Al Shaqab Racing-owned Khataab landed his first success at the Group level, when he won the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Classic (Gr2 PA) at the Toulouse racetrack in southwest France on Thursday.
The racetrack hosted one of the main events of the European season for purebred Arabians, with four Group races.
Khataab, trained by Thomas Fourcy, cantered in fourth position during the 2,000m race for four-year-olds. In the final phase, he had to fight with Samima, a double Gr1 PA winner, before emerging victorious by three quarters of a length.
The victory should bring huge satisfaction to Khataab’s connections, especially as the colts had taken two close third places in his last two starts, the Qatar Derby des Pur-sang Arabes de 4 Ans (Gr1 PA) and the UK Arabian Derby (Gr1 PA).
Khataab was bred by Alban de Mieulle, at the Haras du Grand Courgeon. Located in western France, the Stud has had great success with its first generations on the racetrack.
Motrag and Zikreet took the first two places in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Gr1 PA). Samaa won the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr 1 PA). Jeyoosh finished second of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments de 4 ans (Gr1 PA) in October. Tayf was the runner-up of The President of the UAE Cup (Gr1 PA) in September and came third in the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1 PA), in October.