Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi (left) presents the Qatar Coupe de France des Chevaux Arabes trophy in Chantilly, France.

Agencies/Chantilly, France

Mabrooka, representing Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed’s colours, imposed herself brilliantly in the Qatar Coupe de France des Chevaux Arabes (Gr1), yesterday in Chantilly, France. She remains unbeaten in three races.
This race is her first victory at a Group level. Didier Guillemin’s pupil had a great race. Her jockey, Alexandre Gavilan, kept her at the back of the field behind the favorite, Muraaqib, and managed to accelerate in the last straight to pass all the other competitors from the outside. Muraaqib, trained by François Rohaut, finishes well and takes the second place in front of Cakouet de Bozouls, who lead the race from the start.
Her trainer explained: “She is an extraordinary filly. You do not win three times in a row only thanks to luck. I thought that the distance of 1,600 metres might have been too long for her, but she proved that she could do it, because she has a lot of class. Today, there were the best horses of her generation. For the rest of her program, we will see with Martial Boisseuil, the owner’s racing manager. Already well advanced in the racing season, the entries on the mile are more difficult. Today, the filly behaved very well. She was calm and did her race at the back of the field. It was what we had asked for. Now, we have to see if we can go onto 1,800 or even 2,000 metres if she continues to run relaxed.”