Trainer Francois Rohaut, jockey Gregory Benoist and owners Al Shaqab Racing teamed up to win the L’Ormarins Queens Plate for a second successive year as Al Jazi emerged as an impressive winner of the Group 3 contest at the Qatar Goodwood Festival yesterday afternoon.
Amy Eria had won the race last year for the same connections a year ago.
Al Jazi ran strong when asked for her effort and she quickly put daylight between her nearest pursuers, eventually running out as one and three-quarter length winner.
“This was quite a long term target,” said trainer Rohaut. “When we win a race, we try to win it again! We knew she was good enough to run well. This was the first time she’s encountered a very good pace and that is what she needs to win a good race.
“A strong pace and good going suits her. She has only run on good to soft at best in France.
“She had everything today. Good pace, good draw and good going. She always showed she was good enough to win a race like this.
“She’s is a different type of filly to Amy Eria. You must look after this filly. Amy Eria was a big, strong filly. This one is good though.”
Charlie Appleby was delighted with the run of Mise En Rose, who finished second under jockey James McDonald.
Appleby said: “I’m delighted with Mise En Rose. If you had told me this morning she was going to finish second then I would have taken that quite happily… Seven furlongs is definitely her trip. With quick ground and seven furlongs, we might just nick one somewhere.”

Take Cover recaptures King George Stakes
Take Cover bounced back from an 11th place finish at Ascot with a win in the day’s only Group 2 race — Qatar King George Stakes. The 9yo gelding had already won the title in 2014.
Owned by Norcroft Park Stud, he was fast out of the stalls, and that early speed proved crucial in his success. Behind him, Washington DC finished second and Goldream was third, only a small nose in front of the Al Shaqab Racing-owned filly, Easton Angel.

Kings Fete takes Glorious Stakes
Kings Fete registered his first Group success with a win in the Betfred Glorious Stakes (Gr3). Representing Khalid Abdullah’s colours, the five-year-old gelding, ridden by Ryan Moore, travelled on the inside behind early leader Ayrad, who had set a good pace to the race.
Ayrad, owned by Saleh Al Homaizi and Imad Al Sagar, seemed to have won the race from pillar to post before Kings Fete attacked him. They both battled until the end and it was finally the Sir Michael Stoute-trained horse who took the advantage. Ayrad finished second ahead of Majeed.
Stepped up to Group level for the first time since contesting the St Leger in 2014, the winner had missed the whole of last season due to injury and was unlucky in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“He’s had his difficulties so it’s a big effort to get him back at all, really. Everything went smoothly through the race, it was a good performance. A lightly-raced colt, he’s improved, for sure,” Moore said.

Thikriyaat races to his Fourth WIN
Sheikh Hamdan al-Maktoum-owned Thikriyaat flew away in the Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (Gr3). Travelling among the lot, the horse had a hard time finding a passage down the home straight. He finally found his way through and picked up well to win in front of stable companion Forge.
The latter came up fast on the outside attacking Thikriyaat, with Paul Hanagan at the helm, in the final furlongs and taking the second place in front of Light Up Our World.
Stoute-trained Thikriyaat now counts four wins and one place in five runs, including a second behind Ribchester in the Jersey Stakes (Gr3) at Ascot.
“He’s very tough and honest and consistent; a very admirable horse. I think he’ll get a bit further than that (a mile),” Stoute said after his one-two in the Group 3. Of the runner-up, he added: “He’s a nice horse in the making.”