30 September 2017
Photos scoopdyga.com
Vazirabad finally wins his Qatar Prix du Cadran
Vazirabad is the top French stayer, and the Qatar Prix du Cadran (Gr1) was one of the few of the biggest French races missing from his record. This Saturday, he rectified that when winning, with style, the 2017 running of the race. Owned by His Highness the Aga Khan, the horse was taking his third Gr1 victory. The race was led by Mille et Mille, winner of the 2015 running of the Qatar Prix du Cadran, whilst the eventual winner travelled towards the rear of the field. Once 450m from the line, Christophe Soumillon pulled out Vazirabad and he went easily to the lead to win by just under a length. Mille et Mille is second. The Czech runner, Trip to Rhodos, ran well to finish third seven lengths back. This was His Highness the Aga Khan’s third win in the Qatar Prix du Cadran and a second for the trainer, Alain de Royer Dupré. The latter commented: "He won, but I don’t think that we saw Vazirabad at his best today. He was perhaps moving a little less well than usual. In the straight, he was hanging a bit to the right. He will run in the Prix Royal Oak, at a racecourse that he loves, Saint-Cloud. After that, Meydan is a possibility. I won’t write off the Ascot Gold Cup just yet, but he is a horse that will last, and so we won’t run him if the weather is too hot, or the track too quick."
Ice Breeze gives Prince Khalid Abdullah his first win of the weekend
The Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Groupe 2), the opening race of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend, was won by a horse owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah. Could this be a sign from destiny, before Enable’s attempt in the Arc?
Ice Breeze, the winner, had never run over 3000m previously to this. However, the trip proved no problem for him, and it was in the final strides that this tough colt came to snatch victory from Call To Mind, the filly owned by Her Majesty the Queen of England. Darbuzan, the favourite, had to settle for third place.
Pascal Bary, who trains the winner, commented: “I had no doubts over his stamina. He debuted over 2400 meters, and I knew that he has a brother who has been useful over these longer distances. He was unlucky in running when he finished fourth in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris, and last time out in the Qatar Prix Niel, the heavy ground really hampered him. He has had a busy season, and I’m not sure if I will run him again this year, especially as he doesn’t like heavy ground. He could go to America next year”.
A double for Damien de Watrigant in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments (4 year old fillies)
Damien de Watrigant came up with a full house in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy des Juments (4 year old fillies), a Group 1 for Purebred Arabians. Both his runners, Muneera and Jamaheer, finished in the first two places. Both of these fillies ran last time out at La Teste, again finishing first and second, in the Prix Nevadour (Group 3 PA), where Jamaheer had finished in front of Muneera. Muneera, who runs in the colours of Al Nujaifii Racing, had her revenge today, on the softer ground that she prefers.
Damien de Watrigant commented: "As I said previously, I think that Muneera is better than Jamaheer on soft ground. Today, the ground stick measurement was 3,6. Muneera is a filly that stays the distance. Here at Chantilly, it’s a testing track and that made the difference. Jamaheer found herself in front a bit too soon, but that wasn’t her jockey’s fault. She is in good form, but she weakened a little in the finish. We have finished first and second, it’s hard to imagine any better!"
The Juliet Rose holds on to her title in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu
The Juliet Rose gave her all to retain to her title in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Group 2). The filly, who carries the colours of Mayfair Speculators, led the race, and when Kitesurf and Listen In came to attack her, she kept digging deeper to hold on to her lead to the line. The Juliet Rose gave a huge performance, as she has only run once this year, finishing fourth in the Haras Firmamento Prix de Pomone (Group 2), in August at Deauville. Her trainer Nicolas Clément commented: "This filly is as hard as iron. It’s very satisfying to see her run like this, as she hasn’t run in two months. She has had a few muscle issues. The Juliet Rose loves Chantilly and soft ground. She is an amazing filly. She could go to Ascot or to the Prix Royal Oak."
Garlingari follows in the footsteps of Cirrus des Aigles in the Qatar Prix Dollar
Garlingari showed his immense courage to win the Qatar Prix Dollar (Group 2). This horse, trained by Corine Barande-Barbe battled all the way to the line to win in from of the Czech runner Subway Dancer, and the British Salouen, who finished strongly up the outside. Garlingari was following in the footsteps of Cirrus des Aigles, also trained by Corine Barande-Barbe,who won this race in 2010, 2012 and 2013.
Corine Barande-Barbe commented: "I bred him, I own him, and I train him, so it is three times as exciting. I have already won this race three times with Cirrus des Aigles. It is wonderful to win it with another horse this year. As it often is in racing, a dream and good luck came together. He was facing a tough field today. The race went at a good pace, and there was a real battle in the finish, which we won, so all is well! He could go to the Prix du Conseil de Paris or even to Hong Kong, where he has already run well. And why not the Champions Stakes in 2018, at the moment he is still too young (laughs) !"
Taareef retains his title in the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein
Taareef was, logically, the short priced favourite in the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2), a race that he had already won in 2016. Royal Julius led the race at a decent pace. The eventual winner was held up towards the rear, become coming on the attack 450 meters from the finishing line. He came up to join Hathal, before passing him with ease, and pulling clear. Taareef won by just over a length in front of a fast-finishing Buthela. Noor Al Hawa was third by a little under a length. The winning trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget, commented after the race: "Taareef didn’t have the attitude that he showed the other day. He has done nothing today. He didn’t even sweat a drop. I was a little worried about his draw, as he had to sit out at the back of the field. My horse had plenty in the tank, and it would have been suicide to for him to make a big effort at the start of the race. He could run again this year, as he started running quite late on in the season. We will decide where to run him with the Shadwell team. There are not that many options outside of Hong Kong, which is a difficult race, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Gr1) which is in three weeks, or the Breeders Cup."
Dice Roll wins the first ever edition of the Haras de Bouquetot – Critérium de la Vente d’Octobre Arqana
The Haras de Bouquetot – Critérium de la Vente d’Octobre Arqana is a new race this year, for 2 year old colts and fillies who were bought at the Arqana October Yearling Sale. The prize money of this race which is exceptionally high for a Class 1 (€271,260) attracted 18 runners, and Dice Roll, in the colours of Giacomo Algranti was the clear winner. He is trained by Fabrice Chappet, and was bought as a yearling for €130,000. The trainer commented: "Dice Roll has a lot of speed, and this allowed him to overcome his draw. He is also a very easy horse to ride. He accelerated well in the final stages, and won nicely. This race is an excellent initiative. We are delighted to have a race like this in the program."