The draw ceremony for the two USD 1 million features, HH The Emir’s Trophy (Gr1) and HH The Emir’s Sword (Gr1 PA). First up, it was the turn of the Thoroughbreds, and Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani-trained Goldenfield was picked first up. The Mohammed Bin Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah-owned gelding will start from Gate 10 on Saturday.
As the ceremony progressed the strength of the 16-horse field became abundantly clear.
Qatar Racing Limited’s Group 3 winner Chemical Charge will be the first runner for UK’s Ralph Beckett, and the 6yo will start from Gate 4, next door from Umm Qarn’s Duke of Dundee (Gate 3), who will partner with Olivier Peslier.
Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain trained Quelindo got the inside line with gate 1, with Qatar Derby winner Mac Mahon, trained in Italy by Alduino Botti, drew Gate 2.
Al Shahania Stud-owned US runner, Money Multiplier, starts wider in 11, while last year’s runner-up, Noor Al Hawa, trained by Germany’s Andreas Wohler, starts from Gate 16.
Qatari Hunter, first runner in Qatar for Ireland’s Jim Bolger, starts next door in 15, Andrew Balding’s entry, Elbereth, one of two fillies in the race, starts from 8. Zman Awal, the other lady in the mile and a half race, drew Gate 5.
French hope in the race, Francois Rohaut-trained Best Fouad, a Group 3 winner, drew Gate 7. While, champion Trainer Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi’s The Blue Eye, winner in 2016, will start from Gate 9 under Champion Jockey Harry Bentley.
Two other horses with Shahania and H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s royal blue and white colours, Al Barwod and Otwo, drew Gates 13 and 6 respectively.
“Some of the best jockeys have been entered and I think it will be a very difficult race. I hope the best horse wins,” QREC General Manager Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi said.
“Now in Qatar, we are in the top level in Arabian racing. It is very difficult to compete with the Qatari horses. We go to Europe, America, we have done well. Now that we have international exposure with the Arabians, we have some really good horses, broodmares, owners, we now want to step forward to make a name in Thoroughbred racing too.”
For the Arabian race, all eyes were on Umm Qarn’s Yazeed and H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Ebraz and Gazwan. The latter two are hoping to become the first to win the USD 1 million Arabian feature twice, since Alban de Mieulle-trained Al Dahma did so in 2009 and 2010.
But Yazeed, trained by De Mieulle, has been in smashing form winning every race in Qatar her has participated in.
Yazeed, and Julian Smart-trained Ebraz, winner of the 2017 edition of the race, and pacemaker Ba’sil start 12, 13 and 11 respectively, with the 2016 winner Gazwan starting from Gate 5.
Two Al Shaqab Racing fillies, French horse, Almaa, trained by Thomas Fourcy, and Hossin Mohammad Ashour-trained Al Dawoodea will start from Gates 2 and 9 respectively.
Two Omani horses, Chaddad and Zaqur start from Gates 3 and 15 respectively.
By Ritesh Jamkhedkar - ritesh.jamkhedkar@secretariatsworld.com