Marsalis and jockey Ricaardo Santana Jr on their way to win the race. Pictures: Coady Photography
Keenland, USA: In presence of the Consul General of the State of Qatar in New York, H E Mohammed Sultan Al Kuwari, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Qatar Bosuqe Bonita was run at Keenland, USA, on Friday, as part of the ongoing partnership between QREC and Breeders’ Cup.
One of the opening races on the card at the 2022 Breeders’ Cup, the $160,000 race was landed in smashing style by the short priced favourite Marsalis (Curlin x Hot Dixie Chick), in the colours of Stonestreet Stables LLC. The Consul General crowned the winners after the race.
Held on the famous Friday card of the Breeders’s Cup meeting, the 1,300m dirt contest saw eleven runnners, with the Steven Asmussen-trained Marsalis coming home clear under a perfect ride from jockey Ricaardo Santana Jr.
Consul General of the State of Qatar in New York, H E Mohammed Sultan Al Kuwari, crowned the winners.
Since breaking his maiden in March, the well-bred colt has gone from strength to strength and despite his wide draw, he took the Qatar Bosque Bonita in fantastic style, passing the post clear of Call Me Fast (Dialed In) and Seal Beach (Midshipman).
A homebred produce from Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Marsalis is out the Gr.1 winner Hot Dixie Chick (Dixie Union) and is a half-brother to the Gr.1 winner Pauline’s Pearl (Tapit), as well as the stallion Union Jackson (Curlin).
QREC’s sponsorship of the Qatar Bosque Bonita is part of the mutual sponsorship agreement between QREC and Breeders’ Cup. Under this agreement, QREC sponsors a race in the Breeders’ Cup Championship in the USA every year and Breeders’ Cup sponsors the Dukhan Sprint, which part of the annual H H The Amir Sword Festival at Al Rayyan Racecourse. The 2022 renewal of the Gr3 QA Dukhan Sprint was won in flamboyant fashion by the Osama Omer Al Dafea-owned and trained Taxiwala (Holy Roman Emperor) with Ronan Thomas in the saddle.
