The Peninsula
Al Shaqab Racing’s Khataab landed the French Purebred Arabian Breeders’ Challenge, a Group 1 for four-year-old and older Purebred Arabians, in Bordeaux, France, yesterday.
The Thomas Fourcy-trained seven-year-old grey son of Amer lined up in the 1900-metre event as the favourite and did not disappoint, winning by four lengths in front of his nearest rival.
In the early stage of the black type event, Khataab sat in the rear guard through the race before cruising past the outside of the racing pack to win with impressive ease in the hands of jockey Jerome Cabre.
It was a one-two for Al Shaqab Racing and Thomas Fourcy with Kair Al Cham being the runner-up under Julien Auge.
The X. Thomas-Demeaulte-trained and Ioritz Mendizabal-ridden Belqees was a further length behind in third.
The Alban de Mieulle-bred Khataab came here off an excellent second place in the Gr1 Qatar Arabian World Cup, which was run on the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day, behind champion Ebraz.
Fourcy commented after the race that Khataab had come out of the race so well and knowing his predilection for the softer ground, he had no hesitation to bring him to this competition.