Al Rayyan Racecourse | Horse Racing Free Tips

Emperor Maximus Crosses Over in Qatar Derby

Wrapping up Day 29 in Qatar, the final race on the Thursday card brought together a well-matched field of 3-year-old colts that were vying for a black-type prize. After a pair of scratches, out of the remaining 16 runners, Emperor Maximus proved best, but it was not a foregone conclusion that he would be able to make the leap in company after campaigning on-track at lower levels on three prior occasions. Just last week Dec. 22, the colt won a handicap against 13 others by 1 3/4 lengths, but he was clearly going to have to run his best in here.

At the break, it was Upton Park who broke alertly from the outside, angled into the three-path, and set up shop on the lead into the first turn and continued to do so down the backstretch. Nestled along the rail in the third position, Emperor Maximus was content to sit a ground-saving trip, as the rest of the field pursued. The leader went moderately at :51.70 after 500 meters, and looked to extend the ground between as the gelding rounded the final turn.

By the top of the lane, the field began to shake loose as the pace began to quicken, and with less than 500 meters Emperor Maximus was given his cue from the rail. Moving swiftly, the dark bay took aim at his rival, and under firm handling, fully extended himself past the pacesetter to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Upton Park closely held second, and it was Persian Royal was up for third. The winner's dam last produced a gelding by Zanzibari in 2021 with no report issued the year before.

Thursday, Al Rayyan, Qatar

QATAR DERBY (Black-Type), US$500,000, Al Rayyan, 12-29, 3yo, 2000mT, 02:01.34, gd.
1–EMPEROR MAXIMUS (FR), 128, c, 3, by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
          1st Dam: Lapland (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
          2nd Dam: Landlocked, by Unbridled
          3rd Dam: Land Shark (Fr), by Pitskelly (GB)
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Al Rufaa Racing; B-Thierry Storme,
Haras Des Sablonnets, Thierry Lohest (Fr); T-Gassim Ghazali;
J-Marco Casamento; US$285,000. Lifetime Record: 11-2-3-3.
2–Upton Park (Fr), 128, g, 3, Elm Park (GB)–Sienna Bella (GB),
by Anabaa. (150,000gns yrl '22 TATJUL). O-Mohammed
Abdulhadi S. Al-Hajri; T-Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki; J-Tomas
Lukasek; US$110,000.
3–Persian Royal (GB), 128, g, 3, Al Kazeem (GB)–Poplin (GB), by
Medicean (GB). (450,000gns yrl '22 TATOCT). O-Wathnan
Racing; B-D. J. and Mrs. Deer (GB); T-Alban Elie De Mieulle;
J-Soufiane Saadi; US$55,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 3/4, 1.

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Sharp Purse Increase Announced for Qatar’s Signature Race

The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) this week announced significant purse increases for the 2023 three-day racing H.H. The Amir Festival, including a boost to $2.5 million for the signature H.H. The Amir Trophy. The festival–which is set for Feb. 16-18 and falls a week before the $20 million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack–will again be contested at Al Rayyan Racecourse.

The H.H. The Amir Trophy, which was previously worth $1 million, is a 1 1/2-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up.

“Certainly, raising the value of prizes in the most valuable equestrian festivals will bring about a new era in the history of the event, which is expected to be rich excitement contesting among horse owners, trainers and jockeys who have already expressed their great happiness with this development,” H.E. Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, said. “In fact, this increase will enhance the development of racing and motivate owners to have the best horses and reap such prize money. Naturally, this will lead to raising the standard of racing to match the immense support from the authorities, who spare no effort to this effect and facilitate all requirements for success both at home and overseas.”

Overall, the total prize money for the three-day festival has been increased by more than the double from a year ago to nearly $10 million.

“All the races will be significant and valuable as all owners, trainers and jockeys aspire to be present at the winner's enclosure in this renewal, which will be marked by a new standard of maximized motivations given the generous increase in the prize money. This will eventually lead to the further development of Qatar's horseracing,” Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, said.

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Mishriff and Mandaloun Duel In The Desert

By Emma Berry and Kelsey Riley

A line-up worthy of its new Group 1 status, the Saudi Cup has attracted runners from seven nations, with Classic winners from two continents likely to be the leading players in the field of 14.

The major fly in the ointment for defending champion Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) appears to be his draw in stall 14, but he wasn't much closer to the rail last year when winning from gate 12. He has really impressed in mornings this week, appearing relaxed and looking terrific, but his main rival Mandaloun (Into Mischief) will be no pushover. His presence in Riyadh in the week he was finally awarded the 2021 Kentucky Derby sets up a potentially thrilling clash of runners owned by two outstanding Saudi breeders, Prince AA Faisal and the late Prince Khalid Abdullah.

If Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) can live up to his trainer Steve Asmussen's immense faith in him, he too could play a key role, and it would be folly to overlook the chances of the Japanese dirt champion T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister), whose most recent victory came over the same trip in the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo.

Two horses who lit up the autumn season in Britain and America, G1 Champion S. winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), give the field proper strength in depth.

Authority Kick Starts Big Day For Japan

The Saudi Cup card kicks off with the G3 Neom Turf Cup, which understandably has attracted a strong European challenge, with half the field trained in either England or France. The likely favourite, however, is Japanese. The 5-year-old Authority (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) was last seen finishing runner-up to the outstanding Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Japan Cup and superstar hoop Christophe Lemaire is in town to ride him.

The hugely likeable G1 Coronation Cup winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) has looked a relaxed individual in the morning on his second overseas trip for the absent William Muir, and his temporary training companion Solid Stone (Ire) (Shamardal), the winner of his last two Group 3 starts, could well kick off the 2022 campaign in style for his revered trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

The G2 Prix Corrida victrix Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) is a rare older mare in training for her breeder the Aga Khan, and the 5-year-old will be making her first start for Francis Graffard since the retirement of her former trainer Alain de Royer Dupre.

Grocer Jack (Ger) (Oasis Dream {GB}), whose two Group 3 victories have come in Germany and Italy, is also running for a new trainer for the first time, having switched from Waldemar Hickst in Germany to William Haggas in the UK after topping the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale at 700,000gns. This is an important start on the home turf of his new owner HRH Prince Faisal Bin Khaled.

Champions Go Head To Head

The longest race on the Saudi Cup card is also the second-most valuable staying race in the world, the $2.5 million G3 Red Sea Turf Handicap. Ireland launches a three-pronged attack with the Ebor winner Sonnyboyliston (Ire) (Power {GB}) favoured over GII Belmont Gold Cup victor Baron Samedi (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}), and the G1 Prix du Cadran heroine Princess Zoe (Ger) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) completing the trio. All three are trained by former champion jockeys: Johnny Murtagh, Joseph O'Brien and Tony Mullins, respectively.

Having made the short trip from Dubai, Godolphin's Siskany (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) comes into the race in good form, having proven his staying power in listed company at Meydan on Jan. 28, while the dependable Skazino (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), representing the same connections of Saudi Cup contender Sealiway and with a new trainer in Richard Chotard, should not be overlooked. His compatriot Glycon (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) enjoyed a fruitful second half of his 2021 campaign and his breeder Andreas Putsch of Haras de Saint Pair has been keeping a close eye on his 6-year-old during training this week.

Passing The Crown

Twelve months ago, trainer Charlie Appleby saw a long-term plan come to fruition when he plundered the 1351 Turf Sprint on the Saudi Cup card with a son of Dubawi (Ire), Space Blues (GB). That Group 1-winning chestnut went on to add G1 Prix de la Foret and GI Breeders' Cup Mile before year's end, and while he is now ensconced in the stud barn at Kildangan Stud, Appleby returns with another highly regarded son of Dubawi, Naval Crown (GB), that he has long targeted this newly upgraded Group 3 with. The 4-year-old was good enough to finish fourth in last year's G1 2000 Guineas, and he has subsequently proven that performance wasn't a fluke with a second-place finish in the G3 Jersey S. at Royal Ascot and a win in the G2 Al Fahidi Fort at Meydan on Jan. 21. Appleby said last week, “We deliberately finished his season early last year to get ready for this. He was a model of consistency as a 3-year-old and he has come back in great form. It was a nice performance to win the Al Fahidi Fort and he has come forward for that run.”

Aside from Charlie Appleby's three-win Breeders' Cup, another key international takeaway from Del Mar last year was Japan's first two wins at the meeting. The nation brings a sizable, quality squad to Riyadh, and among those is the 4-year-old filly Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who defeated colts to win the G2 Fuji S. in October. She was also a nose second in last year's G1 NHK Mile Cup against males. Bill Mott brings his 2021 GI Jaipur S. winner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who rallied mildly to finish 3 3/4 lengths behind Space Blues at the Breeders' Cup. Richard Hannon's filly Happy Romance (Ire) (Dandy Man {Ire}) rarely runs a bad race, while Rohaan (Ire) (Mayson {GB}) and Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) are both talented runners looking to rebound to their best.

Baffert Targets Another Derby

Trainer Bob Baffert has a typically loaded stable of exciting 3-year-olds, and though he is currently ineligible to participate in this year's Kentucky Derby, he sends forward Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) for another Derby and the first seven-figure prize for his generation this season in the $1.5-million G3 Saudi Derby.

Pinehurst broke his maiden at first asking in August and won the GI Del Mar Futurity by 4 1/2 lengths next out, but he has something to prove having been beaten in his two most recent starts, when fifth behind stablemate Corniche (Quality Road) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and when second in the GII San Vicente S. on Jan. 29.

Godolphin brings a stiff three-pronged challenge against the favourite, all of whom are trying the dirt for the first time, with Noble Truth (Fr) (Kingman {GB}) set to carry Frankie Dettori and the blue cap, as William Buick has been stood down after a positive covid test. The bay won Doncaster's Listed Flying Scotsman S. in September and was second in the G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere before finishing fourth in the G3 Horris Hill S. Sovereign Prince (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has won three straight races including the Listed Jumeirah Classic last out, while Island Falcon (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) has won his last two.

Japan is a perfect two-for-two in the Saudi Derby, having taken the first two runnings of the race with Full Flat (Speightstown) and Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}), and this time around they bring the Listed Hyogo Junior Grand Prix winner Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) and the Cattleya S. winner Consigliere (Jpn) (Drefong). Nick Bradley Racing's filly Oscula (Ire) (Galileo Gold {Ire}) ran an admirable 10 times last year and rarely had an off day. She won the G3 Prix Six Perfections and was placed four times in pattern company including the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac.

Copano Back To Defend Sprint Title

Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) was the least fancied of three Japanese-trained runners in last year's Riyadh Dirt Sprint and had to overcome a wide barrier, but neither of those things prevented him from hitting the line first, and Akira Murayama's charge is back 12 months later to defend his title under David Egan, who is deputising for the ill Buick. Those joining Copano Kicking on the flight from Japan included Dancing Prince (Jpn) (Pas De Trois {Jpn}), a Group 3 winner in his native country, going six furlongs. Prince Faisal's Faz Zae (KSA) (Mizzen Mast), an eye-catching third here last year after racing detached from the pack early, likewise returns for another go.

RRR Racing and trainer Bhupat Seemar bring the one-two from the Jan. 1 Listed Al Garhoud Sprint, Switzerland (Speightstown)-who was fourth in this last year–and Gladiator King (Curlin). Abdulla Al Mansoori's Good Effort (Ire) (Shamardal) has lived up to his name as of late, winning the Listed Golden Rose S. going six furlongs on the all-weather at Lingfield on Nov. 13 and placing in a Newcastle conditions race and Lingfield's Listed Kachy S. most recently.

Click here for the group fields.

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International Cast For Qatar’s Major Festival

Three European Group 1 winners feature among a cast of 75 international entries for Qatar's biggest racing fixture, the HH The Amir Sword Festival.

Last week's G2 Singspiel S. winner Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) has been entered for the $1 million HH The Amir Trophy, the Longines-sponsored feature race for Thoroughbreds on Feb. 20 at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Doha, along with Aspetar (Fr) (Al Kazeem {GB}), who is owned by Qatar's HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, and 6-year-old Intellogent (Ire) (Intello {Ger}). The latter has raced in America, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in recent seasons for trainer Fabrice Chappet, who was successful at last year's festival when Al Malhouf (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) won the HH The Amir Shalfa.

Intellogent is one of five French entries for the race along with Royal Julius (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}), another globetrotter who will be making his third consecutive appearance in Doha for Jerome Reynier, having finished runner-up in the HH The Amir Trophy in 2019 and fifth last year. Last season's St Leger runner-up Berkshire Rocco (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) has also been given an entry for the mile-and-a-half contest by trainer Andrew Balding, who also has King Power Racing's six-time winner Johnny Drama (Ire) (Lilbourne Lad {Ire}) entered.

The 5-year-old Felix (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has won four or his five starts since joining Marco Botti's stable and he is another with a Trophy entry along with his Newmarket neighbour, Red Verdon (Lemon Drop Kid), who has now won nine of his 41 starts for Ed Dunlop and the Hon. Ronnie Arculli.

Among the local entries for the domestic Group 1 contest is a Qatari favourite, The Blue Eye (GB). Now nine, the son of Dubawi (Ire) has won 20 of his 37 races at Al Rayyan and has contested the last five runnings of HH The Amir Trophy, winning in partnership with Harry Bentley in 2016 and 2018.

With a total prize fund of $4.34 million (£3.26 million), the three-day festival features five international races on Saturday, Feb. 20—three for Thoroughbreds and two for purebred Arabians—with the Thoroughbred turf races completed by the six-furlong Breeders' Cup-sponsored Dukhan Sprint and the Al Biddah Mile for 3-year-olds.

Last season's Stewards' Cup winner Summerghand (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is one of two entries for the David O'Meara stable in the Dukhan Sprint, which has also attracted Corine Barande-Barbe's G3 Prix du Petit Couvert winner Air De Valse (Fr) (Mesnil Des Aigles {Fr}) and the listed Roses S. victor Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). Another French challenger in Qatar could be the 3-year-old Homeryan (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), trained by Francis Graffard for Steve Burggraf's Ecurie de Montlahuc. Last seen in public finishing runner-up in the G3 Prix Thomas Bryon in October, the colt is an entrant in the Al Biddah Mile along with Andrew Balding's recent Wolverhampton winner Wallem (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}).

The international contest on the Friday of the festival is the $200,000 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, run over a mile for 4-year-olds and up with an entry list of 59 horses from seven different countries. Ireland's Adrian McGuinness trains three of the entries, led by the 7-year-old Saltonstall (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), who has won his three most recent starts, including the listed Glencairn S. at Naas. Frederic Rossi, who had a breakthrough season in 2020 with Group 1 winners Dream And Do (Ire) and Sealiway (Fr), has entered the consistent Kenway (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), whose five wins include victory over subsequent Group 1 winner Wooded (Fr) in the G3 Prix la Rochette.

The six international races have attracted 29 horses from Britain, 23 from France, 15 from Oman, three from Ireland, two from Bahrain, and one each from Spain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

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