DOHA (Qatar): Injaaz Stud’s Hellenistique was impressive form to win the Qatar Derby (QA Group 1) on Sunday while Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Lady Princess won the Qatar Derby Arabians feature.
The event was attended by the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali.
Also present during the trophy ceremony were QREC Chairman Issa bin Mohamed Al Mohannadi and Qatar and Asian Equestrian Federations President and QREC Vice-Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah.
Earlier, Umm Qarn colts Antar and Equinoxe bagged the derbies for three-year-old Arabians and local Thoroughbreds respectively.
In the US$500,000 finale, Marco Casamento and his partner Hellenistique, saddled by Zuhair Mohsen, went past the entire 14-strong field in the final 400m after a slow start to win the 2,000m turf feature. Julien Auge, who was earlier astride Lady Princess, guided King Pacha to second handing Mohsen a one-two in the feature.
“It was only the first time that he (Hellenistique) ran this track, but I feel he improved quite a bit having trained with me over the course of the last month (since the move from France). My rider (Casamento) did exactly what was expected of him, and the horse responded well too. I am really happy,” said Mohsen.
After landing the Al Rayyan Stakes on Saturday’s Oaks Day, Auge was astride the winner in the Arabian feature on the Derby Day.
A year ago, the General filly had missed out on winning the Derby for three-year-olds, but yesterday a timely nudge from the jockey meant that Lady Princess was pulling away from the field in the final furlong.
The Thomas Fourcy ward won by almost three lengths as Alban de Mieulle missed out on a hat-trick after Umm Qarn’s Jabalah finished second under Soufiane Saadi.
“I would like to gift this win to HH Amir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani for Qatar National Day,” said Al Kuwari. “This was a big race with some high quality horses, and I am so happy.”
Trainer De Mieulle and his wards continued making waves at the Qatar International Derby Festival yesterday, after saddling four winners on the Oaks Day on Saturday.
On Saturday, Faleh Suwayed Al Ajami’s GLITTER QUEEN (Night Of Thunder x Ile Flottante) made a bright star racing to a smashing victory in the QATAR OAKS (F) (QA Gr 3) (Far Bend) (3yo TB).
Hamad Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehani trained filly had finished 10th over a mile in the Gr 3 Guineas after a promising third in the Oaks Trial earlier in November.
Saturday’s step up in distance to 2000m, however, did not seem daunting as Ronan Thomas raced his fourth winner of the day to consolidate his top spot in the jockeys’ standings.
Thomas had his mount stay on the rails midfield early on before dropping back in the order briefly. However, coming off the bend, Glitter Queen upped the pace and surged forward to win by two and three quarters lengths in front of Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s SHE’S OUR QUEEN (Toronado x Dyna Bowl), ridden by Faleh Bughanaim for Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain. Gassim Mohammad Ghazali trained FORCED (Lethal Force x Danehill Revival) was ridden to third by Marco Casamento in the colours of Meshaal Bin Ali Al Attiyah.
