QREC
His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani-owned MASHAEL won the Prix Défi Du Galop – 2 September – Craon at Clairefontaine racecourse, France, on Friday 9 August 2019. This is the first win and third career start for the exceptionally well-bred bay filly (DUBAWI x AL JASSASIYAH – a daughter of GALILEO), who was also bred by His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani’s Al Shaqab Racing.
MASHAEL gave a good performance at Clairefontaine despite a chaotic beginning to the race. The Andre Fabre-saddled filly accelerated smartly and showed a brilliant turn of foot in the closing stages of the 2,400-metre run to land the spoils of race reserved for three-year-old maiden fillies with Vincent Cheminaud in the saddle, beating the Stall Ullmann-owned and JP. Carvalho-trained GUARDIAN FAY, who was ridden by Maxime Guyon, by two lengths. The Famille Niarchos-owned and P. Bary-trained NOCTILUCENT, ridden by Stephane Pasquier, was a further head behind in third.
MASHAEL had run in smart company on her two previous starts, including the Prix de la Chapelle-en-Serval (Class 1), which was won by Channel who went on to win the Prix de Diane Longines.
MASHAEL is the first foal out of AL JASSASIAYAH, a daughter of ALLURING PARK, who is also the dam of the Champion filly, WAS.