Lekhwiya Moves Closer to to Advertise Here Take on Sailiya Top Ranking Re- Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 in Key Match Turn in Dubai
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FOOTBALL | Page 4 TTENNISENNIS | Page 8 Title-hopefuls Kerber Lekhwiya moves closer to To Advertise here take on Sailiya top ranking re- Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 in key match turn in Dubai Thursday, February 23, 2017 CRICKET Jumada I 26, 1438 AH Smith rejects GULF TIMES forecast of Aussie whitewash by India SPORT Page 11 HORSE RACING Top fi eld testimony to Emir Sword meet’s rising stature ‘Aidan O’Brien is one of the best trainers in the world and he will have a horse in Qatar for the first time’ File picture of champion trainer Aidan O’Brien. At right, QREC chief Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi and Al Emadi Enterprises CEO Mohamed Abdulkarim al-Emadi at yesterday’s press conference. By Mikhil Bhat Irish trainer O’Brien only cemented his Also making the trip will be two-time QREC, and also for them having a pres- For his part, al-Emadi said, “QREC “The level of horse racing is defi nitely Doha stature as a dominant force when he end- Kentucky Derby winner Doug O’Neill, ence here,” al-Kaabi said. have been successful at what they do and going up in Qatar and I defi nitely want ed 2016 with a record prize money haul who will bring along Royal Albert Hall, With Qatar’s big presence in Europe that success also refl ects on us. We feel to see it go higher. I think the trainers too of 8.1mn pounds, with Found leading a and Sir Michael Stoute, who will fi eld with the Qatar Goodwood Festival and this is part of our support for the coun- are motivated to showcase their horses in he participation of interna- 1-2-3 sweep at the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Arab Spring in HH The Emir’s Trophy the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is try. The government has been doing a a big meeting like this. We will see in the tional trainers, including Aidan Triomphe and Highland Reel taking the (Gr1). this step towards entry into the United lot for us, His Highness The Emir Sheikh next two days how good the horses really O’Brien, in the HH The Emir’s Breeders’ Cup Turf. In a fi rst, Breeders’ Cup will have a pres- States? “It is expansion for us into Amer- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has done are.” Sword Festival this weekend is a O’Brien has entered Group 2 winner ence at the three-day racing festival at the ica but it is more of a media expansion a lot. His Highness will be here and we The racing festival will conclude with Ttestament of the meeting’s growing pro- Cougar Mountain for tomorrow’s Irish QREC. As part of a partnership forged in than racing,” al-Kaabi clarifi ed. would be proud to be a part of such a suc- Emir’s Sword race, with all eyes on Al fi le in the racing world, according to the Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (Gr2). January this year, the two racing brands “As QREC we are focused on being cessful event.” Shaqab Racing’s Al Mourtajez, who chief of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian The three-time winner will be helmed by will exchange presenting sponsor titles at an individual hub of racing with its own He added: “We plan to extend our would have Julien Auge for company. Club. trainer’s son Donnacha. their respective championship races. interest. At the same time, we like to ex- partnership beyond next year.” The Thomas Fourcy-trained colt will This would be the second time that “Aidan O’Brien is one of the best train- While Breeders’ Cup is the presenting pand internationally. So I don’t want to The 1850m race for four-year-old be going for the Triple Crown, which has Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi’s administra- ers in the world and he will have a horse in sponsor for the Dukhan Sprint, which think about where we stand regionally. Purebred Arabians is open to local indi- a USD 1mn bonus for the winner, having tion will be at the helm of the aff airs Qatar for the fi rst time and he has entered will be held on the third and fi nal day of We are the best at what we do.” vidual Qatari owners. won the fi rst two legs – Qatar Interna- when Qatar’s biggest horse racing festival a good horse,” al-Kaabi told Gulf Times. the festival on Saturday, QREC will be The QREC GM was talking on the side- Emir’s Silver Sword has been won by tional Stakes (Gr1 PA) at Qatar Good- gets underway today, with million dollar “A lot of international trainers want to the sponsor of the Juvenile Turf Sprint lines of a press conference with Al Emadi Jassim Ghazali’s wards for the last three wood Festival and Qatar Arabian World Group 1 races for Thoroughbreds (HH come and race in Doha. There are lots of Stakes on November 4. Enterprises CEO Mohamed Abdulkarim years, with Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Cup during the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Tri- The Emir’s Trophy) and Purebred Ara- international runners coming in for the “Breeders’ Cup is a partnership to al-Emadi; Al Hazm is the sponsor of HH Spaghetti the latest victor. omphe weekend. bians (HH The Emir’s Sword) headlining meeting – from the UK, France, Germa- exchange races between Qatar and the The Emir’s Silver Sword. “We are very happy to see a lot of run- “Al Mourtajez does have a good the event. ny, the USA. This is encouraging.” USA. I think having them here with the “He (al-Emadi) has been with us for ners (from Qatar) and I think it is great for chance. But the fi eld is large, 16 horses, Interest shown by some of the best “We are slowly progressing towards Dukhan Sprint is very important for us eight years and I think we have one more everyone to see good runners, and even and anybody can win. You never know on trainers in the world has only made al- creating a greater international profi le for because of their big profi le in America. I year with him. We are hoping that we can up against international competition,” that day,” al-Kaabi signed off with a hint Kaabi a happy man. the race meeting.” think it will give a big image boost for us, extend this association,” al-Kaabi said. al-Kaabi said. of caution. THE DRAW Champs The Blue Eye, Gazwan to start wide By Mikhil Bhat Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Mourtajez will ago, then no one will catch him. I know Doha get a crack at the Triple Crown, start- Gazwan is very good, but Al Mourtajez ing from Gate 10. The Thomas Fourcy- is Al Mourtajez. Last year was a prob- trained horse had won this race in 2015 lem for him, but it’s a race,” De Mieulle ast year’s champions in the two before fi nishing third last year. said. million dollar races will start “I thought last year the fi rst half of Last year’s HH The Emir’s Silver out wide with both The Blue the race was very interesting. It was Sword winner, Spaghetti (Gate 6), will Eye and Gazwan drawing stall very public. But whatever happened, be stepping up for the big one for train- L15 for HH The Emir’s Trophy (Gr1) and Al Mourtajez got out of his rhythm, er Jassim Ghazali. HH The Emir’s Sword (Gr1 PA) respec- he was out of his comfort zone,” Harry The Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari- tively. Herbert, racing advisor to HE Sheikh owned colt has four top-three fi nishes This is in contrast to last year when Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani said yester- since last year’s meeting, and will be both these horses had the inside line, day. joined by Tefkir (Gate 12). starting from Gate 1. “This year, Julian is not short of Talking about The Blue Eye, his The job for both these horses and pacemakers, so I guess we will have to horse in HH The Emir’s Trophy for also some of the other Qatar-based sit more patiently and see what hap- Thoroughbreds, Ghazali said, “There horses has become that much more pens. Hopefully we get the horse in a is pressure. There are some really good diffi cult with a strong international good rhythm. We saw in Goodwood, horses that have come from outside, lineup in this edition. he got into a beautiful rhythm, and also from Europe, the US. Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi with “This year’s edition is very strong, at the Arc meeting. He is a very special “However, the reason I am looking a group of Qatari riders who will participate in the Qatari Apprentice perhaps the strongest Emir’s Sword Trainer Jassim Ghazali speaks to horse and to be in this position for a forward to this race is because we can Thoroughbred Handicap race on Friday. PICTURE: Juhaim edition for a few years to be honest,” presenter Gina Harding during the shot at the Triple Crown is great. If he see the level of horses in Qatar against Gazwan’s trainer Julian Smart said at draw ceremony for HH The Emir’s can pull it off it will be headline news, international opposition. If a Qatar good, I think,” De Mieulle said about Mountain) and Ningara (Mohammed the draw.