WORLD CHAMPION AL GHADEER HAS HISTORIC THIRD DOHA TRIPLE CROWN IN HIS SIGHTS
WORLD CHAMPION AL GHADEER HAS HISTORIC THIRD DOHA TRIPLE CROWN IN HIS SIGHTS
After a third win in the Qatar International Stakes At The Qatar Goodwood Festival
The world’s top-rated Arabian, Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Ghadeer yet again confirmed his position as the best Arabian in the world with an historic third win in the Qatar International Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar. Regular partner Christophe Soumillon was on board for his European return, settling him towards the rear before taking the lead inside the final half furlong to win from stablemate Ch’ezza, owned by Abdulla bin Fahad Al-Attiyah. Completing a one-two-three-four for Francois Rohaut was Abubaker Kadoura’s Djafar and Rajaaz, also owned by Al Shaqab Racing.
This win in the £400,000 contest, Europe’s most valuable Group 1PA race for Arabians over a mile, is the first stage in the Doha Triple Crown supported by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. The next stage is the Qatar Arabian World Cup run on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day at ParisLongchamp over a mile and a quarter, culminating in the world’s richest Arabian race, the HH The Amir Sword in Doha in February, over a mile and a half. Al Ghadeer is the only horse to win the Qatar International Stakes three times, and to complete the Crown win twice – a hat-trick of wins in the Triple Crown will cement his place in the history books as the greatest Arabian racehorse of all time.
HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and his son HH Sheikh Hamad bin Joaan bin Khalifa Al Thani, received the winning trophies from representatives of race sponsor, Visit Qatar along with Rohaut, Soumillon and Yvana Lacoste, Al Ghadeer’s groom.
Christophe Soumillon, jockey, 1st : “The most important thing is winning. You win by five lengths, ten lengths you’re not going to change anything. It’s important to give him the best race as possible, in trying to win, and to make sure he is able to respond in his next race, that’s what we’re working for.
“He’s a horse that can make history to try to go for the Triple Crown for a third time, so for us what we need to do now is to make sure he will stay until the end of the season in all his races and give him the best races as possible without taking out all the power.
“It’s pleasure to be associated with him.”
Francois Rohaut, trainer,1st,2nd, 3rd, 4th : “It was not as easy as usual, but Ch’ezza is a very good horse. It’s getting harder to get him fit, he becomes a bit lazy. He’s six now and he’s still the best. He’ll probably run in the [Prix] Dragon before the Arc. It’s better to run him, than to train him. He may have three weeks off after the Arc but no more. Of course, the Amir’s Sword and after, we’ll see. Probably it is time for him to retire maybe, all the breeders want him, so maybe it is time for him to have a new job.”
Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “It is a real honour for UK Arabian racing to play its part in the making of the champion Al Ghadeer. When we became the first stage of the Doha Triple Crown back in 2015, we could not have imagined how hard it would be for any horse to achieve a win, and for a horse to do it twice, and now, with the chance of a third success, is incredible.
“We warmly congratulate HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani and all at Al Shaqab Racing on this historic third win, whilst we thank Visit Qatar, as the new sponsors for this race at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, and Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club who continue to support our racing year after year.”
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