Tip Two Win Entered For Qatar Derby Gr.1
Al Rayyan Stakes defending champion winner Tip Two Win is expected to return for the Qatar Derby weekend, but he will not be defending his crown. Instead the is expected to participate in the Gr.1 Qatar Derby at the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) according to the preliminary entries.
The Anne Cowley-owned colt has been unbeaten around the Al Rayyan Park turf having won the Gr.2 Al Biddah Mile during the HH The Amir’s Sword Festival earlier this year too.
Hugo Palmer, Charlie Fellowes and Mark Johnston are the other UK trainers who have entered their wards for the USD 500,000 race.
Palmer has Al Shaqab Racing’s Fajjaj in the 2000m race while Fellowes has four-time winner Escalator and Johnston has Aquarium, who has one victory over the distance.
Italian trainer Alduino Botti will be looking to make it two from two in the big derby for 3YOs and has entered Wait Forever to follow up with Mac Mahon’s victory last year.
The French are represented by Antoine De Watrigant saddled Mr Satchmo, who is coming off two listed victories, the last of which was over 1800m earlier in November.
Irish handler Joseph Patrick O’Brien has entered Ming, owned by Mohammed Hamad Al Attiyah while his compatriot Jim Bolger has entered Theobald.
After saddling Parviz to third place last year, Waldemar Hickst of Germany has entered Sahelian, while Henk Grewe has Cheshmeh, the top-rated filly for this year’s race. Both horses are owned by Darius Racing.
Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Anima Rock, second behind Tip Two Win on both occasions, will be hoping to one better this time for Qatar’s champion trainer Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi.
Al Thumama Racing’s Poets Dream too had been promising behind Tip Two Win and Anima Rock and has been entered by trainer Mohammed Hussain Afroz.
For the seven-furlong Al Rayyan Stakes, Botti’s Mission Boy is the top rated horse, with competition from six UK trainers, including Johnston, Palmer, George Scott, Archie Watson, Stuart Williams and David Simcock.
Johnston’s Victory Command, three-time winner over the distance, will have Scott’s Concierge, Watson’s Quiet Endeavour, Williams’ Don Armado and Palmer’s James Street for company in the race for 2YOs.
Credit: QREC