The Peninsula
The race meeting at Bordeaux-leBouscat, Franceon yesterday, featured two QREC-sponsored exciting Purebred Arabian 3-year-old maidens, the Qatar Prix Denouste for colts and geldings, and the Qatar Prix Djebella II for fillies.
Both run over 1,400m, these maidens have often played host to the debuts of future Stakes’ performers. The Qatar Prix Djebella II saw a runaway victory for the representative of Mohamed Fahad AH Al Attiyah, Sahab (AfAlbahar x Manella).
Trained by Thomas Fourcy, this filly was one of his four runners, and was not the most fancied prior to the race. Smartly away, she went straight to the lead and set a decent pace. Steadying in the bend, Ismee De Bozouls (Muguet De Pascade x Jokmee De Bozouls) moved up to join her.
Once in the straight, jockey Jerome Cabre had just to open his hands and she sped away, leaving her rivals standing. She flew down to the rail to the line, professional and untouchable. A demonstration for her first appearance on the track.
Thomas Fourcy is also responsible for Al Wakrah (TM Fred Texas x Majida), who led the rest of the field home for her owner and breeder Al Shaqab Racing. In third by 2 lengths was ZF Almuzon (Dahess x Z F AL Ameena), who just denied Nelkiane (Munjiz x Nelkia), the favourite of the race, by a short head.
“She gave me a great feeling”, enthused jockey Jerome Cabre after the race. She works well in the mornings and does everything that we ask of her”, added trainer Thomas Fourcy.
Sahab comes from one of the oldest and most successful French Purebred Arabian pedigrees from the Haras de Pompadour; her dam Manella is none other than a sister to the Group 1 producers Dormadora, dam of Dahor de Brugeres, Dormah De Brugere, the dam of Mahess du Soleil - Purebred Arabian Derby (Gr.1 PA) winner - and Balladore, who produced the top-class Amyr du Soleil.
An hour earlier,in the green and white silks of Waleed Ben Zaied, Zafraan Qardabiyah (Majd Al Arab x Intisar Quardabiyah) won the Qatar Prix Denouste for the young trainer Jean de Mieulle, who took his public training license out just last year.
Zafraan Qardabiyah was a little keen in the early stages of this 1,400m race and moved up to sit behind the leaders in fourth position on the outside of GC Runner under apprentice jockey Gary Sanchez, claiming 2½ kg. Josko (Josco Du Cayrou x Essaana) led at a regular pace, with Syam (Munjiz x Syrianah) in second.
The leaders picked up in the bend, and Zafraan Qardabiyah came to challenge at the beginning of the home straight. Shying from the whip, he drifted slightly towards the centre, before finding his balance and accelerating to take the lead just after the 200-meter marker.
Favourite of the race after his second place on debut over this course and distance two weeks previously, Zain El Hala (Assy x Chamade De Ghazal) in the colours of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, had sweated up in the stalls.
Coming with a strong challenge at the beginning of the home straight, his inexperience showed, and he lost essential ground as his jockey had to battle to keep him straight in the closing stages. Despite this, he nonetheless gained on Zafraan Qardabiyah to finish strongly, coming 2nd by ½ length.
Also making his track debut today, HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s homebred Muntazah (Al MamunMonlaux Nashmiya II) came in third 2 lengths further back, for trainer Didier Guilleminand under an educational ride from Olivier Peslier.
Former assistant to Alban de Mieulle in Qatar, Jean de Mieulle is now in his second season as a licensed trainer in France and commented on his winner; Zafraan Qardabiyah came here in good condition.
I knew that he has a bit of speed – he’s run very well. I’m very pleased with his performance today.”