Al Shaqab Racing's Afjan, with Christophe Soumillon in the saddle, competes during the race at ParisLongchamp yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Afjan showed courage and speed to win the Gr.3 Prix d’Arenberg over 1000m at ParisLongchamp yesterday. The race, for 2-year-olds, brought together ten colts and fillies.
Racing in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing, trained by Henri-François Devin and ridden by Christophe Soumillon, the colt was coming off a very good second place in the Gr.3 Prix de Cabourg at Deauville over 1200m.
This time, he got his reward and became a Group winner.
Settled in midfield, but always in touch, Afjan travelled nicely in a race run at a strong pace, with Stargazed (Zoustar) and Shine On Me (Havana Grey) cutting out the running. Gradually improving into fifth, Afjan was only a length behind the leaders as they came under pressure, still going well under Soumillon, who was motionless in the saddle.
Asked for more inside the final 300m, Afjan quickened strongly to join the front rank, battling with Shine On Me and the favourite Havana Anna (Havana Grey).
In a thrilling finish, he stayed on powerfully to edge ahead in the closing stages, holding off the rallying Havana Anna by a nose. Shine On Me finished third, clear of the remainder.
Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Afjan is out of Al Johrah (Bated Breath), who won twice over 1000m at two and was placed twice in Gr.2 races over 1000m and 1100m.
He is a half-brother to Faleh (Frankel), a winner over 1000m at three. Al Johrah is out of Bea Remembered (Doyen), who was placed at Listed level and is a half-sister to Stormy Antarctic(Stormy Atlantic), a dual Gr.2 winner and multiple Gr.3 winner, as well as to Balsam (Wootton Bassett), a Listed winner over 1000m at two.
