staddoha.com
Injaaz Stud’s Hellenistique won the Qatar Derby (QA Group 1) on Sunday while Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Lady Princess won the Qatar Derby Arabians feature.
The event was attended by the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali.
Also present during the trophy ceremony were QREC Chairman Issa bin Mohamed Al Mohannadi and Qatar and Asian Equestrian Federations President and QREC Vice-Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah.
Earlier, Umm Qarn colts Antar and Equinoxe bagged the derbies for three-year-old Arabians and local Thoroughbreds respectively.
In the US$500,000 finale, Marco Casamento and his partner Hellenistique, saddled by Zuhair Mohsen, went past the entire 14-strong field in the final 400m after a slow start to win the 2,000m turf feature. Julien Auge, who was earlier astride Lady Princess, guided King Pacha to second handing Mohsen a one-two in the feature.
“It was only the first time that he (Hellenistique) ran this track, but I feel he improved quite a bit having trained with me over the course of the last month (since the move from France). My rider (Casamento) did exactly what was expected of him, and the horse responded well too. I am really happy,” said Mohsen.
After landing the Al Rayyan Stakes on Saturday’s Oaks Day, Auge was astride the winner in the Arabian feature on the Derby Day.
A year ago, the General filly had missed out on winning the Derby for three-year-olds, but yesterday a timely nudge from the jockey meant that Lady Princess was pulling away from the field in the final furlong.
The Thomas Fourcy ward won by almost three lengths as Alban de Mieulle missed out on a hat-trick after Umm Qarn’s Jabalah finished second under Soufiane Saadi.