Alawsj and Hadi de Carrere winners of Gr1 PA in St. Cloud

Two QREC-sponsored Arabian races were run at St. Cloud, Paris, on Friday, 2 October. The two Gr1 P/A races, run over 2000m each, are held every year to set the mood for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend. The Gr1 PA Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Pouliches for three-year-old fillies was won by Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Alawsj (FR) for trainer Thomas Fourcy and jockey Julien Auge to continue Qatari dominance over this title for the fifth year in a row. It was followed by the Gr1 PA Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Poulains for three-year-old colts, which was landed by Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari’s Hadi de Carrere (FR), for the same trainer-jockey duo, who scored a quick-fire double on the day, to confirm Qatar’s leadership in Purebred Arabian racing. Both events crown the leading filly and colt of this age category of the Purebred Arabian breed. QREC CEO, Nasser Bin Sherida Al Kaabi was present at St. Cloud and presented the trophies to the winners.

Alawsj ridden by Julien Augé

Al Shaqab Racing’s Alawsj - Leading filly
Opening the weekend of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches, a Group 1 for 3-year-old Purebred Arabian fillies, crowns the best 3-year-old filly of her generation. Eight fillies lined up in this championship race, and it was Alawsj (Dahor de Brugere x Bint Jakkarta by AF Albahar) who lifted the trophy for her owner and breeder Al Shaqab Racing! This was a first Group 1 win for the filly, who is trained by Thomas Fourcy. The race took place on heavy ground. There was drama at the start with the withdrawal of the favourite Alkedri (Mister Ginoux) after the jockey, Jean-Bernard Eyquem, fell when cantering to the start.

Last time out in Mont-de-Marsan, Alawsj finished third to Elaf (Rabbah de Carrère) and Cocktail Du Loup (Divamer), two fillies she met again in this race. Ridden by Julien Augé, the eventual winner traveled in third position in a race led at a consistent pace by Elaf. She began making up ground in the final turn, moving into second. Sitting on the stand’s side rail, Alawsj had to fight for the victory. She won by just under a length in front of Jalela (Mister Ginoux x Nefertarie by Mahabb) also for Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Thomas Fourcy.

Yas Horse Racing Management’s Teema (Bibi De Carrere x Dahwa by Tidjani) finished a close third.

“Both fillies will stay in France to prepare for their 4-year-old season” said Fourcy, “The winner is a filly who will definitely improve with age. We looked after her this year with this race in mind… and we will now focus on next year with her. I am a bit emotional, it’s a great relief. Alawsj has always shown a lot of ability at home but obviously her last race was disappointing. To see her win on the big day, this is the magic of racing! It’s a shame that the favourite, owned by Al Shaqab, didn’t run as she would have been in the first three.”

Alawsj also provided her sire, Dahor de Brugere, with a first Group 1 win in this race. He stands in Morocco for Al Shaqab Racing at SOREC. Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Alawsj was raised at Haras du Berlais. She is the first foal out of Bint Jakkarta (AF Albahar), winner of the Al Rayyan Cup (Gr1 PA) at Deauville.

Hadi de Carrere ridden by Julien Augé

Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari’s Hadi de Carrere - Leading colt
The second Group 1 Purebred Arabian race on the card, the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains, went to Hadi de Carrere (Nieshan x Viki De Carrere by Dormane) in the colours of Sheail bin Khalifa Al Thani. The 3-year-old colt was the starting favourite in the race and came here off an impressive win in the Al Rayyan Cup (Gr1) at Deauville in August.

Alsaher (Mared Al Sahra) was quickly into the lead, with Hadi de Carrere in behind. The eventual winner came up to join him at the entrance of the straight before moving onto the rail on the stand’s side. He then battled with Alsaher, who began to weaken. At the same time, Abbes (TM Fred Texas x Raqiya by Amer) came up with a strong run to steal second place. Hadi de Carrère won by a neck, but with more in hand than the distance suggests.

The winning trainer, Thomas Fourcy, commented after the race, “Hadi de Carrere was not a sure thing to win the race as I was also very confident in Abbes. They both ran very well. Olivier Peslier has some problems at the beginning of the straight, and that certainly cost him the win. They were the best two colts in the race. Abbes may beat Hadi de Carrere in the future. I don’t know yet whether Hadi de Carrere will go to Qatar this winter. He will make into a good older horse with an easy winter. His owner has not made any decisions yet.”

Hadi de Carrère was bought privately on behalf of his owner by Gérard Larrieu of Chantilly Bloodstock. He was bred by Catherine Dell’ova, and is the first Group winner for his sire Nieshan (Akbar). His dam, Viki de Carrère (Dormane) is a sister to the Purebred Arabian sire Runner (Tahar de Candelon).

Nasser Bin Sherida crowned the winners at St. Cloud

QREC CEO Nasser Bin Sherida Al Kaabi was delighted with the excellence of Qatari-owned Purebred Arabian horses at St. Cloud just before the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend. He stressed that the two victories landed by Al Shaqab Racing’s Alawsj and Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari’s Hadi de Carrere are a new proof of the excellence and brilliance of Qatar’s Purebred Arabian racing.

“First, I’d like to congratulate the winners,” he said, “especially as the Qatari-owned horses showed an excellent level of performance and secured the top places in the two events. Alawsj won the Gr1 PA Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches for Al Shaqab Racing while Hadi de Carrere won the Gr1 PA Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains for Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari. It was very clear, in the two races, that Qatari-owned horses are able to win such type of tough challenge. In addition, excellence in Purebred Arabian races enhances the chances of achieving the QREC’s vision of promoting Arabian racing in general.”

“We look forward to continue such success in the races of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at ParisLongchamp, especially in the Gr1 PA Qatar Arabian World Cup”, concluded Al Kaabi.

Source: QREC/JDG. Photo credits: Scoopdyga