Al Shaqab Racing Wins Two Qatar Purebred Arabian Prizes at Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Meeting

Two Group 1 races for purebred Arabians were held today at the start of the major races accompanying the 2026 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at the Saint-Cloud turf racecourse in the French capital, Paris, under the sponsorship of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.

The races were attended by Hamad Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, Chairman of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, and Rashid Nasser Sraiya Al Kaabi, Vice-Chairman. Representing the French side were Guillaume de Saint-Seine, President of France Galop, and Arnaud de Seyssel, Vice-President.

Al Shaqab Racing dominated the opening day's competition, topping both races and winning the two prizes. Sheikh Hamad bin Joaan Al Thani received the Qatar prize for the Group 1 race for three-year-old purebred Arabian fillies from Abdulrahman bin Mansour Al Mansour, a member of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club's Board of Directors, in the presence of France Galop President Guillaume de Saint-Seine.

In the Group 1 Qatar prize for three-year-old purebred Arabian fillies, Balsam, by Mister Ginoux and owned and bred by Al Shaqab Racing, won the 2,000-metre race at Saint-Cloud under jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot. The race featured 13 outstanding fillies, and the victory opened Balsam's account at the highest level.

Balsam finished first by two and a half lengths ahead of Narbonne, owned by Yas Racing Management, ridden by Marvin Grandin and trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte. SS Laura, by AF Al Buraq and owned by Ahmed Saeed Al Mazrouei, finished third under jockey Aurelien Lemaitre for trainer David Morisson.

In the Group 1 Qatar prize for three-year-old purebred Arabian colts, Mesaieed, by Azadi and owned by Al Shaqab Racing, won the 2,000-metre race under jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem for trainer Thomas Fourcy. Nine horses took part, and the result gave Mesaieed the first Group 1 victory of his career.

Mesaieed claimed first place after a strong performance that enabled him to finish two lengths ahead of his nearest challenger, Niv du Faust, owned by Sheikh Saad Al Mukhaini Bahwan, ridden by Christophe Soumillon and trained by Francois Ro, who finished second. Al Mushahar, owned by Al Wasmiyah Racing, placed third under jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot for trainer Francois Ro.

Attention turns on Saturday to ParisLongchamp for racing across two days that rank among the world's leading high-level sporting occasions, not only within horse racing. The programme builds towards Sunday's anticipated double bill of the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the Group 1 Qatar Arabian World Cup.

Saturday's card includes nine races expected to deliver continuous excitement, including three Group 1 races and three Group 2 races, with strong and varied Qatari participation.

The opening race is the Group 2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay for three-year-old thoroughbreds over 3,000 metres, featuring eight horses. It will be followed by the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar over 1,950 metres, with seven horses taking part, including the Wathnan Racing pair First Look and Silawi.

The third race will maintain the focus on purebred Arabians through the Group 1 Qatar prize for four-year-old purebred Arabian fillies over 2,000 metres. It will feature 12 of the leading fillies in the age group, including two Qatari entries.

In the remaining graded races, Wathnan Racing's Earth Shot will compete among 11 horses in the Group 1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu over 2,800 metres. Wearing the same colours, French Master will take part in the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran, a 4,000-metre marathon featuring 10 horses aged four and above.

The graded races at Sunday's meeting will conclude with the Group 2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein over 1,600 metres. Ten horses will compete, including Wathnan Racing's Diego Ventura and Fallen Angel.

Source: QNA

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