Qatar Arabian Trophy Mares: Teema rises for the big occasion

Teema, ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, enabled the Mont-de-Marsan-based trainer Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, and the colours of Abu Dhabi concern Yas Horse Racing Management, the racing operation of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to complete a 1-2 in the Gr 1 PA Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments for 4-year-old PA fillies.

Ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal, Teema managed to get up at the death to win by a nose from Elaf, who tried to make all the race under Anthony Crastus. It also marked Teema’s first career win.

Petite Leia was third.

WHAT CONNECTIONS SAID

Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte (the trainer of Teema (1^st) and Elaf (2nd)

« Teema had a few health issues during a spell at stud last year. She made a promising reappearance, and had come a lot for the race. When the filly is relaxed, she’s capable of finishing off her races strongly. Elaf kept her cards up her sleeves: and is as hard as nails. Although lacking a turn of foot, she refused to throw in the towel. »

Olivier Trigodet (the trainer of Petite Leia (3rd)

« Petite Leia is a filly that we have always held in high regard. She only saw racecourse for the first time this year, and is still tender. We had targeted a place in the first three in this Group 1 PA, and so it’s mission accomplished. She had a perfect race: Christophe Soumillon told me that she was a bit slow to pick at the beginning of the straight. He suggested that I should equip the filly in a pair of Australian blinkers on her next start, but maybe it’s also down to a lack of maturity. »