The Peninsula
The final declarations for the Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Poulains (Gr1 PA) has been issued featuring 10 quality colts, including 6 for Qatari connections.
The 2000m black type race, for 3-year-old colts will start at 02:24 pm Paris time (03:24 pm Doha time) at Saint-Cloud, Paris today, setting the mood for the 2019 renewal of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at ParisLongchamp on October 5 and 6.
H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Amyr Du Soleil and Methgal will be there partnered by Julien Augé and Maxime Guyon, respectively, in the famous blue and white starred colours. the Thomas Fourcy-trained Amyr Du Soleil is coming to Saint-Cloud with two victories under his belt.
The grey colt of Amer has had three outings in his career so far. He had a promising debut when finished second in 2000-metre event at Toulouse in June. He, then, remained unbeaten in his last two outings when he won the Prix Tidjani (Gr3 PA) over 1,900 metres at La Teste Buch in July and the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge-Poulains (Gr2 PA) over 2000 metres at Toulouse in early September.
The Julian Smart-trained Methgal is also a group winner. In his second and penultimate call, the grey colt of Tm Fred Texas won the Diar International Stakes (Gr3/ PA) over 1400m at Newbury in July. He finished fifth behind Amyr Du Soleil when he was last seen in early September.
Al Shaqab Racing’s Mounjared Al Cham and Zalej Al Cham will have Vincent Cheminaud and Jerome Cabre in the saddle. The two chestnut colts of Azadi are trained by Thomas Fourcy. In his penultimate run, Mounjared Al Cham was the runner-up behind Amyr Du Soleil the Prix Tidjani (Gr3 PA). He then finished third in Al Rayyan Cup (Gr1 PA) over 2000 metres at Deauville in August. Zalej Al Cham started his career in July and it was a promising debut when he finished second in the 1900-metre Prix Nez D’Or at La Teste Buch. He returned to the same venue later in the month to win the Prix Akbar over the same distance.
The Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Attiyah-owned and Mrs J F Bernard-trained Battash De Faust will be ridden by Guillaume Guedj-Gay. The chestnut colt of AF Albahar was unbeaten in his most recent two outings. He won the Prix Djourman over 7 furlongs at La Teste Buch in August. Later, he won the Prix Saint-Laurent over the same distance at Dax in September.
The Mohamed bin Fahad Al-Attiyah-owned and Francois Rohaut-trained Good Des Vialettes will have Francois-Xavier Bertras astride. The grey colt of AF Albahar scored in his second attempt, winning the Prix Nez D’Or in front of Zalej Al Cham and Battash De Faust In July.
He finished third behind Amyr Du Soleil in the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge-Poulains (Gr2 PA)when he was last seen.
The other four contenders include the Mrs J F Bernard-trained JARIF who will be ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem. The bay colt of Dahess ran once only when he finished sixth behind Amyr Du Soleil in the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge-Poulains (Gr2 PA).
The Philippe Sogorb-trained Emporio will have Jimmy Martin as his partner. The chestnut colt of Josco Du Cayrou has finished second in his two runs so far; first in the 2100-metre Prix Dahman at Dax in August and finally in the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge-Poulains (Gr2 PA) behind Amyr Du Soleil.