Al Ghadeer: Chasing Immortality
François Rohaut And Al Ghadeer's Quest For An Impossible Dream
At Domaine de Sers in Pau, the morning work unfolds with quiet efficiency as François Rohaut observes the bay colt who carries the weight of history on his shoulders. For 40 years, the veteran has pursued excellence through countless champions trained by, yet even he struggles to comprehend the magnitude of what lies ahead, should they succeed.
This winter in Doha, Al Ghadeer will attempt what no Purebred Arabian has ever achieved: a third consecutive Triple Crown, a feat that would cement his place not merely as champion, but as legend.
"At home, he is a bit lazy and just enjoys cantering or working," Rohaut observes, his voice carrying the measured cadence of four decades of reading equine temperament. "On a racecourse, he becomes a fighter and is not the easiest horse a jockey wishes to ride," he says with pride. This dichotomy between paddock placidity and racetrack ferocity defines the 7YO who has rewritten the record books of Arabian racing across three unforgettable seasons.
The Impossible Dream Within Reach
The numbers tell a story of sustained dominance unprecedented in Arabian racing. Eleven consecutive Group One victories. Three Qatar International Stakes triumphs at Goodwood. Three Qatar World Cup titles at ParisLongchamp. Two HH The Amir Sword victories in Doha. Only one challenge remains: securing that third HH The Amir Sword this season, completing a hat-trick of Triple Crowns that would stand alone in the sport's records.
"This year we changed our way to prepare Al Ghadeer for the Amir Sword," Rohaut reveals, acknowledging the delicate balance required when campaigning a champion approaching the twilight of his career. "Getting older, he isn't as concerned by the morning work, and we decided to run him last Tuesday in Pau." That farewell performance before French supporters, staged as both competitive preparation and emotional goodbye, provided exactly the evidence the trainer sought. "He won easily, showing me what I wanted to see. Now we know what we have to do to have him at his best for his last race."
The description carries particular weight because Rohaut understands this represents Al Ghadeer's final competitive appearance. After three seasons of unbeaten brilliance, the US$2.5 million HH The Amir Sword over 2,400 metres will serve as both coronation and curtain call.
From Pau To Perfection: Patience Meets Talent
Rohaut's journey to this precipice spans continents and decades. His first Group One success came with Balbonella in July 1986. The breakthrough with Signs Of Blessing in the 2016 Prix Maurice de Gheest established his credentials with Thoroughbreds. Muraaqib's 2017 Qatar International Stakes victory for Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum opened Arabian racing's doors. Yet nothing in 40 years prepared him for Al Ghadeer.
"I have been waiting 40 years to have a horse like that," Rohaut confessed after one of Al Ghadeer's 2024 victories, his voice thick with emotion rarely displayed by the usually reserved trainer. The statement carries profound weight because it acknowledges both the rarity of such talent and the fortune required to encounter it.
His training philosophy, unchanged since 1984, eschews revolutionary methods in favour of classical horsemanship tailored to individual needs. "Some horses need an 'a la carte' work, and it's a challenge to find a good recipe," he explains. "Al Ghadeer never needed any special training."
The colt arrived at Pau following his foundation work under another French trainer. "Damien de Watrigant, who previously trained him, was right when he announced he had a champion in his stable," Rohaut acknowledges with characteristic graciousness.
Al Ghadeer was purchased from Al Nujaifi Racing by Al Wasmiyah Racing, the operation of Ali Al Attiyah and his family. The transfer to Rohaut's stable coincided with the change in ownership. Al Ghadeer's first two Group One victories came in the colours of Al Wasmiyah Racing before his subsequent acquisition by Al Shaqab Racing. Together with Al Shaqab owned by H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani they embarked on a campaign that would redefine Arabian racing excellence.
The Pedigree Of Greatness
Foaled on April 1, 2019, at Mohammed Al Nujaifi's breeding operation in France, Al Ghadeer inherited championship credentials from his sire Al Mourtajez, himself a dual Qatar Arabian World Cup winner who accumulated eight Group One victories across three countries. Al Mourtajez has proven equally dominant at stud, with Al Ghadeer joined by full brother and Group One winner, Al Doha. From his dam Gharraa, a daughter of Russian sire Matador 12, Al Ghadeer inherited the structural soundness and mental fortitude allowing him to campaign at the highest level without defeat across three seasons.
The lone blemish came in his July 2022 debut at La Teste, where he finished second in the Gr.3 Royal Cavalry Oman Prix Tidjani. One month later at Deauville, Al Ghadeer announced his arrival with victory in the Gr.1 Al Rayyan Cup over 2,000 metres. "It wasn't his best win as he pulled a lot during the race, but he showed that day that he was a different horse," Rohaut recalls. The partnership between Al Ghadeer and Christophe Soumillon began here, forged by Ali Al Attiyah's wishes, and has evolved into one of Arabian racing's most successful collaborations.
The Triple Crown Blueprint Perfected
The 2023 season established the template. Victory in the Prix Damas at Bordeaux-Le Bouscat preceded the Gr.1 Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes de 4 Ans at Chantilly. Then came the historic treble: the Qatar International Stakes at Goodwood in July, the Qatar Arabian World Cup at ParisLongchamp in October, and the HH The Amir Sword in Doha in February 2024. Only Ebraz, who achieved the feat in 2020, had previously completed the Doha Triple Crown. Al Ghadeer became the second, then immediately set about defending his titles.
The 2024 campaign delivered history-making victories. At Goodwood, Al Ghadeer demolished a quality field whilst setting a new course record of 1:42.85. "For me, Al Ghadeer looks like the Frankel of Arabian horses," Soumillon declared trackside. "He is so amazing." ParisLongchamp in October witnessed Al Ghadeer settling at the rear before unleashing his devastating turn of foot. February 2024 HH The Amir Sword followed, where, despite intense pressure from Abbes. However, the defending champion prevailed by a length, becoming the first horse to complete the Doha Triple Crown twice.
The 2025 campaign brought Al Ghadeer's third Qatar International Stakes triumph at Goodwood in July, cementing his status as the only three-time winner. ParisLongchamp in October witnessed more history as he became the first horse to complete a Qatar Arabian World Cup hat-trick, surpassing his sire's dual success.
The Soumillon Understanding
"Christophe and I have been working together for a long time now, and we don't have to discuss much," Rohaut notes, describing a relationship built on mutual understanding. When Soumillon proved unavailable for specific engagements, Maxime Guyon and Vincent Seguy deputised with distinction, "both very proud to have the chance to ride him and did a good job."
Yet Soumillon's intimate knowledge of Al Ghadeer's racing persona proved invaluable. "He can pull a lot and needs a strong pace to manage his energy and fighting spirit," Rohaut explains. The trainer coordinates with the Al Shaqab team to select pacemakers for major engagements, whilst Soumillon communicates directly with their riders to ensure optimal race setup. This tactical sophistication underpins Al Ghadeer's sustained dominance.
Meticulous Preparation: A Stable's Journey To History
"Like every year, after a smooth autumn, the team is now in fighting mood to prepare for the HH Amir Sword weekend," Rohaut notes. His wife, Veronique, manages the stable office, whilst veterinarian Maria Masramon and farrier Manu Castera form the tight-knit team supporting every campaign. The logistics require meticulous coordination with the transporter, STH Hipavia, and the travelling staff, Yvana Lacoste and Jessica Garcia, who accompany the horses on their ten-hour journey to Chantilly before flying from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Doha.
"I think Arabians handle all that (travel) much better than Thoroughbreds," Rohaut observes. "It is the most stressful time for us. We don't handle anything and our travelling lads don't fly with the horses," he admits. "I only relax when I know they all arrived in time and in good condition at the quarantine stable."
Following his 2025 ParisLongchamp triumph, Al Ghadeer enjoyed what Rohaut describes as "an easy time at the stable, just with long jogs and walks". The colt recovered quickly, resuming cantering in November as preparations began for the unprecedented third Triple Crown attempt.
Immortality Awaits
"Good horses make good trainers," Rohaut insists, deflecting credit with characteristic humility. "I have been lucky to train so many good horses, and I am very grateful to their owners who offered me the chance to train them." Special mention belongs to Lady Chryss O'Reilly and Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, whose support sustained the stable across decades. "They were both good people, and their passing has greatly affected me."
In February 2026, in the HH The Amir Sword, when Al Ghadeer attempts to write the final chapter of an unprecedented career, Rohaut will stand trackside knowing he has prepared his charge as perfectly as four decades of experience allow. Victory would transcend sport, achieving immortality through accomplishment no horse has ever matched. In Al Ghadeer, François Rohaut found the horse of a lifetime, and together they stand one race away from rewriting Arabian racing history forever.