Artemis takes the lead during Qatar Prix de l’Élevage (Gr.2 PA) in Toulouse, France, yesterday. Pic By: Robert Polin
Toulouse, France: Just half an hour after Samlla won on debut, H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani celebrated a second Purebred Arabian winner in Toulouse yesterday.
His representative Artemis (Azadi x Ocyrrhoe), not seen since her 6th place in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (4yo mares) at ParisLongchamp on 3 October, ran out the emphatic winner of the Qatar Prix de l’Élevage (Gr.2 PA), a race sponsored by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) as part of their ongoing support of Purebred Arabian racing in France.
The 5-year-old mare, who is trained by Mrs. J.F Bernard, was caught on the outside of the racing pack in the early stages, before being dropped in at the rear of the field by jockey Olivier Peslier.
He then allowed her to make up some ground on the rail but finished boxed in on all sides. Once in the straight, realising that he wouldn’t be able to come through the accelerating pack, Peslier had to take his partner back and wide, bringing the mare up the center of the track.
Once the filly found her balance, the filly showed an exceptional acceleration to pass a top-class field in the closing 200 meters, winning by 1 ¼ lengths in front of the Al Shaqab Racing owned pair of Alkedri (Mister Ginoux x Bise Al Maury) in second and UM TAJ (Al Mamun Monlau x Dyala) in third.
With tears in her eyes after the race, Mrs Bernard was delighted with the result.
“She’s a fantastic mare. She had a horrible race. She pulled at the start, and then came out of the final turn in last position. She couldn’t come up the rail and had to come across the track. She’s a superstar! Eight months without a run – she has to be an exceptional mare.”
Peslier said: “I had no specific orders. After 231 days without a run, I preferred to have her relaxed in the first half of the race to see how she was travelling. Turning into the straight, I saw that the race wasn’t going to open for us. It was a difficult race. I waited on her in the straight as I knew she was capable of a big acceleration. As she has shown when she’s comfortable in her races. Once in front, she can tend to idle.”
Artemis is out of the Al Nasr mare Ocyrrhoe, a top-class race mare who won the Group 1 PA Qatar French Arabiaan Breeders’ Challenge (Pouliches 4ans) in 2009, also trained by Mrs Bernard.
Samlla wins Prix Norniz DG
Earlier yesterday, H H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani celebrated a new winner at the French track in Toulouse when Samlla (Assy x Djakera des Forges) took the Prix Norniz in easy style. Running over 1,600 meters in this conditions race for 3-year-old Purebred Arabian colts and geldings, Samlla was making his racecourse debut.
Trained by Francois Rohaut and ridden by Valentin Seguy, he was facing 8 rivals in this competition; mostly newcomers, however there were also three colts with racing experience including impressive debut winner Zafraan Qardabiyah (Majd Al Arab x Intisar Quardabiyah) for the colours of Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari, carrying top weight.
Drawn towards the inside, Samlla sat on the rail in mid-division throughout the race, which was led by Ihsan D’etoilles (Tabarak x Ouasis du Croate) at a regular pace, with Djalco (Josco du Cayrou x Djalmina) and Zafraan Qardabiyah just behind.
In the straight, Samlla had to come out from the rail to find an opening, as the three front-runners kicked for home.
With 200 meters left to run, Samlla had a clear run and showed a devastating turn of foot to quickly hit the lead and pass the post with plenty left in hand by 1¼ lengths in front of Djalco. Ihsan D’etoilles came in third.
Samlla was bred by H H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s racing and breeding operation Al Shahania Stud.
