Arabian excellence remains Qatari
Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s LADY PRINCESS wins GR1 PA Qatar International Stakes
Al Shaqab Racing’s ARMOR takes Gr3 Markel Molecomb Stakes
The second day of the QREC-sponsored Qatar Goodwood Festival came with a massive Qatari victory when The Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned LADY PRINCESS (General x Nacree Al Maury) took her Group 1 PA tally to four when winning the Qatar International Stakes (Gr.1 PA) on Wednesday 28 of July. Khalifa bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, QREC Board Member and Al Shaqab Executive Director, presented the trophies to the winners after the race.
Trained in France by Thomas Fourcy and ridden to success by Oisin Murphy, Lady Princess was having her first start in Britain and was able to retain the title for Qatari owners for the third straight year as Ebraz won it in 2019 and 2020.
Held up towards the rear In the early stages of the 1,600m contest, Lady Princess travelled well in the hands of Murphy and had fellow Group 1PA winner Ebraz (Amer) for company. The two remained towards the rear as the leaders set a decent pace throughout the opening furlongs of the race. On the downhill run for home Lady Princess took closer order and looked menacing on entering the home straight. With the early leaders tiring, Ebraz began to make a move through the middle of the pack whilst Murphy sat patiently on Lady Princess. Just outside the furlong marker, Lady Princess was angled out for a run and closed down the fading Deryan (Mahabb) with a devastating turn of foot and went on to score by three lengths from Ebraz, who battled on gamely to claim second. Tayf (Amer) who is also trained by Fourcy, ran on well to take third late on.
Winning trainer Thomas Fourcy said after the race, “Lady Princess was well tucked in behind Deryan by Oisin Murphy and when he pulled her out for a challenge, she did it extremely easily. She is getting more mature and is certainly not as free as before, even if she can get a bit excited in the stalls. She has lots of character but that’s what makes her so good. We will have a look at taking in the Qatar Arabian World Cup before going off to run in Saudi Arabia and then hopefully Qatar for the H.H. The Amir Sword. We will decide later on if she runs in the World Cup or not. As for Tayf, I would have preferred if he had a clearer run in the straight. He was checked and then had to go again. He is not one for a sprint finish. I think he could have battled it out with Ebraz for second. He was in great condition coming into this and will go straight to the Qatar Arabian World Cup, like last year”
Bred by Earl du Champ Ginioux and Mrs. Elodie Bellaud, Lady Princess is by multiple Gr.1 PA winner and sire General (Amer), who stands under the Umm Qarn banner. She is out of the Group 3 PA winner Nacre Al Maury (Kesberoy), who also produced Group 1 PA winner and stallion Mister Ginoux, an Al Shaqab Purebred Arabian sire.
ARMOR TAKES GROUP THREE MOLECOMB IN FINE STYLE
The 2-year-old colt ARMOR (No Nay Never x Hestia) stormed clear to win the Group 3 Markel Molecomb Stakes for his owners Al Shaqab Racing in the third race in the card at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
The colt is trained by Richard Hannon and was partnered to victory by jockey Ryan Moore. Armor travelled well on the heels of the leaders over the first few furlongs and was always well placed throughout the 1,000-meter contest. The colt was asked to close once inside the two furlong and produced a strong effort against the standside rail. Drawing clear inside the final furlong Armor went on to win impressively by three and a quarter lengths at the line. Race favourite FERABY (Havana Gold) finished second and was unlucky when leaving the stalls. He could never really land a blow. BOONIE (Brazen Beau) battled on gamely to take third.
Khalifa bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, QREC Board Member and Al Shaqab Executive Director, presented the trophies to the winners after the race.
Trainer Richard Hannon said after the race, “He ran very well at Royal Ascot on the last day. Nicolas de Watrigant bought him and we have always thought a lot of him. We might have a look at the Morny with him going forward. It’s great for his owners who are sponsoring this meeting”
Bred by Christopher Stedman, Armor is a son of No Nay Never who stands at Coolmore and is out of Hestia (High Chapparal) a winner over a mile and was placed fourth in a listed race.
ALCOHOL FREE CLAIMS THIRD GROUP ONE WITH SUSSEX SUCCESS
Relishing the soft ground conditions, the Jeff Smith-owned ALCOHOL FREE (No Nay Never x Plying) stormed clear to take the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group One) in race 5.
Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, QREC Vice Chairman and President of the Asian and the Qatar Equestrian Federations crowned the winners.
Now a triple Group one winner following success in both the Cheveley Park and the Coronation Stakes, the three-year-old is trained by Andrew Balding and was ridden to success by Oisin Murphy. In a steady run race, Alcohol Free was placed in mid-division by Murphy in the early stages and took a keen hold for the first few furlongs. On the turn for home the filly was angled towards the outside and began to make headway on the leaders inside the final two furlongs. As race leader Century Dream (Cape Cross) dropped away, Alcohol Free was left to duel out the finish with Irish raider and favourite Poetic Flare (Dawn Approach) who proved difficult to pass. Inside the final furlong Alcohol Free began to get the upper hand and pulled away to a two-length success. Poetic Flare took second with the exceptionally well-bred Snow Lantern (Frankel) staying on well for third.
Winning trainer Andrew Balding said after the race; “It is a privilege to have a filly like her. She wouldn’t be the easiest at home and is always on her toes. She’s very talented and we keep having to change lead horse at home because we have nothing fast enough to go with her. It’s not easy for a filly to take on older colts but she is very tough. It’s great for her owner Jeff Smith who is a big supporter of the game. We may have a look at the Juddmonte with her, although the trip may stretch her.”
Bred by Churchtown House Stud, Alcohol Free is by Coolmore stallion No Nay Never. Her dam Plying (Hard Spun) was a dual winner in France and is also the dam of Alexander James (Camelot) a Listed winner at Chantilly. The second dam Nasaieb (Fairy King) was listed placed and is the dam of Kissing Lights (Machiavellan) who was Group two placed.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club