Aeon’s Aegis storms to Qatar Derby victory

Doha, Qatar: Aeon’s Aegis confirmed his class with a second consecutive victory in QA Gr1 Qatar Derby for 3YO Thoroughbreds, following up his Derby Trial success with a dominant performance in the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC staged Qatar International Derby Day at the Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.

Produced from the rear of the field in the home straight, the Shikh Abdul Rahman Rashid A M Al-Thani-owned bay gelding unleashed a thundering turn of foot to surge past his rivals and draw clear for an impressive 3½-length victory for trainer Mohammed al-Ghazali and jockey Soufiane Saadi.

Abdulrahman bin Abdulla Al-Malki, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, in the presence of Bader bin Mohammed Al-Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, presented the trophy.

Wathnan Racing’s Lippo De Carrere delivered a brave, high-class performance to land the Gr2 Purebred Arabian feature for four-year-olds, prevailing by a neck in a thrilling finish of the 2000m contest. Trained by Alban de Mieulle and ridden by James Doyle, the colt denied the gallant runner-up Shaihaan, his half-brother, completing a treble for his owner–trainer–jockey combination.

Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Abdulrahman bin Abdulla Al Malki, in the presence of QREC Acting CEO Bader bin Mohammed Al Darwish, presented the QA Gr1 Qatar Derby trophy to Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Rashid Al Thani, owner of the victorious Aeon’s Aegis at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday. Pictures: Juhaim/QREC

Earlier in the day, Zameer maintained his unbeaten record with a decisive victory in the 1600m contest of the Local Purebred Arabian three-year-old Derby, delivering another title for owner Wathnan Racing, trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey James Doyle, while also completing a quick-fire double for the winning trio. Racing prominently in second, the grey colt took charge in the home straight and, once past the 200m, never looked back, drawing clear to score by three lengths.

Wathnan Racing celebrated another top-level success yesterday, when Best Way maintained his unbeaten record, following up his Trial victory with a decisive success in the 1850m Derby for three-year-olds. The bay colt, trained by De Mieulle and ridden by Doyle, loomed up approaching the home turn before striking in the final 200m and finding another gear inside the last 100m to assert his authority and score by 1¼ lengths, preserving the title for the same owner–trainer–jockey combination for the third consecutive year.

Al Rayyan Stakes, as Godolphin celebrated success with Pacific Avenue. The grey colt delivered a polished performance in the 1600m contest for two-year-old Thoroughbreds, making smooth, steady progress before quickening decisively in the home straight. Under William Buick, he surged to the front and drew clear to score by 2½ lengths for trainer Charlie Appleby.

Earlier in the day, Ahmed Amanalla Al-Sheebani, QREC Deputy CEO, presented the trophy of the Qatar National Derby to Ahmed Al-Kuwari, who received it on behalf of North Racing, owners of the unbeaten Zah’ran Al Shahania.

Abdulrahman bin Abdulla Al Malki, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth crowned the winners of the Qatar International Derby. Ali bin Yousef Al Kubaisi received the trophy on behalf of Wathnan Racing. 

The dark bay gelding maintained his perfect record with a determined success in the 2000m contest for four-year-old Local Purebred Arabians, following up his Trial victory by returning to overcome three familiar rivals in the Derby itself. Zah’ran Al Shahania was held up behind the leaders before unleashing a powerful late surge in the concluding stages, hitting the front and holding on bravely to clinch victory by a head from Fatack Al Shahania, handing trainer Hamad al-Jehani a third win on the day under Pierre Charles Boudot.

Al Shaqab Racing’s Amjaad won the Qatar three-year-old Purebred Arabian Derby (Gr3 PA) yesterday. The bay filly confirmed her class by adding a Group success to her record after several placed efforts at Gr1 PA level, producing a determined finish in the 1600m contest. Launched in the home straight, she cut down the deficit on the long-time leader before reeling him in inside the final 100m to land the spoils by a length for trainer Thomas Fourcy under jockey Faleh Bughenaim. Mubarak bin Ali Al-Nuaimi, President of the Qatar Swimming Federation, presented the trophy to Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Mansour, Chief Operating Officer of Al Shaqab Racing.

26th Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Qatar Derby

- Al Rayyan Thoroughbred Handicap Cup 0-85 (2yo Only) (Class 4) Zoiros, Hamad Al-Jehani, Szczepan Mazur
- Local Thoroughbred Graduation Plate (Class 4) Saida, Hamad Al-Jehani, Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi* (-2.5kg)
- Derby Day Thoroughbred Handicap Cup 75-95 (4yo And Up) (Class 3) Win and in Shalfa Qualifier Garden Route, Abdulla Al-Mulla, Ivan Rossi
- Local Thoroughbred Derby (3yo Only) (Class 1) Best Way, Alban Elie De Mieulle, James Doyle
- Local Purebred Arabian 3yo Derby (Class 1) Zameer, Alban Elie De Mieulle, James Doyle
- Qatar 3yo Purebred Arabian Derby (Class 1 Gr3) International Race Amjaad, Thomas Fourcy, Faleh Bughenaim
- Qatar National Derby - Local Purebred Arabian (4yo Only) (Class 1) Zah'ran Al Shahania, Hamad Al-Jehani, Pierre Charles Boudot
- Al Rayyan Stakes - Thoroughbred 2yo (Class 1) International Race Pacific Avenue, Charlie Appleby, William Buick
- Qatar International Derby - Purebred Arabian (4yo Only) (Class 1 Gr2) International Race Lippo De Carrere, Alban Elie De Mieulle, James Doyle
- Qatar Derby - Thoroughbred (3yo Only) (Class 1 QA-Gr1) International Race Win and in Shalfa Qualifier Aeon's Aegis, Mohammed AlGhazali, Soufiane Saadi