The winning horse in the Qatar Cup – Prix Dragon (Gr1/PA), Yaseed’s jockey Olivier Peslier (centre), trainer Alban de Mieulle, (right) and a team representative celebrate during the presentation ceremony with Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Genera
PARIS: H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani watched his purebred Arabian horse Yazeed win his first Gr1 PA in the Qatar Cup - Prix Dragon (Gr1/PA) at ParisLongchamp yesterday.
The Qatar Arc Trials day was held in Paris, France yesterday. The Qatar-sponsored and named day had exciting races in the card, all bearing the name of Qatar, including two group 1, two group 2 and two group 3 races. Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi, QREC General Manager, and France Galop officials were at the races and awarded the trophies to the winners. Edinson Cavani, Paris Saint-Germain’s star, also watched the racing action yesterday.
Cantering among the others during the race, Yazeed followed the Yas Horse Racing Management horse Shahm. The latter took the lead at the start of the home straight and kept accelerating until Yazeed was pulled out by Olivier Peslier 300m from the post and attacked Shahm.
Both fought for victory until the end but Yazeed took the advantage in order to win by a short neck in front of Shahm who came in second. Gazwan, owned by H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani came third, nine lengths behind. The other Sheikh Abdullah-owned horse of the race, Tayf, finished fourth.
Yazeed’s trainer Alban de Mieulle said: “I think that good older Purebred Arabian horses can progress. We did not race this summer before this prep-race. I am surprised by the second. He runs very well and will be a serious challenger in the big one. My horse still has progress to make. This afternoon, he was not at 100 % and need this race. We have no horse for him in the morning. We have to train him with thoroughbreds.”
