Abbes corners HH The Amir Sword glory

Doha: Wathnan Racing’s Abbes capped the eventful HH The Amir Sword Festival with a phenomenal victory in the iconic HH The Amir Sword race in front of packed stands at the Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.        

The final day of the celebrated three-day Festival that offered an unprecedented total prize money of $10m this year saw Qatari-owned horses sparkling in season’s biggest meeting – HH The Amir’s Sword & Trophy – the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) 34th Race Meeting.  

The connection of Abbes celebrate after HH The Amir Sword victory. Pictures: Juhaim/QREC

Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the closing ceremony and honoured the winners besides crowning triumphant riders of the HH The Amir’s Sword Showjumping and Dressage Championship.  

The Purebred Arabian 2400m run offering a prize purse of $2.5m for the coveted Sword contest featured 10 top horses including Lady Princess, Mwarid and First Classs but none from them could matched the pace of Alban de Mieulle-trained Abbes, who sped clear under jockey Mickael Barzalona in the final stages to win the prestigious title by two and a half lengths. 

Ridden by Ryan Moore, Moshrif finished second in the race while Hoggar De L’Ardus, which had Maxime Guyon in the saddle claimed third position. 

Alberto Sanna riding Russian Emperor celebrates HH The Amir Trophy Thoroughbreds (Class 1) win.    

In HH The Amir Trophy Thoroughbreds (Class 1) – the second feature yesterday – also carrying $2.5m in prize money, Mike Cheung Shun Ching-owned Russian Emperor reigned supreme topping a strong field, half-length clear under talented Italian jockey Alberto Sanna. 

The connection of Russian Emperor pose for a group photo. 

Finishing second behind the Douglas Whyte-trained gelding was Warren Point – piloted by William Buick – with Ronan Thomas riding Bolthole to third place.  

Earlier, Abdullah bin Fahad Al Attiyah’s Ska De L’Aigle, ridden by Andrea Atzeni, excelled in the $500,000 HH The Amir Silver Sword for 4YO Purebred Arabians, securing win in the 1850m race by a length and a quarter for trainer Francois Rohaut.  

The $400,000 HH The Amir Shalfa, a Thoroughbred Open Handicap was won by Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s King Pacha, who edged Semper Augustus, under Barzalona for another win of the Festival for trainer Gassim Ghazali.     

The third and final day of HH The Amir Sword Festival witnessed thrilling races at Al Rayyan Racecourse. 

There was an exciting battle in the Gr2 Al Rayyan Mile for 3YO Thoroughbreds and it was the Al Wasmiyah Stud, G Bailey and N Wrigley-owned Alzahir, who pulled out more for jockey Atzeni, seeing off his main rival Kerindia by a head for trainers John and Thady Gosden. 

The Dale Dolan Dooley Owen-owned Flaming Rib under Oisin Murphy also sparkled yesterday, winning the 1200m contest for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds by three quarters of a length for trainer Hugo Palmer.

In the Gr 1 Qatar International Cup for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians, Al Jeryan Stud’s AJS Saaeq emerged winner against a strong field as the MHK Al Attiyah-trained five-year-old claimed a two-length win under jockey Szczepan Mazur in the 1600m race. 

The day started with the victory for Aidan O’Brien-trained Order of Australia in the QA Gr2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup. Ryan Moore rode the Irish runner to a half-length victory for owners D Smith, J Magnier, M Tabor and A M O’Brien in the 1600m race. 

HH The Amir Sword Festival 34th Race Meeting
HH The Amir’s Sword & Trophy (Horse, Trainer, Jockey) 

HH The Amir Sword (Gr1 Pa) - Purebred Arabian (3rd Leg Of The Triple Crown)
Abbes, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona

HH The Amir Trophy (Qa Gr1) - Thoroughbreds (Class 1)
Russian Emperor, Douglas Whyte, Alberto Sanna

HH The Amir Silver Sword - Purebred Arabians (4yo Only)
Ska De L’Aigle, Francois Rohaut, Andrea Atzeni

HH The Amir Shalfa - Thoroughbred Open Handicap (Class 2)
King Pacha, Gassim Ghazali, Mickael Barzalona

Al Rayyan Mile (3yo Only) (Qa Gr2) - Thoroughbreds (Class 1)
Alzahir, John and Thady Gosden, Andrea Atzeni

Dukhan Sprint (Qa Gr3) - Thoroughbreds (Class 1)
Flaming Rib, Hugo Palmer, Oisin Murphy

Qatar International Cup (Gr1 Pa) - Purebred Arabians
AJS Saaeq, MHK Al Attiyah, Szczepan Mazur

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (Qa Gr2) - Thoroughbreds (Class 1)
Order of Australia, Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore