€80,000 Longines Bertrand du Breuil (Gr3): Marhaba Ya Sanafi is making a name for himself

Sunday, 16 June 2024, Chantilly Racecourse (Oise). – Leading from the start, a year after finishing 3rd in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby, Gr1) following his Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas, Gr1) victory, Marhaba Ya Sanafi (Muhaarar) started as the favourite among six runners in the €80,000 Prix Bertrand du Breuil Longines (Gr3, 3yo & up, 1,600m/1m), with no 3-year-olds participating.

Representing Jaber Abdullah, Marhaba Ya Sanafi had raced seven times since, after a two-month summer break. Finishing 11th in the Prix Jacques Le Marois (Gr1) and 4th in the Prix Niel (Gr2) on his first attempt at 1m1/2, he went unplaced in Bahrain two months later. He has almost always performed well since returning in 2024, winning the Prix Altipan (L) for his comeback, finishing 2nd in the Prix Edmond Blanc (Gr3) and then the Prix du Muguet (Gr2), before a troubled run in the Prix d'Ispahan (Gr1). 

Racing off the basic weight here, he withstood the late challenge from Andromède (Sea the Stars), a month after her last win in a class 2 over 9f. Both left Bullace (Toronado), who finished third, nearly three lengths behind.

Trained at Chantilly by Andreas Schütz for Jaber Abdullah, who also bred him through Rabbah Bloodstock, Marhaba Ya Sanafi was not sold at auction, unlike his brother Mofridge (Iffraaj), sold by Godolphin for £1,000 at 4 years old at Tattersalls after winning a race in Germany.

A filly by Acclamation was born in 2021. Their dam Danega (Galileo), unraced, was sold in foal to Hello Youmzain at the end of 2022 at Goffs. She was bought for €16,000 by Duncan McGregor before her best son had raced. A year later, her foal by Hello Youmzain, a colt owned by J. Maher, sold for only €32,000 to Fergal Kelly. This family, managed by Jim Bolger at some stage, includes the successful jump sire Sholokhov (Sadler’s Wells), Dewhurst Stakes winner Intense Focus (Giant’s Causeway), and several quality fillies.