Al Shaqab Racing's Hajmah gallops to Purebred Arabians Qatar Derby triumph at Chantilly
Tribune News Network
Chantilly (France)
Al Shaqab Racing's Hajmah took a major step forward as she claimed Gr1 4YO PA Qatar Derby at Chantilly in France on Sunday.
Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, QREC Board Member, awarded trophies to the winners of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Gr1 PA Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes de 4 Ans, run over 2000m.
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Mansour, Chief Operating Officer of Al Shaqab Racing, received the trophy on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing after their homebred filly, Hajmah (Al Mourtajez) clinched the prestigious title in a standout performance.
The four-year-old Hajmah, facing a competitive field of 10 runners, delivered a strong performance to claim her first Gr.1 (PA) victory.
She arrived at Chantilly following a fair seasonal return last month in the Gr.2 (PA) Qatar Prix de l'Élevage at Toulouse, a run that served as a solid stepping stone toward this target.
Already a Gr.3 (PA) winner at three, having landed the Prix Nevada II over 1600m, Hajmah had shown clear potential. This time, stepped up in distance and grade, she confirmed that promise.
Not the quickest out of the stalls, Hajmah improved her position to race in midfield, just behind Bianca De Ghazal (Al Mourtajez) while Mureb (Gazwan) set the pace up front. Entering the final straight, Soumillon switched her to the left and she moved up smoothly, keeping Bianca De Ghazal boxed in.
Inside the final 300m, Hajmah was asked to go forward. Though briefly niggled along, she responded well, took the lead and battled gamely to the line. She held off the late challenge of Lippo De Carrere (Al Mourtajez), who finished fast to get within half a length at the post.
Ridden by Mickael Barzalona and trained by Alban de Mieulle for Wathnan Racing, Lippo De Carrere secured second place. The favourite, Moneer (Al Mourtajez), also owned by Wathnan Racing, trained by Damien Watrigant and partnered by James Doyle, came in third a further one and a quarter lengths behind. Notably, the top three placings were all secured by Qatari-owned runners, who are all sired by Al Mourtajez.
Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Hajmah is out of Easter de Faust (Mahabb), a Gr.1 (PA) winner over 2000m in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches at three, and a Gr.3 (PA) winner over 1600m the same year. Easter de Faust is a half-sister to Battash De Faust (Af Albahar), a multiple winner over 1400m and third in a Gr.1 (PA) over 1600m in Doha.
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