Qatar's Ambassador to France, H E Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, with the connection of Berneuil during the presentation ceremony after the Antoine Gilbert-owned gelding won the Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert (Gr.3).
Paris: In the presence of H E Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar's Ambassador to France, and Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya, Vice Chairman of QREC and Chairman of the Asian Equestrian Federation, the QREC-sponsored Qatar Arc Trials was held at ParisLongchamp yesterday.
The 10-race card day featured six Group races, including three prep races for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe to be held in early October.
Ambassador Sheikh Ali and the QREC Vice Chairman Al Attiya crowned the winners of the day’s biggest six races.
Teema takes Qatar Cup in style
In a select field of only five runners, it was the Yas Horse Racing Management-owned hombred Teema (Bibi De Carrere x Dahwa), who got the fractions right to land the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon (Gr.1 PA).
The five-year-old purebred Arabian mare has enjoyed an outstanding 10-race career, overseen by her trainer Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte and added a second Gr.1 (PA) success to her achievements, following her narrow success in the 2021 running of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (Gr.1 PA) at ParisLongchamp.
Sitting in behind her stablemate Elaf (Rabbah De Carrere) through the early stages, Teema travelled well, as the five runner disputed the 2,000m contest in Indian file.
Swinging off the rail into the straight and stylishly moving up to lead, Teema managed to hold off a wave of challengers close home and went on to score by three quarters of a length from First Class (Dahess) in second, with Hadi De Carrere (Nieshan) a further half a length back in third.
Placed on her three other starts at Gr.1 (PA) level, Teema is one of the leading purebred Arabian mares in France and should make her presence felt when returning to ParisLongchamp on Arc weekend.
Iresine signs career best in Qatar Prix Foy
The Bertrand Milliere, Ecurie Jean-Paul Gauvin, Christian Goutelle& Jean-Pierre Gauvain owned five-year-old Iresine (Manduro x Inanga) took his career to a new height with a stunning success in the Qatar Prix Foy (Gr.2).
Trained by Jean-Pierre Gauvin, Iresine has been a regular provider of winners to his jockey Marie Velon, with the duo now successful on 10 of their 14 racecourse outings.
Sweet Lady wins Qatar Prix Vermeille
Owned by Gemini Stud, the four-year-old Sweet Lady (Lope De Vega x High Heel Sneakers) produced a career best effort and handled the rain softened ground with ease to win the Qatar Prix Vermeille (Gr.1).
Trained in Chantilly by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden to success by Gregory Benoist for the first time, the consistent daughter of Lope De Vega has now won six of her fourteen starts and was having her fifth attempt at Gr.1 level.
A soft ground specialist, Sweet Lady was quick out of the stalls for the €600,000 Qatar-sponsored contest and led the eleven-runner field through the early stages at relatively steady pace.
Simca Mille continues incredible rise
Having only broken his maiden in April, the Haras de la Perelle owned homebred Simca Mille (Tamayuz x Swertia), continues to rapidly climb through the ranks and put in a tough performance to land the Qatar Prix Niel (Gr.2).
Trained in Deauville by Stephane Wattel and providing a quick-fire double for his jockey Greg Benoist, Simca Mille has now won four of his last five starts, with his only defeat coming at Gr.1 level, where he was beaten by Onesto (Frankel), who recently finished second in the Irish Champion Stakes (Gr.1) at Leopardstown. Simca Mille remains entered in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1) on October 2nd, which is disputed over the same course and distance as the €150,000 Qatar Prix Niel (Gr.2).
Berneuil wins second Qatar Prix Du Petit Couvert
Winner of the race in 2021, the five-year-old gelding Berneuil (Lope De Vega x Derivatives) carried the silks of his owner Antoine Gilbert to a runaway success in the Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert (Gr.3).
A specialist over 1,000m, Berneuil was recording his third stakes win and his fifth career success in total. The gelding is trained in Maisons-Laffitte by Carlos and Yann Lerner and may now head towards the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (Gr.1) which is held on the same Sunday as the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr.1).
Fang takes Qatar Prix Du Pin
Owned in partnership by Ecurie B.Weill, Laurent Dassault, Daniel-Yves Treves and Free Man Racing, the four-year-old gelding Fang (Goken x Belle De France) made a successful step into stakes company when winning the Qatar-sponsored Qatar Prix du Pin (Gr.3), worth €80,000.
