Jockey Frankie Dettori guides Enable (left) towards the victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1) race at Chantilly Racecourse yesterday.
Chantilly: HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Gazwan (Amer) brought home the 2017 edition of the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1) and succeeded the great Al Mourtajez (Dahess). After his third attempt in this race, Gazwan finally imposed himself in the Qatar Arabian World Cup.
Second in 2015, fourth in 2016, the third one was the good one. A tough horse, Gazwan cantered not far from the lead and fought well until the end with Yazeed (Munjiz) and Ebraz (Amer). Gazwan took a short head advantage on the line.
Owner of Enable, which won the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1), Sheikh Khalid Abdulla receiving the QPAT Trophy from H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani (left).
Meanwhile, the Sheikh Khalid Abdullah-owned Enable (Nathaniel) showed how amazing she is by winning this 2017 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Frankie Dettori placed her in the back of Idaho and Order of St George and did not give a chance to her rivals. On a simple turn of foot, she left them all behind, imposing herself by two lengths and a half in front of the André Fabre-trained Cloth of Stars (Sea The Stars). On this occasion, Enable won her fifth Gr1 in a row.
The Total Prix Marcel Boussac – Critérium des Pouliches (Gr1) opened the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day and it was won by the Godolphin-owned Wild Illusion (Dubawi). Supplemented to participate in this first Gr1 on Sunday, she had done well lately in the Prix d’Aumale (Gr3) when taking the third place. Today, she cantered on the outside, right behind Soustraction (Lope de Vega). Entering the home straight in front, Wild Illusion did not leave her place and only pushed further away by the two French Polydream (Oasis Dream), second, and Mission Impassible (Galileo), third.Only one filly was entered in this Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Grand Critérium) sponsored by Al Hazm (Gr1) and she won! Happily (Galileo) made her owners happy by showing her superiority against the colts in this Gr1. Winner of the Moyglare Stud Stakes (Gr1), she confirmed her abilities in good to soft ground here at Chantilly. The Coolmore representative attacked the first horses in the last 200m and after a short battle, she managed to impose herself in front of Olmedo, who came second.
Coolmore and Aidan O’Brien signed a double win in this Prix de l’Opéra Longines (Gr1), since Rhododendron (Galileo) and Hydrangea (Galileo) took the first two places. Both fillies fought for victory until the end. Rhododendron travelled on the outside of the field just behind her training partner, Hydrangea. Both jockeys asked their fillies to accelerate 300m from the post and did not let go until the final post came. Only a head separated Rhododendron and Hydrangea from the gold medal in this “Arc” for fillies.
H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Thani poses for a photograph with Gazwan and the members of the winning team at Chantilly Racecourse in France yesterday.
Battaash (Dark Angel), owned by Hamdan Al Maktoum, imposed himself brilliantly in the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (Gr1), defeating the title holder Marsha (Acclamation) and Profitable (Invincible Spirit). Both horses came second and third respectively. Quick in front, Battaash controlled the race from pillar to post. When his jockey asked him to accelerate, he showed an incredible turn of foot and left his rivals behind, flying towards the post.
The Canning Downs & Partner-owned colt Aclaim claimed victory in this Qatar Prix de la Forêt (Gr1). He travelled in the back of Al Shaqab Racing’s Karar (Invincible Spirit) along the rail. Brought as far as possible by Karar, Aclaim could then come back strongly in the last metres.
