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.

©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

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,1^st,2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th : “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.”

©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

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.”

The first stage in historic bid for a third Doha Triple Crown

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was thrilled to see world champion Arabian, Al Ghadeer, head the declarations for the £400,000 Qatar International Stakes, presented by Visit Qatar on Wednesday 30 July. The Group 1PA contest held over a mile as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar, is the most valuable race at that distance for Arabians in Europe. He will be ridden by regular partner Christophe Soumillon in his bid for an historic third win in the race, which in turn, may lead to an equally historic third Doha Triple Crown success.

Al Ghadeer winning the Qatar International Stakes Gr 1PA, Qatar Goodwood Fesitval 2024

©Debbie Burt – Equine Creative Media

Trained by Francois Rohaut for Al Shaqab Racing, the six-year-old son of their champion racehorse and sire, Al Mourtajez, himself a winner of this race in 2016, arrives in Goodwood refreshed from a break. He won the world’s most valuable Arabian race, the $2.5 million HH The Amir Sword over a mile and a half in February, on the back of his Qatar Arabian World Cup win over a mile and a quarter on Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp. These three Group 1PA races combine to form the Doha Triple Crown, the bonus for which is generously provided by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. Al Ghadeer is the only horse to complete the Crown win twice, and a hat-trick of wins will cement his place in the history books as the greatest Arabian racehorse of all time.

Rohaut and Al Shaqab are also responsible for the only four-year-old in the race, Rajaaz, who will be partnered by Jean-Bernard Eyquem. The Pau based trainer also fields two-time Group1PA winner Ch’ezza for Abdullah Fahad Al-Attiyah who will be ridden by Lukas Delozier, champion apprentice in France in 2015. This will be the seven-year-olds first attempt at a mile. His team is completed by Djafar, who was fourth in this race to Lady Princess in 2022 for previous connections and won a Group 2PA contest over this trip in March at Meydan, when ridden by Silvestre de Sousa, who is in the saddle again at Goodwood for Abubaker Kadoura.

The UK challenge sees former ARO champion trainer with two lightly raced but talented runners, Hadaaya owned by Athbah Stud and Izenterisky, a homebred owned by his wife Sheila. Hadaaya is a half-brother to a Group 1PA winner in the UAE and will be partnered by Tom Marquand, whilst Izenterisky came back from early retirement last season to win a valuable handicap at Chester over seven furlongs under John Fahy, who is back on board here. Both horses have the notable distinction that their trainer rode both their sire and dam during his career as jockey. Completing the field is two-time winner Jeewan, reunited with previous winning pilot, George Bass, who is trained by Barry Brennan for Maddy Plumb.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “As you’d expect for a race of this value, it always attracts some of the best Arabians in the world. To have a horse of Al Ghadeer’s quality in the field, poised to make history for a third time, is a real boost for our sport in the UK.

“We warmly thank Visit Qatar, new sponsors for this race at the Qatar Goodwood Festival, and Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club who have supported our racing for many years and we look forward to showcasing Arabian racing to a new audience on course and on television, as well as our regular supporters on Wednesday at 12.45pm.”

The Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) was delighted to welcome two further entries for the £400,000 Qatar International Stakes, presented by Visit Qatar, after the close of the supplementary stage at 12 noon today. The addition of dual Group 1PA winner Ch’ezza owned by Abdulla Fahad Al-Attiyah, and his stablemate Rajaaz, owned by Al Shaqab Racing, brings the total number entered in the Group 1PA contest from Francois Rohaut to four.

Rohaut is of course responsible for the 2023 and 2024 Qatar International Stakes winner Al Ghadeer, who is seeking a hat-trick of wins in the one-mile event. A win at Goodwood may then lead to a record breaking third Doha Triple Crown (with the bonus sponsored by Qatar Racing Equestrian Club), should Al Ghadeer be successful in the Qatar Arabian World Cup in ParisLongchamp over 2000m and the HH The Amir Sword in Doha over 2400m.

Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer said, “We are particularly pleased to receive these two supplementary entries, taking the total number to 11 for the most valuable Arabian race in Europe held over a mile. Declarations are due on Sunday 27^th July, with the race opening the second day of the Qatar Goodwood Festival at 12.45pm on Wednesday 30^th July.”

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1st Sassy (GB)

2nd Jeewan (GB)

3rd Hibikinada Du Mazet (FR)

O: Steve Blackwell

T: Mr Steve Blackwell

J: Isobelle Chalmers

Race Time: 02:20:83

Dist: 0.5L, 7.5L

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1st Delicatesse (GB)

2nd Victoria (GB)

3rd Piccadilly Lady (GB)

O: Mrs L Reeves

T: James Owen

J: Miss Teagan Padgett

Race Time: 01:41:74

Dist: 13L, 1.25L

Race video:

AL NUJAIFI RACING TROPHY LISTED PA

FAREEDHAT EL IZZ GAINS HATTRICK FOR THE SEASON

With Listed win in The Al Nujaifi Racing Trophy at Royal Windsor. Owner breeder and race sponsor Al Nujaifi Racing secured a hattrick of wins for the season with Fareedhat El Izz in the inaugural Al Nujaifi Racing Trophy at Royal Windsor today. Ridden by Billy Loughnane and trained by James Owen, the five-year-old mare drew clear of her nearest challenger, Wendy Hassall’s Victoria, to win eased down in the £15,000 contest held over a mile.

Al Nujaifi Racing kindly offered a free nomination to their promising young stallion Amir Al Zaman to the highest placed British owned mare in today’s race, which will go to Hassall. Pharitz Racing’s homebred, Pharitz Lahia finished in third.

Fareedhat El Izz (FR) (Billy Longhnane) wins the inaugural running of the Al Nujaifi Racing Trophy Listed PA

© Darren Cool Images

ARO CEO Genny Haynes commented, “We congratulate Dr Mohammad Al Nujaifi and his son Zaid of Al Nujaifi Racing on their win with Fareedhat El Izz. Unfortunately, their other runner, Amirat Al Zaman, sustained an injury and was pulled up, however she has been transferred to Newmarket Equine Hospital for further assessment, and we wish her a successful outcome.

“We thank Al Nujaifi Racing for their generous support of this new Listed race for Arabian fillies and mares and we congratulate Wendy Hassall for securing the free nomination, also provided by Al Nujaifi Racing.”

Seven mares for the inaugural Al Nujaifi Racing Trophy

ARO welcomed seven mares for the inaugural Al Nujaifi Racing Trophy to be run at Windsor on Saturday 28 June. The entries for the £15,000 PA Listed contest to be run over a mile include two Al Nujaifi homebreds, Fareedhat El Izz and Amirat Al Zaman who finished first and second in the prep race held at Lingfield Park at the end of May.
 
The remainder of the field are all British bred, with the owner of highest placed British bred runner gaining a free nomination to Amir Al Zaman, promising young sire raced by Al Nujaifi Racing and bred by Dr Mohammad Al Nujaifi. A son of his dual Group 1PA winner Hilal Al Zaman, he is out of Hamiya, dam of the Group 1PA winning fillies Al Shomoos and Muneera.

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