The Al Shaqab Racing-owned filly Qemah picked up an easy win in the Prix Rothschild (Gr1) at Deauville yesterday.
Trained by French trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, the filly was placed on the outside of the lot. She followed Amazing Maria with Volta right behind.
Down the home straight, with 300m to go, jockey Gregory Benoist got Qemah into action.
She managed to go past Francis-Henri Graffard’s ward, Volta, who made a last ditch effort near the finish line, before finishing second.
Steip Amach made it to the third step of the podium, ahead of Esoterique.
Rupert Pritchard Gordon, Al Shaqab Racing’s representative in France, said: “It is beautiful. The filly confirmed what she did in Ascot. She was relaxed today, which helped her accelerate like she did. She seemed to have reached a point in her maturity. She is entered in the Jacques le Marois but also in the Matron Stakes. Maybe the ‘Moulin’, but we will see with her connections for the rest of her programme.”
Qemah had landed the Coronation Stakes (Gr1) at Royal Ascot last month after placing third in the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Gr1).
Trainer Rouget explained: “Today she confirmed all her qualities. She was still a little immature in the Poule d’Essai. Ascot helped her gain experience. The race did her good. She will not run the Jacques Le Marois but should go to the Matron Stakes.”