Alexandre Gavilan guides Ghurat Al Zaman towards the finish line during the Qatar Prix de l’Elvage sponsored by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club in Toulouse, yesterday.
Doha: Carrying the silks of her owners Al Nujaifi Racing, their homebred five year old Arabian Ghurat Al Zaman (Hilal Al Zaman x Gharraa) scored the biggest win of her career, landing the Qatar Prix de l’Elvage (Gr.2 PA) sponsored by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) in Toulouse, yesterday.
Trained by Damien de Watrigant and ridden to success by jockey Alexandre Gavilan, Ghurat Al Zaman came into the race in winning form having landed the Prix Damas (Gr.3 PA) at Bordeaux three weeks ago and faced five quality rivals for the 2,000m contest including Teema (Bibi de Carrère), winner of last year’s Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (Gr.1 PA).
Settled last of the six early on, Ghurat Al Zaman, who was trying the distance for the first time in France, settled well under Gavilan. The early pace was set by Elaf (Rabbah de Carrière), who shaded the lead over her stable mate Teema, with all six runners tracking in Indian file down the back straight.
Still last turning in, Ghurat Al Zaman was angled wide for a run and closed menacingly. Inside the final 200m, the filly ranged upsides the leader and galloped clear to score by half a length over Teema, with Elaf holding tough to finish a further half back in third.
Bred by her owner, Ghurat Al Zaman is by Haras de Thouras based stallion Hilal Al Zaman (Mencour). Her dam, the globetrotter Gharraa (Matador 12) was herself a Gr.2 winner having landed the Criterium des Pouliches at La Teste de Buch in 2013.
She has also produced Durat Al Zaman (Hilal Al Zaman) who was a Maiden winner at La Teste de Buch before finishing fourth in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr.1 PA) in 2019.
