Moharram gets back to winning ways with Gr 3 PA victory landing Prix Tidjani

Moharram ridden by Julian Auge. Photo: Robert Polin

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Moharram (FR) (Assy x Amandine de Ghazal by Dormane) battled bravely in the colours of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani to take the Group Three Prix Tidjani, a 1,900-metre contest for three-year-old Purebred Arabian colts and geldings, at La Teste de Buch, France on Friday, 16th July.

Moharram got the better of his five rivals to win by a short head, under the saddle of jockey Julian Auge and became the third successive horse to win the group three contests for trainer Thomas Fourcy.

After breaking well from the stalls, Moharram was taken back by Auge and tucked in behind the leaders. Travelling strongly against the rail, Moharram was going the best of all as the field turned into the straight. Asked for an effort at the 300m mark, the grey colt battled strongly and just held off the challenges of both Djalco (FR) (Josco Du Cayrou x Djalmina by Dormane), who rallied well and the debutant His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Salwa (FR) (Kalino x Raqiyah), who was a little green in the straight. Djalco was the eventual runner-up for trainer D. Morisson and jockey Emilien Revolte. Salwa finished a further short head back in third for winning trainer and jockey Olivier Peslier.

Thomas Fourcy, trainer of Moharram and Salwa, said: “On his last run, Moharram got himself worked up when trying to get away from the horses on his inside. Today, I asked his jockey to tuck him in and get cover. They didn’t go very fast and it turned into a sprint. Salwa ran very well on his debut and is a horse I like a lot. He is very immature and needs to learn a bit more, but he should be stronger next time out. He jumped out well and his jockey then dropped him in last. It is complicated to produce a sprint finish on debut, but what he has done there was excellent. He was beaten by a very small margin.”

Bred by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Al Shahania Stud, Moharram is by their top Arabian stallion Assy (Amer), winner of the Group 1 HH The Amir Sword. His dam, Amadine De Ghazal (Dormane) was unraced and is out of Aouita Croixnoire (Tidjani), who produced two winners Amen De Ghazal (Way To Go) and Aloes De Ghazal (Way To Go).

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club/JDG