Carrying the silks of Her Excellency Sheikha Yasmeen Bint Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, five-year-old pure-bred Arabian mare MON’NIA (FR)(Amer x Margouia) claimed a third group success when winning the Group 2 PA Criterium des Pouliches at La Teste de Buch, France, on Tuesday 6th July.

MON’NIA, winner of the Group 1 H.H. The Amir Sword in February, is trained by Julian Smart and was ridden to success in the Criterium des Pouliches, a race for four-year-old and older Purebred ARabian fillies and mares over 1900m, by Maxime Guyon.

Quickly out of the stall, she found herself cutting out the running and did so at a steady tempo. Turning for home the field were tightly grouped, but MON’NIA was soon asked for an effort and began to pull clear of her rivals 400m out. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s ARTEMIS (FR) (Azadi x Ocyrrhoe) looked threatening for the majority of the run-in and tried to raise an effort against MON’NIA but it was Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s LADY PRINCESS (FR) (General x Nacree Al Maury) who got closest at the finish. One of the first off the bridle, LADY PRINCESS came with a strong run down the outside, but MON’NIA proved resolute and held on to score by a ½ length at the line. LADY PRINCESS finished runner up for trainer Thomas Fourcy and jockey Julien Auge while the Mrs JF Bernard-trained and Olivier Peslier-ridden ARTEMIS was two lengths further in third.

Bred by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Al Shahania Stud, MON’NIA is by champion Arabian stallion AMER (Wafi) and is out of MARGOUIA (Tidjani). MARGOUIA is the dam of stallion ASSY (Amer), also a winner of the Group 1 H.H. The Amir Sword and SHARESA (Burning Sand) a terrific winner of the Group 1 Qatar International Cup.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club