Hargan impresses on debut winning
Prix Nez d’Or

Hargan ridden by Valentin Seguy. Photo: Robert Polin

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The stoutly bred Hargan (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Mkeefa by Amer) produced an impressive debut effort when carrying the colours of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani to victory in the Prix Nez d’Or, a race for three-year-old Purebred Arabian maidens, at La Teste de Buch on 16th July. It was another successful day for the blue and white-star silks as Hargan completed a double for the famous colours following the Gr 3 PA victory secured by Moharram (Assy x Amandine De Ghazal by Dormane) two hours earlier at the same racecourse.

Trained in Pau by François Rohaut, Hargan justified favoritism when taking the 1,900m contest for jockey Valentin Seguy. Always amongst the leaders, Hargan was travelling with plenty of purpose as the field turned for home and produced a strong turn of foot to catch long-time leader Abdullah Bin Fahad Al Attiyah’s Penny (FR) (Nieshan x Pamela De Syrah by Nehs D’Or Al Maury), who proved tough to pass. 100m from the line, Hargan was locked in a duel with HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s homebred Hareeb (FR) (Mared Al Sahra x Princesse Monlau by Munjiz)), but got the better of that rival by a short head. The Thomas Fourcy-trained and Julien Auge-ridden finished second two lengths in front of the third placed Penny, who is also trained by Thomas Fourcy and was ridden by Jerome Cabre.

Trainer of the winner François Rohaut said after the race: “The instructions were to respect him. He is a bit behind the rest of my three-year-olds, but he needed to run. He has a lot of potential and huge ability. He comes with a great pedigree too. We will let him progress gently in his own time and he has the potential to be a good horse.”

Bred by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Al Shahania Stud, Hargan is by triple Group one winner Al Mamun Monlau (Muniz) and is out of the top-class Mkeefa (Amer) who won Group One at Newbury and Newmarket and as well as the Qatar Arabian World Cup ParisLongchamp.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club/JDG