JDG
The French Arabian Breeder’s races in France were run at Toulouse on Wednesday, 24 October. Qatar’s horses landed three of the four black type races featured in the nine-contest race meeting, which rounded off the group Arabian races of the French season.
HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Adiba wins French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge-Pouliches (Gr2 PA)
Adiba (Burning Sand), owned by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani, showed her superiority and won her first Group race very easily in the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge – Pouliches (Gr2 PA). Cantering at the back of the, she accelerated in the middle of the track in the home straight. When asked only with arms and heels by her jockey Gabriel Bon, the filly was very at ease and managed to take the advantage in the last 150 metres. Trained by Didier Guillemin, Adiba is very valued by her connections although she disappointed in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1 PA), at Saint-Cloud on 5 October, when she came sixth. In yesterday’s contest, Adiba left Yaraa (Sarrab) at two lengths and a half in second place. The latter finished six and a half lengths in front of Aleen (Sarrab).
Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Naama lands French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Sprint (GR2 PA)
Al Shaqab Racing’s colours were represented by two horses in the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Sprint (Gr2 PA) and both stepped on the podium. Indeed, Al Naama (Majd Al Arab) managed to take home the success at the very end of a race in which she waited at the back of the field. Lwsail (Amer) looked as if he was going to win, but Al Naama took the advantage by a nose at the post. Thomas Fourcy, trainer of Al Naama and Lwsail, said: “I thought I would have a hard time beating Ateej who defeated us last time. Both horses showed real courage. They both came to win and ran well. They both fought for success against each other at the end. I am very happy with both my horses.” Ateej (Af Albahar), who was the favourite, took the third place, a quarter of a length in front of Dynamites (Nashwan Al Khalidiah).
Al Shaqab Racing’s Rijm tops French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Classic (Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup) (GR1 PA)
The Al Shaqab Racing-owned Rijm (Azadi) showed his quality in the last race of the day, the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Classic (Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup) (Gr1 PA). Once again, Al Shaqab Racing’s silks did very well since the second place of this Gr1 PA comes to Al Mouwaffak (Azadi), making it another one-two for trainer Thomas Fourcy. After cantering in the second-last position, Rijm accelerated on the outside in the home straight and was already in front coming in the home straight. He won by more than seven lengths in front of Al Mouwaffak, leaving a great impression for his first Group victory. Still last in the turn, the latter showed a good effort along the outside rail to take the runner-up place. Ijram (Amer) completed the frame, finishing in the third place. The 4yo colt, Rijm, had stayed and came third place in a Gr1 PA over the 2,000 metres at Doncaster. He had also been the runner-up in a Gr3 PA at Ostende in late August, following his second place in the Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes de 4ans (Gr1 PA) at Chantilly in mid-June.