The winning team of Ebraz consisting of British jockey Alan Munro, American trainer Julian Smart and owner H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, pose for a picture with Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during the award ceremony of the Emir’s S
British jockey Alan Munro yesterday guided Ebraz to a spectacular Emir's Sword glory as the hugely popular annual racing festival concluded at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).
Ebraz, groomed by veteran American trainer Julian Smart, finished the 2400m turf race ahead of Olivier Peslier-ridden Tayf and third-placed Al Mourtajez who had Julien Auge in the saddle.
Ebraz's impressive win - clocked at 2:37:97 - was worth a staggering $570,000. Ebraz finished three and half lengths ahead of Tayf as a huge crowd turned up for Qatar's biggest horse racing festival of the season.
Ebraz picked up incredible pace in the last 300 meters, outlasting Tayf and Al Mourtajez with a thunderous finish for Al Shahaniya Stud Farm.
Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani presented the Emir's Sword to Ebraz owner H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Ebraz, the horse with the potential to win many races in the future, helped his owners corner $1m prize bag.
"You do not understand how much that meant to me," Smart said holding back tears after the race. "I am telling you this is a superstar. I told everyone from the beginning that Ebraz is special," Smart added.
"Two starts ago, we were a little unlucky but we made sure we ran a great race today. We have won the race again. I have really good horses over mile and half. There needs to be more races," he said.
"We need more longer races. Maybe we could have more long races," he said.
"It is all about triple crowns. I got to speak with Sheikh Mohammed to see what we need to do for the rest of the season. It is possible. We will aim him for the triple crown. Somebody needs to be the one to win the triple crown and why not him," he said.
Smart-trained Gazwan, ridden by Richard Mullen, finished fourth while Sniper De Monlau, who had Pat Cosgrove in the saddle, completed the top five in the Qatar's biggest horse race of the season.
The fourth spot was worth $60,000 while the fifth-placed rider won $40,000 for his efforts.
Earlier in the day, Chopin - with jockey Alberto Sanna in the saddle - topped a strong field to win the Emir's Trophy (Grade 1) at QREC.
Chopin, trained by A Kuwaiti, emerged a convincing winner, grabbing the top prize of $570,000. Noor Al Hawa, ridden by Adrie De Vries, finished in second spot while Fundamental, who had Richard Mullen in the saddle, ended in third spot.
De Vries won $220,000 while Mullen bagged $110,00 for his third-place finish in the 2400-m turf race.
In race 6 of the day, AJS Gannas showed incredible lung power in the last 200 meters, winning the Emir's Silver Sword race ahead of Melk and Ateej.
Ridden by Gerald Avranche, AJS Gannas - trained by H Al Ramzani - swooped to the top prize of $142,500 in the 1850-m race.
Second-placed Melk, who had Harry Bentley in the saddle, finished with $55,000. Melk was trained by Jassim Mohammed Al Ghazali.
Third-placed Ateej, ridden by Adrie De Vries, helped the owners win $27,500.
