Al Shaqab Racing’s Doha Dream kicked off the two-day Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend to a galloping start with a come-from-behind win in the opening race of the afternoon, the 200,000 euro  Qatar Prix Chaudenay, a Group 2 3000m race for three-year-olds, at the historic Chantilly racecourse here yesterday.
The son of Shamardal was ridden well by Belgian jockey Gregory Benoist, who exploited the soft track conditions well to guide Doha Dream to his fifth top finish this season, and first at Chantilly. He had lost out to Mahahiki and Midterm to finish a close third on the same track at last month’s Prix Niel.
The lead changed hands many times during the course of the race, with British runner Marmelo looking to be edging ahead, followed by Moonshiner as the final straight approached. With 400 metres to the finish, the Al Shaqab colt, known for his endurance and strength, listened to his jockey’s call and came into his own, racing ahead in the final 50 metres for a close win and give his Qatari owners Al Shaqab a perfect start to the big weekend. His fifth win of the season caps a fine season for Doha Dream in France after victories in Fontainebleau, Saint Cloud, Nantes and Vichy to go with two narrow second and third-place finishes.
German colt Moonshiner edged out Marmelo to finish second. Benoist said he knew Doha Dream had it in him to go for the final burst. “He’s a good runner and I didn’t prod him much earlier on despite trailing as I knew he had it in him to accelerate when required,” the Belgian said.
Trainer Andre Fabre said he may now give a deserving winter break to Doha Dream. “He is a very consistent horse and I did not have any real worries about the longer trip, but I wouldn’t want to go any further. I might now put him away until next season,” the Frenchman said.
But it was heartbreak for another Al Shaqab Racing colt Heshem in the Qatar Prix Dollar, a 2000m Group 2 sprint in what was the fourth race of the afternoon.  Heshem, also with Benoist astride, lost out to Potemkin, trained by the well-known Andreas Wohler, with just 20 metres to the finish -- the German raider’s sudden burst of speed good enough to secure him the win by more than a length. Pre-race favourite Zarak, from the Aga Khan stable, never really threatened in his third-place trot home.
Al Shaqab Racing had another second-place finish in the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy Des Juments, a Group 1 PA race for four-year-old fillies, when Jeyoosh made much recovery after a slow start to finish behind Naziq. Najda QA, owned by HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, came third.
Naziq, ridden to perfection by Jean-Bernard Eyquem, took a massive lead from the start and never slowed down to win the 2000m race by more than four lengths. In the Qatar Prix Du Cadran, a Group 1 race run over 4,100 metres, Quest For More, ridden to perfection by George Baker, edged pre-race favourite Vazirabad on the line for his first Group 1. Nearly Caught came third almost five lengths back.
The Juliet Rose (Stephane Pasquier astride) made a stirring run in the Qatar Prix De Royallieu (Group 2) to win ahead of Almela by almost three lengths. Sotteville finished third.
Taareef won the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein (Group 2), the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum-owned colt winning the 1600m sprint by more than a length ahead of Hello My Love and Moonlight Magic.
In the Grand Handicap Des Milers Du Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, a 1600m B Handicap race, Indy Cass edged out Roero and For Ever to win, though it was the jockey-less Quatorze, owned by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, who crossed the line first after dropping his jockey Olivier Peslier at the gate. New Frosty won the evening’s final race, the Qatar Grand Handicap Des Juments, a 1900m B Handicap race for fillies aged three years or more. She edged out Korinna in a photo finish after making much ground from the middle of the 16-horse pack, before winning by the chin. Grand Jete came a close third.
Today’s the big day at the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with Al Shaqab Racing’s Arabian champion Al Mourtajez on track to land the Doha triple-crown bonus, having won the Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood in imperious fashion in July. All eyes will also be on Postponed, the overwhelming favourite for the Arc.