
Caballo de Mar Holds Scandinavia in a Back-to-Back Gr.1 Qatar Prix du Cadran
Caballo de Mar (Phoenix Of Spain), a five-year-old gelding, won the Gr.1 Qatar Prix du Cadran over 4000m. Reserved for horses aged four and upwards, the race drew ten runners. Owned by Victorious Forever, trained by George Scott, and ridden by Oisin Murphy, Caballo de Mar claimed another Gr.1 success. It was a double on the card for Victorious Forever, after Wimbledon Hawkeye had taken the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Dollar.
He won this race for the second time, after his success in 2025. He had also won the Gr.1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier over 3100m at ParisLongchamp in the spring, and he came into the race after winning the Gr.2 Doncaster Cup Stakes over 3600m. He is now a three-time Gr.1 winner, and he is unbeaten at ParisLongchamp in three starts, all of them Gr.1 races.
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Caballo de Mar jumped well and was soon settled behind the leaders. Queenstown (Galileo) led the field, with the hot favourite Scandinavia (Justify) in second. Into the false straight for the first time, every runner looked happy in his place, while the field began to string out. Down the straight, with a circuit still to run, Queenstown was still in front. Scandinavia raced a few lengths behind him, and Caballo de Mar was in his slipstream. The rest of the field was now in single file. Down the back straight the order was the same, until Mr Hollywood (Iquitos) began to close on the leaders. Scandinavia moved up alongside Queenstown, and Caballo de Mar tracked the pair, with Double Major and Mr Hollywood behind him. Into the false straight the pace hardened. The two Aidan O’Brien runners were still in front, and Caballo de Mar was travelling easily behind them. Into the home straight, Oisin Murphy had still not asked his horse for an effort, while Scandinavia was already being pushed. Inside the final 400m, Caballo de Mar was in a battle with the favourite. Inside the final 200m he took a narrow lead. Scandinavia fought back and came at him again. A few strides from the post, Caballo de Mar found more, took a decisive advantage and won by a short head. Scandinavia finished second, with Queenstown taking third.
Qirat Makes All in the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein
Qirat (Showcasing), a five-year-old gelding, won the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein over 1600m. Ten went to post in a race open to horses aged three and upwards. In the colours of Juddmonte, trained by Ralph Beckett, and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, Qirat produced a strong front-running performance and added a Gr.2 to his record.
He had finished third in the Gr.2 Park Stakes over 1400m at Doncaster on his previous start. In 2025 he had won the Gr.1 Sussex Stakes over 1600m at Goodwood.
Qirat jumped well and was soon sent to the front. Sir Tommy Cen (Dark Angel) raced just on his outside. The pace was strong, but Qirat looked happy making the running. Sir Tommy Cen stayed half a length off him, with a small gap back to Quddwah (Kingman) in third and Diego Ventura in fourth. Elastic was last. Still at a very strong pace, Qirat led by a length from Sir Tommy Cen, and the order behind them did not change. Coming out of the false straight and into the home straight, Silvestre De Sousa asked Qirat for an effort, while Sir Tommy Cen launched his challenge on the outside. Inside the final 250m, Qirat still held a clear lead. Quddwah and Diego Ventura tried to close, but they were still a length, then two lengths, behind. Inside the final 100m, Qirat kept finding and pulled clear. He won by two and a half lengths. The favourite Quddwah finished second, with Siciliano staying on for third.
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