LADY PRINCESS is the queen of Qatar Arabian Trophy DesPouliches
Mdmar – Paris – JDG
Photo Juhaim
LADY PRINCESS, who runs in the colours of Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari, added a second Group1 PA to her tally, keeping the scorecard of her young career unblemished. In the hands of Christophe Soumilon, who gave her a copybook ride, she justified her favourite status in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches when winning by three quarters of alength. She was coming here off a win in the Group1 PA Al Rayyan Cup (PricKesberoy) at Deauville in August, having debuted successfully at Toulouse last April.
Thirteen runners lined up in this 2000-metre race, which crowns the best three-year-old Purebred Arabian filly in France. LADY PRINCESS jumped quietly and her jockey allowed the others to go forward before settling mid-division. He stayed in touch with the leaders in the final turn when the pace began to pick up and once in the straight,the bay daughter of GENERALcame up to join the leaders two furlongs from the finishing line before taking the lead in the final furlong. She won under a hands and heels ride from Soumillon, who encouraged her every stride, staying on well.The Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Thomas Fourcy-trained MEETHAG finished in second underJerome Cabre. The His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani-owned and Mrs J F Bernard-trainedARTEMIS was further five lenghts behind in third under Jean-Bernard Eyquem.
“She is a star, even though, as her jockey confirmed, the ground was not her cup of tea,” commented winning trainer Thomas Fourcy, “She has a huge heart. She was holding back, but when she saw the others, she went for the win. She is the ZARKAVA of Purebred Arabians. She doesn’t put on a show, but she is extraordinary. MEETHAG finished a good second. She has lost nothing by it. My runners will now have a break. AMYR DU SOLEIL andLADY PRINCESS will stay in France for next year.”
LADY PRINCESS is a daughter of GENERAL and is out of Group3 PA Prix Damas scorer NACREE AL MAURY, dam of MISTER GINOUX, winner of theQatar International Trophy (Gr1 PA) and the Qatar Derby des Pur-sang Arabes (Gr2 PA), now a sire at Haras de Thouars. This is the exceptional female line of blue hen and foundation mare NEVADA II.
