QREC
A maiden reserved to unraced colts and geldings, the Al Shaqab Racing owned WELWAL (Shalaa x Cheriearch) took the Prix De Crevecoeur at Deauville on Sunday August 8th in fine style.
A race reputed for producing talented individuals, the Jean-Claude Rouget trained Welwal produced an impressive turn of foot under a fine ride from jockey Cristian Demuro.
Held up throughout the early stages of the 1,500m contest, Welwal always travelled strongly. With a strong pace being set by Bardolino (Wotton Bassett) Demuro was happy to remain towards the rear as the field took the final bend. Upon entering the home straight, Welwal was angled out wide for a run and closed with purpose on the outside. Blue Boat (Frankel) followed Welwal in his run and the pair drew clear from the 200m pole. Always doing enough to hold Blue Boat, Welwal went on to score by three quarters of a length. The pair drew four lengths clear of Dreamflight (Frankel) back in third.
Speaking after Welwal’s success, Al Shaqab Racing’s manager Rupert Pritchard-Gordon said “We were hoping he would run a nice race. Jean Claude had told us that he has been doing everything well at home and worked like a quality colt. The goal was to give him a nice introductory race and Cristian took his time on him. At the finish, it was his class that made the difference. For an unraced maiden they went a nice tempo, which helped. It is great for Shalaa, after Shaikha on Thursday and the colt of Alessandro Botti who ran well too.”
Bred in partnership by Oceanic Bloodstock, Mrs. A Gravereux and OTI Management, Welwal is by Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) who stands at Haras de Bouquetot for Al Shaqab Racing, whose colours he carried to multiple Group success. His dam Cheriearch (Arch) was a Listed winner at La Teste de Buch and has now produced four individual winners, including Epistrophy (Charm Spirit) who finished third in a Group 3 at ParisLongchamp.