Subahiyah dominates Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches
Source: JDG / Photos: Scoopdyga
H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee, received the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches in presence of Mr Guillaume de Saint-Seine, President of France Galop, and Mr Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, QREC Board Member, following the victory of Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Subahiyah in Group 1 race of three-year-old Purebred Arabian fillies. The QREC-sponsored Gr1 PA contest was claimed in style by chestnut filly, who was guided to glory by Christophe Soumillon for trainer François Rohaut. The Trophy’s race was run at St. Cloud on Friday, 3 October, as part of the races associated with the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend.
Subahiyah (Mahabb x Majida by Majd Al Arab) confirmed her class with a brilliant victory in the Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches. The race was over 2000m for three-year-old Purebred Arabian fillies and featured a field of fifteen runners.
The three-year-old filly is trained by François Rohaut for owner and breeder Al Shaqab Racing and was ridden by Christophe Soumillon. She had previously finished third in the Gr.1 (PA) Al Rayyan Cup – Prix Kesberoy against the colts in August and now claims her first Group 1 win. The success also gave Rohaut a double on the card, after winning the colts edition earlier the same day.
Subahiyah soon settled at the rear because of her wide draw, running behind Al Fareeq (Nieshan x Zahwa by Aaber ASF) three wide in a race led by Motacilla (Mister Ginoux x Salma Thabeth by Dormane). As the three-wide group moved down the back straight, she gradually advanced into midfield while Sa’Ba F.AR. (Ajs Thrb x Tarfah by Quazar) tried to pressure the leader. The pace remained slow, and Christophe Soumillon kept her relaxed, anticipating the start of the pace lift. Under a masterful ride, he timed the move perfectly and positioned Subahiyah alongside the leaders as they entered the final straight. Still not fully asked for effort inside the last 400m, she was much in control and soon took the lead, despite hanging slightly to her left. Inside the final 200m she quickened smartly to open a clear advantage and won by one and a quarter lengths. The victory gave Al Shaqab Racing a 1-2-3, with Amjaad (Azadi x Almajdah by TM Fred Texas) second and El Bnoud (Azadi x Bint Jakkarta by AF Albahar) third.
Winning jockey Christophe Soumillon said after the race: "She’s a super filly. After her race at Deauville, we were a little disappointed that she didn’t really finish her race. Because she had pulled a lot, François and I had decided to put a hood on her to make her really calmer during the race. And that’s what she showed today. She settled from the very start of the race. We weren’t very fast, that’s why I anticipated a bit the start at the exit from the turn. But she has such a beautiful action and quality, because in the line of the males’ race, we finished next to the two the other day. So we saw her as a top contender, and she was well contained today." |
