The Peninsula
Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Alkedri (FR) (Mister Ginoux x Bise Al Maury) proved to be the dominant force in the Prix Damas, a Group 3 contest for fouryear-olds and older over a mile, in Bordeaux, France, yesterday.
The Charles Gourdain-trained filly left her rivals rooted to the spot once Ioritz Mendizabal asked the filly to pick up and she dominated to win by an impressive four-length margin. The Thomas Fourcy-trained and Jerome Cabre ridden Murjan (FR) (Dahor De Brugere x Nevadour Al Maury) was the runner-up, giving Al Shaqab Racing a one-two.
The Renee-Laure Koch-owned and Olivier Trigodet-trained Natalma Al Maury (FR) (Dahess x No Worry Al Maury) was 2 ½ lengths behind in third under Olivier Peslier. The four-year-old Alkedri shaped promisingly on her seasonal debut two weeks earlier.
Among the better PA three-year-olds of last season, had been bedevilled by bad luck, as a fall on the way to the start caused her to be withdrawn from the line up of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1 PA).
“She’s a very good filly and one that had a peach of a race after shadowing the leader” said Charles Gourdain. “Once she settles into a good rhythm during a race, the filly finishes her races off strongly. The question mark going into the race was her ability to handle the rain-softened ground. However, she handled it well. We will try and make up for the lost time with her.” Alkedri hails from the first crop of Mister Ginoux.
The dam, Bise Al Maury (Djelfor), descends from the line of the much heralded Bergeronnette (Djouran) and a fair number of her first, second and third generation descendants have gone on to gain black type, in the image of Dahor De Brugère (Dahess).