Taking on six runners, of which four were colts, the four-year-old purebred Arabian filly Al Doha (FR) (Al Mourtajez x Topaze Du Croate) secured the biggest success of her career to date when landing the Gr.1 (PA) UAE President Cup - UK Arabian Derby - at Doncaster on Saturday, 19th August, evening.
Carrying the colours of HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani and under the care of trainer Thomas Fourcy, the talented filly put in a career best effort to land the 2,000m contest for 4YO purebred Arabians under a masterful ride from Olivier Peslier.
A debut winner at Mont de Marsan, France, Al Doha followed up with a runner-up finish in a Gr2 and a Gr2 victory at Toulouse, France, on her third and fourth career starts in April and May this year. She, then, headed to Chantilly, France, where she finished second in a Gr1 in June. Al Doha went on to capitalise on her second placed finish at Chantilly by landing one of Europe’s most prestigious races for the purebred Arabians, the Gr.1 UAE President Cup - UK Arabian Derby at Doncaster.
Al Doha crossed the line with a neck to spare over Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Ghadah (FR) (Azadi), who completed the one-two for the winning trainer Thomas Fourcy and was ridden byJean Bernard Eyquem. The Athbah Racing-owned and Phillip Collington-trained Thakeera Al Shahania (QA) (Al Mourtajez) completed the frame as she was a further length and a quarter behind in third under Joanna Mason.
Al Doha left a powerful impression on her jockey, Olivier Peslier, who said after the race: “She finished second at Chantilly earlier this summer and ran a great race. She has followed up nicely here, which isn’t an easy thing to do against the colts. She’s tough, genuine, and still improving. I am very excited for what the future holds. I am delighted for Thomas Fourcy, who is such a talented trainer in every sphere and for his team at home”.
Al Doha was bred at Haras du Berlais by Al Shaqab racing.
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