Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe kicks off with thrilling races

Paris: The opening day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend yesterday at ParisLongchamp several thrilling contests between some of the top class horses in the world. 

The day had a nine race card with six of them being group races. 

The senior management of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), including Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Vice Chairman and President of the Asian and the Qatar Equestrian Federations, Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah; QREC's Acting CEO Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, Board Member Khalid bin Mohammed Al Ali and Qatar's Deputy Ambassador to France, Fahad bin Ahmad Jassim Al Hamar, presented the trophies to the winners. 

Manobo leads home Appleby/Godolphin one-two

Leading home a one-two for his owners Godolphin, the highly progressive three-year-old Manobo (Sea The Stars x Tasaday) held on bravely to land the Qatar Prix Chaudenay (Group 2). 

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden to success by jockey James Doyle, the enormous colt was stepping up in to 3,000m for the first time and he now remains unbeaten in four career starts.

“Manobo is still learning his trade. That was an excellent performance from him. We are also very happy with Kemari. Having first and second is great. The Cadran is probably an option with Manobo for next season,” winning trainer Charlie Appleby said after the race. 

Last gasp success for Teema

Carrying the colours of her owner and breeder YAS Horse Racing Management, the four-year-old pure-bred Arabian Teema (Bibi De Carrere x Dahwa) broke her maiden in thrilling style by landing the Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Juments (Group 1 PA). 

Leading home a one-two for both her trainer Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, Teema was having her fifth career start and finished third in the 2020 Qatar Trophy des Poulices (Group 1 PA). She was ridden to success by jockey Ioritz Mendizabal. 

Trueshan stamps authority in Cadran

Superstar Trueshan (Planteur x Shao Line) repaid the patience shown by his owners The Singula Partnership and landed a second successive Group 1 success by taking the Qatar Prix Du Cadran. 

Due to unsuitable ground conditions, the Alan King-trained five-year-old had not been seen since winning the Group 1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup back in July. Relishing the step up to 4,000m for the first time, Trueshan produced a career-best effort to score under jockey James Doyle. 

Stradivarius took second, while Bubble Smart ran on well again close home and finished a further length back in third. 

Loving Dream claims first Group One 

Having just her seventh career start, the Lordship stud owned and bred filly Loving Dream (Gleneagles x Kissable) showed extreme tenacity to claim her first a first success at Group 1 level, when landing the Qatar Prix Du Royallieu.

Trained in Newmarket by John and Thady Gosden, the three-year-old had already shown a flicker of class when winning the Group 2 Ribblesdale Stakes at Ascot in June, before bombing out when finishing fifth behind Snowfall in the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks. A fantastic ride by Frankie Dettori saw the three-year-old score a narrow success on her first attempt at 2,800m.

Real World lands Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein

Continuing his incredible rise through the ranks, Godolphin owned four-year-old Real World (Dark Angel x Nafura) held on gamely to land the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2). 

Trained by Saeed bin Suroor and ridden by Frankie Dettori, Real World secured a first win at Group 2 level and in doing so, narrowly denied titleholder The Revenant (Dubawi) a third successive win in the race. 

Dubai Honour completes an English clean sweep

Crowning what was an extremely successful day for English-trained horses, the Mohammed Obadia-owned Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai x Mondelice) displayed an electric turn of foot to take the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar.

Trained by William Haggas, Dubai Honour’s success ensured that all five Group races (reserved to thoroughbreds) on the day were won by British-trained runners. Partnered by James Doyle (who also rode a treble) Dubai Honour is now a dual Group 2 winner in France, following his success in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville in August. 

The 100th edition of Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe 

The Qatari victories over the last two days coincided with the fast approaching last and big day of the 100th edition of the festival, which will have its curtain fall today. 

The Qatar-sponsored racing extravaganza has been taking place for years through cooperation between the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club and France Gallo, the authority responsible for horse racing in France. The finale will feature seven consecutive Gr 1 races, confirming the event’s standing and prestige as one of the most important races in Europe and the world. 

Among the nine races in the Sunday card, there are two iconic races considered as the most prestigious and toughest contests. 

The first will be the Gr 1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup, which is regarded the world championship in this type of racing. It will be directly followed by the Gr 1 Qatar Prix Arc de l’Arc de Triomphe, which is also considered the world’s top race on turf.

Today's nine-race card will start at 3:15pm Qatar time and will be broadcast live on Al Kass Channel 1 in the following order:

03:15pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac - Criterium Des Pouliches, 2YO fillies,1.600m

03:50pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium), 2YOs, 1,400m.

04:25pm: Gr1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup, 4YO+, 2,400m

05:05pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe, 3YO+, 2,400m

05:50pm: Gr1 Prix De L’opera Longines, 3YO+, 2,000m

06:25pm: Gr1 Prix De L’abbaye De Longchamp Longines, 2YO+, 1,000m

07:00pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix De La Foret, 3YO+, 1,400m

07:30pm: Qatar Grand Handicap Des Flyers Presente Par RMC, Class 1, 3YO+, 1,400m

08:00pm: Qatar Prix De La Centieme Edition De L’Arc, Class 2, 3YO+, 1,400m