QATAR ARABIAN TROPHY DES POULAINS - Msaieed confirms his promise in style

The Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains is traditionally the world’s leading race for three-year-old Purebred Arabian colts. Nine colts lined up for this Group 1, the highest level of competition, on Friday at Saint-Cloud.

Victory went to Msaieed, bred and owned by Al Shaqab Racing. Patiently ridden for a long way in the middle of a very strung-out field as Zahim set the pace, still holding a lead of several lengths coming out of the final turn, Msaieed made his move halfway down the straight. He took the lead 200 metres from the winning post before going on to score by two lengths from Neuf de Faust. The favourite, Almoshahar, completed the podium a length and a half further back. Msaieed was ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem.

Trained at Royan by Thomas Fourcy, Msaieed had opened his winning account at Tarbes on 29 August. He had made his debut with a third-place finish at Dax on 31 July.

Technical result

QATAR ARABIAN TROPHY DES POULAINS

1st MSAIEED (J.-B. Eyquem)

2nd NEUF DE FAUST (C. Soumillon)

3rd ALMOSHAHAR (P.-C. Boudot)

Time: 2’21’’96. Margins: 2 – 1 1/2 – 2.

Connections’ comments

Thomas Fourcy, trainer of Msaieed (1st), Les Mathes (Charente-Maritime)

“I have always thought highly of this horse since he arrived at my yard, so Msaieed winning today was the logical next step. At home, he was the one who stood out a little from the others and, in his work, he showed us day after day that he was improving. We will discuss the next stage of his programme with the team. First of all, we are going to enjoy this victory, which is a very pleasant surprise. We will see what we do regarding Doha or his four-year-old season. For a son of Azadi, he is quite calm. He took more time to become a racehorse, whereas the Azadis can be a little more precocious and generous. Physically, I think he is still a long way from being fully developed. He is a horse who is only just beginning to strengthen up. He will improve with age.”

François Rohaut, trainer of Neuf de Faust (2nd) and Almoshahar (3rd), Pau (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)

“Neuf de Faust and Almoshahar both ran well. Neuf de Faust ran a very good race on his return. They were both a little unsettled by the ground, which was softer than we had expected. You could see that the horses found it difficult to finish their races. There is nothing more to say: they were beaten by the best horses today. Congratulations to the winners. We will see both of them again at the highest level next year.”