Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari's Hadi de carrere, ridden by J Augé, reaching the finish line to win the Prix Tidjani, Group 3 for three-year-old Purebred Arabians at La Teste de Buch in France, yesterday. PIC: Robert Polin
LA TESTE-DE-BUCH: The Prix Tidjani, a Group 3 for three-year-old Purebred Arabians took place at La Teste de Buch, France yesterday. The 1900m race, a pointer towards the season finale - the Gr1 P/A Qatar Arabian Trophée des Poulains in October at SaintCloud – was won by Hadi De Carrere (FR) (Nieshan x Viki De Carrere) in the colours of Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari by a margin of four and a half lengths.
Only four, of the six expected, runners started in this race reserved for colts, with H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani’s homebred Sir Monlau (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Al Anqa) and H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s homebred Fara’aj (FR) (Amer x Massamarie) declared non-runners.
Hidalgo Du Croate (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Beanie Du Croate) set off in the lead with Hadi De Carrere in second, followed by Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Alhafar (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Farh) and Ecuries Royales D’oman’s Muntasir (FR) (Josco Du Cayrou x Emeria Du Cayrou) closing the rear.
The order remained the same until the end of the final turn. Hadi De Carrere, who is trained by Thomas Fourcy, was caught slightly off balance when Muntasir kicked for home, but once Hadi De Carrere found his stride, he, with Julien Augé in the saddle, fought back to take the lead and showed nice acceleration inside the final 200 meters to put plenty of distance between him and his rivals.
Alhafar finished in second for Al Shaqab Racing and trainer Mme JF. Bernard. He was ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem. Muntasir was a further short head in third under Mickael Forest for trainer F. Sanchez.
The pacesetter Hildalgo Du Coate weakened in the straight, finishing 7 lengths back. “Sir Monlau, who was a non-runner, is a top class colt, and Hadi De Carrere, though not quite his class, is not far off. He’s won well here to prove that. He should continue to improve. I’m delighted with his behaviour and he has a nice future ahead of him. We will look at the Gr1 at Deauville and then SaintCloud," Fourcy commented after the race.
Meanwhile, Alsaher (FR) (Mared Al Sahra x Assefa D’Aroco), a three-year-old Purebred Arabian colt, bred and owned by H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, made a perfect debut at La Teste-de-Buch yesterday by winning the Prix Nez d’Or by a short head under jockey Valentin Seguy.
In second, was Muqla (FR) (Tabarak x Sarahmina) a homebred for H.H Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani. The grey filly is trained by Didier Guillemin and was ridden by Alexandre Gavilan. Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Alhareth (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Tameemah) finished a further nose behind in third for the winning trainer. The bay colt was ridden by Julien Auge.
Trained by François Rohaut, the eventual winner sat up on the pace in third position, with Alhareth leading the field. Coming together in the final turn, it was a closely fought finish between the first top three, with Alsaher just coming to snatch the win on the line. Alsaher is out of Assefa D’aroco (Tidjani). This is the family of the blue hen Altesse D’aroco, origin of champions Al Tair and Tabarak.
