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| Staff Writer |
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Supercooled stormed to an emphatic four-length victory in the Gr.1 Qatar Derby, crowning an extraordinary day for Alban de Mieulle and Wathnan Racing, who dominated the ten-race card at Al Uqda Racecourse with five winners and three seconds.
The chestnut colt by Lope De Vega, advancing from his narrow trial success earlier this month, tracked the early leaders before unleashing a devastating turn of foot in the straight under James Doyle. The Sea The Stars colt Macduff, representing Al Thumama Racing and trained by Mohammed Hussain Afroz, claimed second, with Loose Cannon finishing third for trainer Gassim Ghazali and jockey Jefferson Smith.
"He's shown tremendous improvement since the trial," said Doyle. "When I asked him to quicken, the response was instantaneous. He's a proper horse with a bright future."
In the Gr.2 PA Qatar International Derby, Al Zeer maintained his connections' grip on the trophy with a determined half-length triumph. The Francois Rohaut-trained grey, ridden by Guillaume Guedj-Gay, surged from mid-field to secure his first group success. Al Shaqab Racing's Luwsail and Afjan completed the frame, separated by just a head.
Rebel Diamond extended his unbeaten sequence to four with a taking Qatar debut in the Al Rayyan Stakes. The Cotai Glory juvenile, another de Mieulle trainee, powered clear under Doyle to score by one-and-a-half lengths from Billboard Star, with stablemate Shadow Army close behind in third.
De Mieulle's dominance was further underlined as Chdia preserved her perfect record with a six-and-a-half-length demolition in the Gr.3 Qatar Purebred Arabian Derby. The Al Mourtajez filly, ridden by Soufiane Saadi, left Sidi Star and Mouzaffar De Monlau trailing in her wake.
Khisah Bu Thaila retained the Local Thoroughbred Derby crown with a commanding five-length victory over stablemate Wadi Bu Thaila, providing de Mieulle with another one-two finish.
The Qatar Derby, established as a significant end-of-year target for three-year-olds, has consistently attracted top-class performers. Last year's winner, Mon Ami L'Ecossais, progressed to Group Three glory in Europe, while 2021 victor King Shalaa developed into a multiple pattern race winner. The race carries a rich purse of US$500,000, making it one of the most valuable three-year-old contests in the region.
Aneed Al Shahania maintained his unbeaten record in the Qatar National Derby, scoring by three-and-a-quarter lengths for trainer Rudy Nerbonne and jockey Lukas Delozier. The grey colt's victory highlighted the depth of talent in the local Arabian ranks.
Curzon made a stunning Qatar debut in the Al Rayyan Thoroughbred Handicap Cup, while Kovanof claimed the Derby Day Thoroughbred Handicap Cup in a thrilling finish, completing a remarkable day for connections.
The international card, staged under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth, showcased Qatar's growing prominence on the global racing stage. The success follows Wathnan Racing's four-win achievement on Qatar Oaks Day just 24 hours earlier, establishing them as a powerhouse in the Middle East racing.
QREC Acting CEO Bader Mohammed Al-Darwish said: "Today's racing has demonstrated the continued evolution of Qatar's racing programme and our ability to attract and develop top-class Thoroughbreds and Arabians. The performances we've witnessed, particularly from Wathnan Racing's string, reflect the high standards being set in our jurisdiction."