Sahlan lands Group 1 glory for Al Shaqab Racing in Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp

*In QREC-sponsored Qatar Arc Trials
*Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah crowns the winners

Mdmar – France – JDG

Sponsored by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) and attended by Mr Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, QREC Chairman, the Qatar Arc Trials was staged at ParisLongchamp, France, on Sunday, 7 September 2025. Mr Al Attiyah crowned the winners of the day’s feature races, most notably the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Group 1) for Thoroughbreds, which was won by Sahlan, homebred and owned by Al Shaqab Racing, in a major international triumph. Mr Al Attiyah also presented the trophies for the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon (Group 1) for Purebred Arabians, a key prep for the Qatar Arabian World Cup, which went the way of HM Alchahine, owned by Helal Alalawi. In addition, he presented the trophies for the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Group 1) for Thoroughbred fillies, which was taken by Aventure in the colours of Wertheimer & Frère.

The card featured nine races in total, including five group contests, all run under the banner of Qatar, with each race brimming with quality, excitement and fierce competition. The results of the five major races were as follows:

Sahlan Triumphs in the Gr.1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp

Sahlan (Wootton Bassett), the fast-improving 3-year-old colt, delivered the best performance of his career when capturing the Gr.1 Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp over 1600m. The prestigious race, open to 3-year-olds and older, assembled a high-class field of 12 runners.

Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, ridden by Mickaël Barzalona, and owned and bred by Al Shaqab Racing, the homebred colt came into the race full of confidence after his stylish victory in the Gr.3 Prix Daphnis – Samuel Liberman at Deauville. He has now confirmed himself at the very top level.

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Soon settled in midfield, Sahlan tracked the well-fancied Henri Matisse (Wootton Bassett) in a race led at a fast tempo by Alcantor (New Bay) and the Ballydoyle pacemaker Serengeti (Wootton Bassett). As the pace grew stronger, Go To First (Rulership) moved up on his outside, leaving Sahlan boxed in approaching the false straight.

Entering the home stretch, Sahlan was still travelling smoothly and began to quicken, but Alcantor had gone several lengths clear. Inside the final 150m, the leader began to tire, and Sahlan launched his late charge, closing powerfully to grab the advantage inside the final 100m and win by a short head. Rosallion (Blue Point) finished strongly but too late, taking second, while The Lion In Winter (Sea The Stars) ran on for third.

Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Sahlan is out of Wasmya (Toronado), a Listed winner over 1400m at three. Wasmya is a daughter of Lamorlaye (Danehill Dancer) and a half-sister to Wahdan (Siyouni), a winner over 1900m at three and third in a Gr.2 over 2000m at the same age. She is also a half-sister to Talbah (Style Vendome), a winner over 1500m at three and third in a Gr.3 over 1400m at three.

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Hm Alchahine Canters to Victory in the Gr.1 Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon

HM Alchahine (Al Mourtajez), a powerful 5-year-old colt, produced a sparkling performance to win the Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon. Hardly asked a question by his rider, he cantered home under a hands-and-heels ride to secure the second Group 1 success of his career.

Trained by Mme Jean-François Bernard, ridden by Cristian Demuro, and owned by Helal Alalawi, Hm Alchahine came into the race off a victory in the Gr.2 (PA) over 1600m at Hamburg-Horn, adding to his earlier Gr.2 and Gr.1 wins this season. This latest triumph confirmed his position among the very best of the Purebred Arabian division.

As expected, Al Zwair (TM Fred Texas) set a strong pace in front, with Hm Alchahine tracking in fourth, a few lengths off Luwsail (Al Mourtajez). Positions remained unchanged as the leader pressed on, with Djafar(Dahess) and Luwsail closing steadily from behind. Moving closer to the pace, Hm Alchahine was travelling supremely well and angled to the outside at the entrance to the final straight.

While his rivals came under pressure, Hm Alchahine cruised effortlessly, Demuro motionless in the saddle. Without being asked for maximum effort, he swept clear, ears pricked, even shifting slightly left inside the final 50m. Winning with ease, he crossed the line four and a half lengths in front. Luwsail stayed on for second, with Moshrif (Dahess) finishing third.

Winning trainer said after the race:

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“He’s a true champion. There’s going to be a great race on Arc day. I feel reassured. I’m not saying I’m going to win, although I’ve thought so for three months. I learned that everything truly suits him: every racecourse, every track layout, every climate. It’s extraordinary. He’s the champion of champions. I must say that the horse will stay in Chantilly, of course under my supervision with my riders, for a month, so we don’t have to repeat the transport and the trip back to La Teste. We’re going to improve him since we’ll train on the Chantilly tracks. He remains unbeaten under my training. Once again, he’ll face Al Ghadeer, You’re going to say I’m crazy but I don’t think he can beat him, I’m sure of it.”

Bred by H. Mousli and Mme N. Mousalli, Hm Alchahine is out of Al Chyhanah (Munjiz) and is a full brother to Hm Al Zalmaa (Al Mourtajez), a Gr.1 (PA) winner over 2000m at three and successful over 1400m at the same age. Al Chyhanah is a half-sister to Al Seif (Tidjani), a winner over 1700m at four, and to Al Mouzna (Dormane), runner-up over 2000m at three.

Byzantine Dream Bravely Lands the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Foy

The Japanese challenger Byzantine Dream (Epiphaneia) made his trip to Paris worthwhile with a gutsy victory in the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Foy at Longchamp, run over 2400m with a field of nine for 4yo and upwards.

Trained by Tomoyasu Sakaguchi, ridden by Oisin Murphy, and owned by Kazumi Yoshida, the four-year-old colt has already built a strong reputation over staying trips, most notably when landing the Gr.2 Longines Red Sea Turf Handicap in February in Riyadh, a race that carried a winner’s prize of £1,200,000. Dropping back to 2400m here, he showed both class and determination to add another prestigious trophy to his record.

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As expected, Mont St Michel (Galileo) set a strong pace in front, with his stablemate Los Angeles (Camelot) tracking closely behind. Byzantine Dream was settled in sixth on the inside, waiting patiently. Entering the final straight, the colt looked full of running but was searching for a gap.

Up ahead, Los Angeles battled with Sosie (Sea The Stars), but inside the last 250m Byzantine Dream finally saw daylight. Quickening sharply, he joined Sosie for a thrilling fight inside the final 100m. Brave and determined, the Japanese raider edged ahead near the post to win by half a length. Sosie had to settle for second, while Almaqam (Lope De Vega) finished strongly to take third.

Bred by Northern Farm, Byzantine Dream is out of Japoni Chara (Jungle Pocket), a three-time winner — twice over 1600m at two and three, and once over 2600m at five. He is a half-brother to Jasmine Chara (Satono Aladdin), a multiple winner with successes over 1400m and 1500m at four, five, and six.

Aventure Books Arc Ticket with Dominant Qatar Prix Vermeille Win

Aventure (Sea The Stars), a progressive 4-year-old mare, stamped her class with a decisive success in the Gr.1 Qatar Prix Vermeille. The 2400m contest, a key prep race for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, brought together six high-class fillies and mares.

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Trained by Christophe Ferland, ridden by Maxime Guyon, and carrying the colours of her breeders Wertheimer & Frère, Aventure has been in sparkling form all season. Victorious in a Gr.3 over 2000m on her seasonal return, she followed up with a Gr.2 win over 2100m, before finishing second in a strong renewal of the Gr.1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. With this Vermeille victory, she now heads confidently towards the Arc as one of France’s leading hopes.

A little keen in the early strides, Aventure’s jockey allowed her to settle at the rear, adopting her usual ridding-style. Up front, Survie made the running before the hot favourite Whirl (Wootton Bassett) pressed on to set an even tempo. Travelling strongly in fourth, Aventure’s position was unchanged until the home straight, where she was still cruising while others came under pressure. Under a confident Maxime Guyon, she moved smoothly into contention, taking the lead inside the final 300m before striding clear to win by a length and a half. Gezora (Almanzor) ran on for second, with Bedtime Story (Frankel) finishing third.

Bred by Wertheimer & Frère, Aventure is out of Balladeuse (Singspiel), a Gr.2 winner over 2500m at three. She is a half-sister to Left Hand (Dubawi), winner of the Gr.1 Prix Vermeille over 2400m at three, to Romanciere (Dansili), placed in the Gr.1 Prix Jean Romanet over 2000m at four and multiple Gr.3 and Listed placed between 1800m and 2100m, and to Bilissie (Dansili), a Listed winner over 2000m at three.

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Cualificar Secures Qatar Prix Niel in Last Stride

Cualificar (Lope De Vega), a 3-year-old colt with a sparkling season behind him, produced a decisive late surge to win the Gr.2 Qatar Prix Niel. The 2400m trial brought together a field of eight colts, all aiming for a ticket to the Arc.

Trained by André Fabre, ridden by William Buick, and owned by Godolphin, Cualificar has been one of the standout performers of his generation this season. Victorious in two Gr.3 contests over 1800m in the spring, he then ran a huge race to finish a close second in the Gr.1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club, beaten only half a length. This win over 2400m confirms his place among the best middle-distance colts in Europe.

Breaking well, Cualificar settled in third behind the Irish challenger Tennessee Stud (Wootton Bassett), who set the pace, and Nitoi (Siyouni) in second. The favourite Leffard (Le Havre) and Aftermath (Justify) were held up at the back. The pace increased in the false straight, with Buick beginning to niggle his mount, but Cualificar found himself trapped with no clear run as Bay City Roller (New Bay) edged ahead.

Inside the final 100m, a gap finally opened, and Cualificar quickened sharply to burst through, showing a telling turn of foot to nail Bay City Roller by a short head on the line. Parachutiste (Dubawi) finished well to take third.

Bred by Godolphin, Cualificar is out of Qualify (Fastnet Rock), winner of the Gr.1 English Oaks over 2400m at three. He is a half-brother to Swing Vote (Shamardal), a five-time winner including a Gr.3 over 1600m on dirt at four, and to Accepting (Dubawi), a winner over 3100m at three. Qualify is a full sister to Shogun (Fastnet Rock), triple Gr.3 placed over 1600m at two and over 2000m and 2400m at three.

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The “Mdmar” website which was Founded by Khaled Makhlouf in 2007 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.