The connections of Lippo De Carrere celebrate after winning the H H The Amir Sword. PICS: JUHAIM/QREC
Doha, Qatar: Wathnan Racing’s Lippo De Carrere produced the unexpected. With much of the spotlight fixed on Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Ghadeer, the five-year-old bay rose to the occasion in a gripping finish to capture the prestigious H H The Amir Sword at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
Ridden by Maxime Guyon and trained by Alban de Mieulle, Lippo De Carrere displayed remarkable grit in the 2400m Purebred Arabian (Class 1 Gr1) contest, emerging as the new champion of a race Al Ghadeer had claimed in the previous two editions.
Jockey Tom Marquand celebrates aboard Deep Monster alongside trainer Yasutoshi Ikee after winning the H H The Amir Trophy.
Al Ghadeer, partnered by Christophe Soumillon, was bidding for a historic third triumph in the Doha Triple Crown and appeared in control for much of the straight. However, Lippo De Carrere unleashed a lightning burst of speed in the final 100 metres to surge past the favourite and win by a length.
“I had a perfect race with Lippo De Carrere. Everybody knows it is difficult to beat Al Ghadeer. The race was good and it was easy. Lippo De Carrere is a very strong and good horse,” Guyon said after the race.
Another feature race on the nine-race concluding day of the H H The Amir Sword Festival was Japan’s Deep Monster claiming the H H The Amir Trophy.
Maxime Guyon guides Lippo De Carrere during the Purebred Arabian (Class 1 Gr1) contest for the H H The Amir Sword.
Competing in the Group 2 feature for four-year-olds and older Thoroughbreds over 2400m, the eight-year-old delivered a composed and determined performance.
Settled in third for much of the race, he travelled comfortably before quickening decisively in the closing stages to edge ahead and score by a neck.
Carrying the colours of DMM Dream Club Co Ltd, Deep Monster is trained by Yasutoshi Ikee and was ridden to victory by Tom Marquand.
“I am really impressed with how Deep Monster delivered. The Japanese contingent know how to prepare their horses. I was pretty confident he would not go down without a fight,” Marquand said.
Trainer Ikee added: “It was my dream to win a big race overseas like today. The dream has come true.”
Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani crowned the winners of the two feature races and also honoured the new champions of the H H The Amir Silver Sword and H H The Amir Shalfa besides winning riders of the Al Sabiq Championship.
Christophe Soumillon steers Alhaarith to victory in the H H The Amir Silver Sword.
Alhaarith and Basalt shine
Earlier, Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Alhaarith clinched the H H The Amir Silver Sword, marking a triumphant debut in Qatar.
Trained by Francois Rohaut and ridden by Soumillon, the colt produced a powerful surge in the home straight to secure a commanding seven-and-a-half-length victory.
Meanwhile, Basalt, owned by Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, landed the H H The Amir Shalfa after capturing the final day’s opener - the 2000m Thoroughbred Handicap Cup (Class 2). The four-year-old grey colt registered his fourth win from six starts in a thrilling contest that ended in a blanket finish, with just two necks and a short head separating the first four home. Guyon partnered the Gassim Al Ghazali-trained runner to victory.
Wathnan Racing’s Chdia claimed the Qatar International Cup, taking the Purebred Arabian (Class 1 Gr1) under Soumillon for trainer De Mieulle, while Make Me King triumphed in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, dominating the 1600m Thoroughbred (Listed Qa Gr2-Class 1) International race. The six-year-old grey gelding is trained by Hamad Al Jehani and was ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot.
August George emerged victorious in the Al Rayyan Mile Cup, winning the 3yo Thoroughbred contest for Sheikh Mohammed Salman Al-Thani. Trained by Gassim Al Ghazali, who saddled his second winner of the card, the colt was ridden by Guyon, marking his third triumph of the day.
The Dukhan Sprint Cup went to Stuart Williams-trained Quinault, who captured the QA Gr 3 Thoroughbred contest over 1200m for TJE Racing, with Marco Ghiani in the saddle.
Wathnan Racing’s Wafei capped a phenomenal day, sealing the Qatar International Thoroughbred Handicap Cup with a commanding three-length victory over 2400m.
Trainer De Mieulle completed a treble on the card, while Guyon rode his fourth winner, rounding off a remarkable day.
