Qatar Derby dead heat pair of Tannaaf and Rogue Runner are among the strong international entries that will vie for honours in the 2016 HH The Emir’s Sword Meeting, which will be held at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) later this month.
The three-day meeting will run from February 26-28, with the feature races — 2016 HH The Emir’s Trophy (Gr1) Thoroughbred and HH The Emir’s Sword — scheduled for Sunday, February 28. Both these races will be run over 12 furlongs.
HH The Emir’s Trophy will see Tannaaf and Rogue Runner, trained by Mike de Kock and Mario Hofer respectively, run alongside Brian Meehan-schooled Agent Murphy, Richard Hannon-trained Tashaar, owned by Al Shaqab Racing, and David O’Meara-trained Afonso De Sousa, owned by Middleham Park Racing and Susan Magnier. From France, the Pascal Bary-trained Billabong completes the European contingent.
Al Shaqab-owned Al Mourtajez, the Thomas Fourcy-trained colt that won the Qatar Arabian World Cup at Longchamp this past October, will have competition from runners from UAE and Oman, including Abu Alabyad, Shaheer and Arkan, for HH The Emir’s Sword.
The Qatar International Cup features another horse from Fourcy-Al Shaqab combine in Aba’ath. The Amer colt recently won the Qatar Derby meeting for Purebred Arabians. So Big is Better will make the trip from Abu Dhabi for his American trainer/owner Mark Powell.
The three-day meeting will see the introduction of a new thoroughbred, turf race programme with the mile-long Qatar International Thoroughbred Cup, sponsored by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, for three-year-olds and up scheduled for Saturday.
The Richard Hannon-trained and Al Shaqab-owned Moheet is the sole UK entry with one entry from France in the Francois Graffard-trained Snaad, also owned by Al Shaqab. De Kock has entered Anaerobio and Abdulla Kuwaiti has Bartack in the race.
Katara Sprint Cup, a six furlong race for three-year-olds and up, and HH The Emir’s Shalfa (Laffan Mile) will be run on Sunday.
Lingfield Park winner Rivellino, entered by Karl Burke, and Marco Botti-trained Golden Steps will race for the Katara Sprint Cup. Meehan could return to Qatar with Al Rayyan Stakes victor Perkunas whilst Hannon has Tony Curtis in the race.
Hannon, trainer of Moheet, Tashaar and Tony Curtis, said: “All three horses are going to run at the HH The Emir’s Sword Meeting at the end of the month, all things being well between now and then. Tashaar is moving really well at home and was fourth in the Great Voltigeur so the form is strong. Moheet was going to run at the Qatar Derby but scoped dirty just before he was due to travel. He is in good form and the race will come just at the right time for his first run of the season. Tony Curtis is a nice horse but didn’t like the ground in the Racing Post Trophy; if he were to win in Qatar he would win more for his owners than winning a Guineas trial back home so it is a great opportunity.”
Talking about the strong international entries, QREC general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi said, “The 2016 HH The Emir’s Sword Meeting is our most prestigious race meeting of the year in Qatar and we are pleased to have attracted such strong international entries. I am particularly pleased to see the victorious Qatar International Derby horses in Perkunas, Rogue Runner and Tannaaf all returning to Qatar.”
Shipment of invited horses will be arranged and paid for by the QREC. Connections of horses will also receive business class flights and accommodation.