By Sports Reporter
Paris

Al Shaqab Racing’s Ghobat Bahar and La Musawama, owned by Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari, will represent Qatari interests in the Qatar Arabian Trophy for Fillies today at Saint-Cloud ahead of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at Longchamp.
The Group 1 race for three-year-old Pure Arabians will run over 2000m and has a prize purse of 100,000 euros.
Ghobat Bahar’s best performance has been a fourth-place finish against a highly regarded field, running 1800m in the Prix Razzia III, which was won by Deyaar.
Deyaar, trained by Elisabeth Bernard, will have another chance to go against stablemate Princesse Monlau after having beaten by the latter in Prix Nevada II (Group 3 PA).
Hania DA and Shakrra, who completed the top four at the race, will also be at the gates today.
Bernard-trained La Musawama, meanwhile, finished third on her debut at Castera Verduzan on August 24 and would definitely be looking to go better on her second outing.
Another Bernard-trained filly at the race today will be Naziq, who has run only once but her first Group level effort will be keenly watched.
Among the 12 fillies in running today will be Mabrooka who showed a lot of speed in her third place-effort in the Prix Kesberoy (Gr1 PA) against the colts. With only fillies running this time and four-time Arc winner Thierry Jarnet at the helm, Mabrooka has a good chance too. The Royal Cavalry of Oman will have two fillies in the race in Rihan and Worood.
Selketh, who finished second in the Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Gr 2 PA), and Pourvous Kossack, who has only raced in Poland so far winning twice in three outings, complete the field.
In the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy for Colts, ten horses have been entered with Muraaqib as the favourite with his already-proven ability of running 2000m.
The Group 1 race for Pure Arabian colts will be run today, also at Saint Cloud, and will see Al Shaqab Racing’s Aba’ath, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Rasheed and Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari’s Al-Bateel representing Qatar.
Aba’ath has progressed well since his fifth place in the Al Rayyan Cup – Prix Kesberoy (Gr 1 PA), having won the Group 3 race for Pure Arabians Prix Cheri Bibi.
Rasheed, though inexperienced, will be fresh after just one start, while most of his opponents have had quite a few outings this season.
Cheik Roque will make his first effort over 2000m but holds promise after finishing third in the Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Gr3 PA).
Ziyadd is lightly raced but finished second on debut behind Alsaker, who is proven at Group 1 PA level.
Caid de l’Ardus, who had two not so satisfactory runs so far, and Cristal des Vialettes, who will make his debut in the race, complete the field.
There will be seven other races run today at Saint-Cloud.