Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Lady Princess scored back-to-back wins in the Group 1PA Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood, partnered by Jim Crowley, becoming only the second horse to do so. This year the diminutive mare had to come between horses and was chased all the way to the line by Hattal and Ioritz Mendizabal, however Thomas Fourcy’s charge would not be denied, winning by a neck, with Samlla and Maxime Guyon, unable to reel the favourite in finishing a further one and a quarter lengths behind in third.
The £400,000 race had featured four individual Group 1 PA winners of an impressive 16 top-level races and overall, they have won 53 races between them. This was an eighth Group 1PA win for the Lady Princess and her third under Crowley who said: “Lady Princess is everything you’d want in an Arabian racehorse. She wins over all trips, she’s got speed, she’s got a great mind. She’s a real pleasure to ride.
“We went very slow in the race which wasn’t ideal, but I thought she had a very easy race today, compared to Doha where she had to work for it, arguable her best trip is ten furlongs. Wherever she goes next, I’ll be there.”
Fourcy who was recording his third win in the race after Al Mourtajez in 2016, commented: “Lady Princess is a champion. It was difficult for her to get pass Samlla and Hattal, but once free it was no problem for her. She is a little filly and she can get through a small gap!
“Her next race will be the World Cup at Longchamp, then Abu Dhabi, then Qatar, the same as last year, possibly Dubai, Inshallah.”
HH Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani presented the trophies to the winning connections and Abdulla Ahmed Al Marri who received on behalf of Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari.
Adam Waterworth, Goodwood’s Events Managing Director said: “The race had everything you’d want, it looked competitive beforehand, and we would always want to see previous winners, come back and run well, and win again. With Jim Crowley being relatively local to Goodwood, when he rides a winner, it’s always going to be popular with our crowd, there’d be about 16,000 here today which is about the same as we had in 2019.”
HE Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Chairman commented: “We are proud of our sponsorship of the Qatar International Stakes as one of our most valuable races and part of our commitment to promote Arabian racing. We are very pleased to see this race, has once again, attracted some of the world’s top Arabians and was a fabulous addition to the Qatar Goodwood Festival. I’m sure fans of all forms of racing were fascinated by the spectacle of the Arabian horses at Goodwood. QREC would like to thank ARO and Goodwood for the excellent coordination and cooperation.”
Genny Haynes, ARO Chief Executive Officer commented: “That was another fantastic finish for our most valuable race, and the most valuable race for Arabians over a mile in Europe. We congratulate Lady Princess and her connections, some of whom were able to enjoy the race in person this year.
“ARO is extremely grateful for the ongoing support of our racing by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, who have been sponsoring this race as part of the Qatar Goodwood Festival since 2015. We also congratulate Liz Sian who won the £250 Best Turned Out Award for Abiyah Athbah.
Concluding she said: “We would also like to thank the British Horseracing Authority and everyone at Goodwood and Fontwell racecourses for their assistance this year, particularly with our overseas runners.”
