1 October 2017
Photos scoopdyga.com
Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Gr1)
John Gosden, trainer of Enable (1st)
“What a marvellous 3 year old filly! She is very special. She was well positioned by Frankie in the race. Listen, this is all about the filly, and her owner and breeder, Prince Khalid Abdullah. It would be wrong too run her again this year, she’s been running for ten months and it would be too hare on the filly to go to the Breeder’s Cup. If she’s really in good form, we will still consider running her next year, and maybe come back to the new ParisLongchamp.”
Lisa-Jane Graffard, representing Godolphin, owner of Cloth of Stars (2nd)
“Cloth of Stars ran a superb race. Even if he had found a way through earlier, he couldn’t have beaten the winner. He finished very well. He’s a really lovely horse, who has a lot of character but also a lot of quality. We will have to have a good think about his future. It is a possibility that he will have a break to then run in the Dubai Sheema Classic.”
Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of Ulysses (3rd)
“He has given a very good performance, but he is much better on good ground. It’s enough just to watch his action. That notwithstanding, the filly is too good for him. We will think about whether to go to America for the Breeder’s Cup, as he will have the ground he likes there. We will make a decision depending on how he comes back from this race.”
Alan Cooper, Racing manager for the Niarchos, co-owner of Ulysses (3rd)
“He really is a super horse. He has run very well and he never lets us down. Ulysses was raised at Coolmore. He comes from the same family as Cloth of Stars. This bloodline goes back to Northern Trick, the third dam, who was second in the Arc in 1984. She was bought as a yearling by Mr Niarchos, with François Boutin and Sir Philip Payne-Gallwey, my predecessor.”
Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Order of St George (4th)
“I am delighted with the way he has run. He likes the soft ground and he stays very well. Overall we are very pleased with him and my other horses in the race.”
Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, representing Al Shaqab Racing, co-owner of Brametot (5th) and owner of Doha Dream (unplaced)
“Brametot ran very well. We were hoping for this result. All the team felt that he had been much better since Deauville. He has run back to his true form. We have no excuses. At the most, he wasn’t that comfortable mid way down the straight. Although that gave him a chance to breathe. It’s great to see him finish so well. We have come a long way from Deauville… He’s run back to his Jockey Club form. Concerning Doha Dream, he didn’t have as good an action as normal, and we will have to discuss where he will go next.”
Cristian Demuro, jockey of Brametot (5th)
“There wasn’t much pace and Brametot is better when he can come from behind. At the 400 metres post, he wasn’t really hampered, as he ran on well after.”
Total Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp (Gr1)
Charlie Hills, trainer of Battaash (1st)
“I have never seen a horse with so much speed. He’s nota big horse, but his cruising speed is unbelievable. He’s even better on faster ground. He’s a gelding and he has a great future ahead of him. We were invited to go and run in the Everest but that will be something for next year. His jockey said that he had never ridden a horse as fast as this. He is very different to Muhaarar who I trained before as he had a bit more stamina.”
Jim Crowley, jockey of Battaash (1st)
“He was very relaxed all day, in the stables, and he went to post well. He had a little blip behind the stalls, and I was worried for a moment, but as soon as those gates open he was out and gone. I’ve never ridden a horse as fast as this, he was just half pacing the whole way. It’s just a case of trying to control his speed.”
William Butler, assistant trainer for Marsha (2nd)
“Marsha is a consistant filly. The winner is a monster, fair-play to him. She was third in Goodwood behind him and second here. We are lucky, she ran well. Marsha is a Gr1 winner and placed in top races. I am not sure we will see her again this season, we have to see how she gets back. I know she is going to the Tattersalls December Sales.”
Clive Cox, trainer of Profitable (3rd)
“Profitable ran a huge race. He’s a very good horse, very tough. He’s had a great year, and this 3rd place proves definitively that he is a Group 1 horse.”
Prix de l'Opéra Longines (Gr1)
Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Rhododendron (1st) and Hydrangea (2nd)
“Rhododendron is a very special filly to do what she did after what happened to her in the Prix de Diane Longines. She is tough and brave. Hydrangea ran very well. Both fillies could go to the Breeder's Cup Filly and Mares.”
Pierre-Charles Boudot, jockey of Lady Frankel (3rd)
“She has run really well, and was relaxed in behind the leaders. She accelerated well the whole way up the straight. She finished very close to the winner. It’s very encouraging a s she has showed us that she has a bit of stamina. Her calm attitude today went in her favour.”
Charles Appleby, trainer of Wuheida (4th)
“We are very happy. She travelled well according to the jockey and quickened well also at the end. She should be able to win her Group 1, at least we hope she will.”
Total Prix Marcel Boussac - Critérium des Pouliches (Gr1)
Charles Appleby, trainer of Wild Illusion (1st)
“The filly had worked really well prior to this run and she’s come on a lot from her last run, so much so that we decided to supplement her. I’m very grateful that Sheikh Mohammed allowed me to do so. I fitted her with cheekpieces today, as she was a bit too switched off in her previous race. I just wanted to get her concentrating more. I’m delighted for all the team, and it’s also great for her sire, Dubawi. For now, she will have an easy winter, and we will make a decision after for her program. Of course, we can dream about the Classics with a filly like her!”
James Doyle, jockey of Wild Illusion (1st)
“I’m very pleased with how she won, she’s a relentless galloper. She really surprised us today, she’s come on a lot from her last run. The cheekpieces sharpened her up and helped her a lot. The ground was riding soft, and she coped with it really well.”
Freddy Head, trainer of Polydream (2nd)
“She’s run very well. However, she didn’t really fire, and just stayed on in her action. At Deauville, she showed a real turn of foot. Perhaps it’s because it is the end of the season. She found herself a bit too far back, but we aren’t looking for excuses. She looks to stay the trip, which is encouraging. We will see her next year.”
Jean-Claude Rouget, trainer of Mission Impassible (3rd)
“We are very happy with her run. She has run a huge race and it is her best ever performance. There’s nothing else to say. For the moment, she will have a break, before aiming her at the big races next year.”
Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère - Grand Critérium (Gr1)
Aidan O’Brien, trainer of Happily (1st)
“When we were here last year, we thought that we should enter some of the fillies in this race, so she’s always had this as an option. After the Moyglare, the lads wanted to split the fillies (Magical 2nd, by short head to Happily) so they wouldn’t have to run against each other again. We’ve been very happy with her at home, and Ryan gave her a great ride. She’s very like her brother Gleneagles, lots of class, very professional and relaxed. She might even get a little further than Gleneagles, and stay 2000m. It’s lovely new ground out there, we couldn’t ask for better at this time of year.”
Ryan Moore, jockey of Happily (1st)
“She’s already won over 7 furlongs, so we were confident about the trip. She’s got a lot of class. She’s a tough filly, as we started racing a long way from home. she’s beaten the colts here which isn’t easy. I wouldn’t describe the ground as soft, more as good to soft, and she’s already won on heavier ground than this.”
Jean-Claude Rouget, trainer of Olmedo (2nd)
“Olmedo was very tenacious. He needs more race experience. He’s showed his class today. I was worried that he was going to lose 2nd place, but he did well to hold on. We will aim him for the Poule and the Jockey Club, as we did with Brametot. He should be good enough.”
Charles Appleby, trainer of Masar (3)
“The jockey was very happy with him. Masar ran well. He went a bit wide around the turn , and lost some ground, but he finished well nonetheless. He fought well and he should make into a nice 3 year old. “
Nicolas Clément, trainer of Woodmax (4th)
“The colt has run well. He is fourth behind some very smart 2 year olds. He ran well in the final straight. He is undoubtedly a colt for the future. I’m not sure if I will run him again this year, or if we will wait for newt season. He’s run well over 1600m, and we won’t change that for that for now.”
Qatar Prix de la Forêt (Gr1)
Martyn Meade, trainer of Aclaim (1st)
“It was ideal conditions today, the ground was absolutely perfect, and the 7 furlong trip is ideal for him. The whole plan this year was to win a Group 1, and he’s done it. He won’t run again this year, and we’ll make a decision about next year later on. We set out at the beginning of this season to try and win a Group 1, and he’s done it but we left it a bit late! It’s a very special win, as it’s my first one at this level, and he’s a real family horse. It’s been a great team effort to get here.”
David O’Meara, trainer of So Beloved (2nd)
“He was a bit blocked in during the race but he finished strongly. We are not surprised that he ran so well. It was a very similar race to the one he had in the Lennox Stakes, but he handled it better today. He is a really talented horse. I’m not sure where he will go next. Along with his owners, we wanted to see if he could handle 1400 meters with a turn. He has done so well and we are delighted.”
Francis-Henri Graffard, trainer of Karar (3rd)
“He’s run well, and was brave. This run shows that he likes this trip. His jockey thought that he was going to win for a moment, but then the others came up on him. When he can control the race, he is competitive at this level. We will see how he comes back from the race, but the Breeders’ Cup Mile, on good ground and around two turns at Del Mar, could be an interesting entry. However it’s not yet a certainty.”
Qatar Arabian World Cup (G1-PA)
Julian Smart, trainer of Gazwan (1st) and Ebraz (3rd)
“I have won this race three times, but each time with fillies. So I was a bit worried, as I didn’t have a filly in the race this year! Gazwan is very, very good. He needed the race last time out. He has improved. I put blinkers on him today. Ebraz and Yazeed, who are 4 year olds, are horses for the future. Gazwan is now 6 years old, but he still probably has another season in front of him. Perhaps he will be back here next year! He is a really tough horse, but I try not to run him too frequently. You have to be careful with horses of his quality! I am a bit disappointed with Ebraz, but these are tough races.”
Alban de Mieulle, trainer of Yazeed (2nd)
“He is horse that I have always liked. We had to stop on him for a while, and this was only his fourth race. He was beaten by a very good horse, who is older than him and was a better horse on the day. From a tactical point of view, his jockey, who is more used to riding thoroughbreds, thought he was riding one!”
Elisabeth Bernard, trainer of Sylvine Al Maury (4th)
“She was the only filly in the race. She came with an incredible run in the final straight, in a really tough field, against colts who had finished in front of her in Deauville. She finished in front of them today. I am delighted. I was a bit disappointed in Deauville, as had there not been so much interference in the race, she could have won. She’s a fantastic filly. It is very hard to keep a horse at this level from 3 to 6 years old. We will see how she is next week. Our current objective is the Jewel Crown, at Abu Dhabi, sponsored by Sheikh Mansour.”