RB KINGMAKER WINS THE £850,000 QATAR INTERNATIONAL STAKES
AT THE QATAR GOODWOOD FESTIVAL
Connections considering the Doha Triple Crown
RB Kingmaker was crowned the king of the Sussex Downs with a two and a quarter length victory over Lippo De Carrere in the £850,000 Qatar International Stakes, Group 1PA. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon and trained by Elizabeth Bernard for Hilal Alalawi, the seven-year-old gave Soumillon his fourth consecutive win in the race. He was a first runner in the race for Alalawi, who had purchased the horse from his American breeder Diane Waldron.
The early pace was set by UK Arabian Derby fourth, Lino, who was tracked on the rail by Wathnan Racing’s Lippo De Carrere and James Doyle, who had been successful in the HH The Amir Sword for trainer Alban de Mieulle in February. They set sail for home at the cut away in the home straight, pursued by RB Kingmaker and Soumillon, with Al Shaqab Racing’s Hajmah and Oisin Murphy coming between horses, though his saddle appeared to slip, leaving RB Kingmaker and unchallenged run up the rail, with Lacaro Du Croate staying on to take third under Guillaume Guedji-Gay for trainer Xavier Thomas Demeulte in the colours of Mansoor Khalil Al Shawani.
Helal Alalawi commented: “RB Kingmaker has come straight from a break, so we did not expect this performance from him. We are happy to represent our country, I am happy for myself of course and the team. This is not my first time racing in the UK, but this is my first runner at Goodwood. He has won in the UAE, in Saudi Arabia, in France and now England, maybe Madame Bernard will go to the Prix Dragon with him before the World Cup. We will try for the Doha Triple Crown and of course the President Cup in December,”
An emotional Elizabeth Bernard, who had trained the inaugural winner of the race, Sir Bani Yas in 2015, said: “He is a fantastic horse, it is a fantastic team. We get up early every morning to have a chance of this result and though we didn’t get a chance with Alchahine [who was withdrawn on veterinary advice], we will see how he is when we get home, but this horse is a champion horse. He is a gift in the life of the trainer.”
The trophies were presented by Qatari Ambassador to the UK, Ireland and Iceland, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani, and Engineer Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi CEO of Visit Qatar.
Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We warmly congratulate Hilal Alalawi, Elizabeth Bernard and all the team associated with RB Kingmaker, winners of our most valuable race for Arabians, and the most valuable for Arabians over a mile in Europe.
“Thanks to the support of our very generous sponsors Visit Qatar, this race received a significant prize money boost to £850,000, more than double its previous figure which attracted some of the best Arabians in the World to Goodwood and produced a thrilling race today.”
