Alsaker, owned by the Royal Cavalry of Oman, imposed himself in the Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes de 4ans (Gr 1 PA) yesterday in Chantilly, France.
After travelling at the back of the field, the colt was asked by his jockey Julien Augé to accelerate in the final phase. Coming up on the outside of the lot, in the middle of track, he showed a real turn of foot to impose himself at the very end in front of Tayf and Khataab.
Tayf, owned by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, was placed just behind the leader on the outside and easily managed to take the second place in front of Al Shaqab Racing’s Khataab.
The latter travelled at the very end of the lot. He showed he could probably win the race, but was defeated narrowly at the finish line.
In fourth place was another Al Shaqab horse, Aba’ath, a few lengths behind. He was ridden by Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim.
Alsaker trainer Elizabeth Bernard said, “It is the first time I won this race. My husband had won it with Sir Bani Yas. Each time we won, it was only by a nose! It is with great pleasure that we train Alsaker because he has a lot of quality.”
Earlier, it was a legendary performance by La Cressoniere that won her the Prix de Diane Longines (Group 1).
The second stage of the EpiqE Series rewards the best three-year-old fillies from all over Europe.
The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained filly had won the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Group 1) held over a mile in Deauville, and is now unbeaten in six runs.
Rouget has had an amazing week, having won with Al Shaqab Racing’s Qemah in Ascot, besides a Prix du Jockey Club victory two weeks ago with Almanzor.
La Cressoniere carries the same colours as Almanzor, being owned by Antonio Caro and Gerard Augustin-Normand.
The last owner to have won the Prix du Jockey-Club and the Prix de Diane in the same year was Marcel Boussac, and it was in 1956! La Cressonniere was ridden by Cristian Demuro, who won his second Group 1, a month after the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
La Cressonniere managed to impose herself after a difficult race, always on the outside, which actually helped her to avoid all the traffic on the inside rail. In the final straight, she showed an incredible turn of foot in order to win by half a length ahead of Left Hand.
Volta, who was supplemented to participate in this race, took an excellent third place, after being pushed in the final straight. Azaelia, not very happy when they all started to accelerate, was fourth ahead of Coolmore.