Morad and Mezown score for Al Shaqab Racing and Ch’Ezza clinches victory for Abdullah Al-Attiyah
The 2022 renewal of the QREC-sponsored Gr2 PA Qatar Prix de l’Elvage, run at Toulouse, France, on Thursday, 26 May was very special with a very strong Qatari presence. Four of the day’s eight races were reserved for Purebred Arabians of which one was Qatar-sponsored and three were won by Qatari owners.
Morad takes the opener
Alshaqab Racing’s homebred Morad (FR) (AL MOURTAJEZ x Nyriad) gave the silver and burgundy colours a flying start to the day. He was more experienced compared to his rivals in the Prix Norniz as he had run twice previously and had progressed on his last start as underscored by his second place in the Prix Djelfor. Given a confident ride by Valentin Seguy, Morad made the running in the 1600m contest for three-year-old Purebred Arabians. In the straight, the colt asserted fairly comfortably by drawing clear and winning by one and a quarter lengths despite an eye-catching effort from his previously unraced stablemate Kareem (Josco du Cayrou), with the latter underscoring his quality by taking second place despite running green to a secure one-two for the winning trainer, Charles Gourdain. Mayssour Al Cham (Azadi) was two and a half lengths further back in third. With this victory under his belt, Morad provided his sire, the outstanding Al Mourtajez, with his first winner.
«Morad put in a relatively quick reappearance, but he needed to gain experience,” said Gourdain to Equidia Racing Channel, “… and to lose a little weight! He had already shown his quality and this was a perfect preparation for the Qatar Coupe de France des Chevaux Arabes, which is a Gr2 PA race that is run in a month’s time at Chantilly. Kareem ran like a big baby and jinxed somewhat towards the finish, but he, too, showed that he gallops!”
Ch’Ezza makes winning debut
The Abdullah Bin Fahad Al Attiyah-owned Ch’Ezza (FR) (AF Albahar x Cherazade) impressed on his debut in the Prix de l’Hippodrome de Toulouse when up against experienced rivals in the2100m run for four-year-old Purebred Arabians. The François Rohaut-trained grey colt showed a very business-like attitude and had a good run during the race, which entailed being covered up on the rails, but within striking distance of the leader Muharib du Soliel (Munjiz). In the straight, Ch’Ezza, having come with a steady run, put himself out of reach of the running-on Hareeb (Mared Al Sahra) in the colours of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani. Although Hareeb had to wait for the gaps to come his way before producing his effort, the final strides saw a battle between the two colts. It was eventually a Qatari one-two as Ch’Ezza managed to edge Hareeb by a short head at the line. The runner-up is trained by Thomas Fourcy and was ridden by Anthony Crastus. Muharib Du Soliel finished third as he was further one and a half lengths behind.
“I’m very happy with him. He showed a very professional attitude despite the fact that he was making his debut”, said the winning jockey Valentin Seguy after the race.
Mezown and Felowah give Al Shaqab Racing a one-two
The Prix Fedora is invariably a coveted maiden for three-year-old Purebred Arabian fillies. Al Shaqab Racing were well represented with four of the eight runners in the field owned and bred by them. Trainer Élisabeth Bernard enabled the Qatari colours to complete a one-two in the 1600m race via two previously unraced fillies. Showing a very active attitude, the front running Mezown (Al Mamun Monlau x Muzoon) won as she pleased.
Under Gary Sanchez, Mezown fairly comfortably repelled the finishing thrust of the running-on Felowah (Dahess), with Jean-Bernard Eyquem choosing to take a pull on the latter so that the filly could relax. Felowah made up a lot of ground in the straight, which was enough to finish second by a length behind the Mezown and a short head in front of Princesse Mourtajez (Al Mourtajez), depriving the latter of the second place.
“All my unraced horses work on the turf the same number of times before their debuts” said Elisabeth Bernard, who sent the first two home, to Equidia, “and some begin their careers as if they had never been on grass before whereas others like Mezown behave as if they had being doing this all their lives! It’s great and I’ve always held the filly in high regard. The filly has got a great action and she should be heading for the classics. Fedorah, by comparison, didn’t get the clearest of runs, but she showed courage which enabled her to nail second place. She is due to head to Qatar where she will join the stable of Éric Lemartinel.”
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club