Ons Jabeur becomes first Arab woman to make French Open last 16 paGE 15 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020 SHEIKH JoaaN attenDS races at ParISLonGCHAMP IN THE FRENCH CAPITAL His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, attended the second day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at the ParisLongchamp racecourse in the French capital on Saturday. New victory for Qatar at Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari’s Lady Princess dazzles with impressive victory TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA QATARI-OWNED horses continued to dazzle at the Qa- tar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend with the Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari-owned Lady Princess’s impressive victory in the QREC-sponsored Gr1 P/A Qatar Arabian Trophie des Juments for four-year-old fillies over 2,000m at Paris- Longchamp on Saturday. Valia on way to winning Qatar Prix Chaudenay of the Qatar Prix de Lady Princess’s win was l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on Saturday. yet was another demonstra- tion of Qatar’s leadership in Purebred Arabian racing, es- pecially as it took place only 24 hours following two other Gr1 P/A victories landed by Al Shaqab Racing’s Alawsj in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches and Sheail bin Khal- ifa Al Kuwari’s Hadi De Car- rere in the Qatar Arabian Tro- phy des Poulains at St. Cloud. These victories further en- hance the standing of Purebred Arabian races sponsored by Qa- tar, reflect the success of REQ C’s vision of promoting Purebred Arabian racing worldwide and foster Qatar’s pioneering image A leading filly of the 3-year-old generation Wonderful Tonight is guided in this discipline. The Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari-owned Lady Princess races to win the QREC-sponsored Gr1 P/A Qatar Arabian Trophie des Juments on the by jockey Tony Piccone to Qatar Prix de Royallieu (Gr1) triumph at The first day of the Qa- second day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at ParisLongchamp racecourse on Saturday. ParisLongchamp on Saturday. tar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend saw a nice race card at lighted. “I am having an ex- ALL SET FOR SUNDAY FINALE of the 3-year-old generation the colours of Al Asayl France ParisLongchamp and the very traordinary weekend! To have over the distance of 2,800 me- , had not been seen in com- second race of the afternoon four horses finish in the first Qatar’s victories over the last two days came just before the final day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de ters. Wonderful Tonight came petition since an excellent saw Lady Princess emerge as an four places is incredible. Lady Triomphe weekend – Sunday (October 4). into the race having finished second place in the Queen impressive winner of the Qatar Princess has a huge heart. The finale will have a nine race card, including seven Gr1 contests, highlighting the standing of the fifth in the Prix Vermeille Elizabeth II Stakes (Group Arabian Trophy des Juments She hasn’t got a lot of flair but event as one of the most prominent racing occasions in Europe and the world. (Gr1) on Qatar Arc Trials day. 1), at Ascot in 2019. Despite (Group 1 PA) for owner Sheail she knows how to get the job The two main feature races of the star-studded card are the Gr1 P/A Qatar Arabian World Cup, She was partnered once the long absence, he was pre- Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari. done,” he said. the world’s P/A championship race, and the Gr1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the world’s again by jockey Tony Piccone sented in perfect condition by These colours were also “Christophe Soumillon, best race. and, having made a tremen- Chantilly-based trainer Fran- carried to success yesterday in her jockey, was super patient. The day will kick off at 3:15 pm (Qatar time) in the following order: dous effort to get to the front, cis-Henri Graffard. In the the Qatar Arabian Trophy des She is only small but she is 3:15pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix Jean Luc Lagardere (Grand Cirterium) – 2YOs – 1,400m despite his best efforts she home straight, the five-year- Poulains (Gr1 PA) by Hadi de much stronger than the oth- 3:50pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac – Criterium des Pouliches – 2YO fillies – 1,600m hung to her left and almost old got the better of Ziegfeld Carrere (Nieshan). ers. She sat down in the stalls 4:25pm: Gr1 P/A Qatar Arabian World Cup – 4YO+ - 2,000m came across to the stands (New Approach), who was al- Lady Princess is trained and we didn’t get a great break. 5:05pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – 3YO+ - 2,400m rail. Danger came from Pista ways close-up, ahead of Mot- by Thomas Fourcy, who also Despite this I didn’t want to 5:50pm: Gr1 Prix de l’Opera Longines – 3YO+ fillies and mares – 2,000m (American Pharoah), on the amarris (Le Havre), who on trained the first four home in force her early on, I knew be- 6:25pm: Gr1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines – 2YO+ - 1,000m inside rail, who was finishing his first effort over the mile, the Qatar Arabian Trophy des forehand that she is a lot fast- 6:55pm: Gr1 Qatar Prix de la Foret – 3YO+ - 1,400m strongly. Fifty metres from the took third place. Juments (Group 1 PA). er than the rest of the field.I 7:25pm: Qatar Grand Handicap des Flyers – Class 1 – 3YO+ - 1,400m line there was very little bew- Francis-Henri Graffard In second was Um Taj would have liked to have held 7:55 pm: Qatar Prix du Centenaire – Class 2 handicap – 3YO+ - 1,400m. teen the two fillies, who were was ecstatic with his per- (Al Mamun Monlau), third her up in last place but Quitte well clear of the remainder of formance, “He is one of the Meethag (Dahor de Brugere) lost a bit of ground. We got a the field. Crossing the winning horses we don’t run that of- and fourth Ryme Al Cham (Af little bump turning for home Dupre and ridden by the re- “Today was her firstat - race in perfect condition by line, it was Wonderful Tonight ten. Getting a horse ready to Albahar) – all of Al Shaqab but once I asked her for an ef- tained jockey for the Aga Khan tempt at both the ground and trainer Jerome Reynier, and who proved the superior by lit- run is already complicated Racing. fort she accelerated with ease.” Studs, Christophe Soumillon the trip but she has had an did not disappoint. tle more than a length. enough and even more so Lady Princess was rid- she was given a beautifully pa- excellent run there,” said He won brilliantly under Some way behind the first with good horses like him, den by Christophe Soumillon, Qatar Prix Chaudenay: tient ride, for her first run over Royer Dupre. jockey Maxime Guyon, despite two home, Ebaiyra (Distorted you need other good ones to who also won the first race of Valia reigns supreme the 3,000m trip coupled with being hampered in running Humor) finished third. go with them and without the day. The filly sat quietly in The opening race (Group 2 the particularly heavy condi- Qatar prix Dollar: Skaletti by Racing Storm (Galileo). He putting too much stress on second last through the race, race for 3-year-olds- stayers tions (4,8 on the going stick). wins for 2nd year running finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Qatar Prix Daniel Wilden- them either. which was run at a very steady over the long distance of 3,000 Held up in last for the ma- The Qatar Prix Dollar, a Group Patrick Sarsfield (Australia), stein (Gr2): The Revenant “I am happy with that. His pace in heavy ground. Once meters) was won is impressive jority of the race, Valia then 2 over 1,950m, reunited eight for trainer Joseph O’Brien. returns exercice rider knows him off in the straight, she came im- fashion by the filly Valia (Sea came with a strong run up the runners including last year’s The Revenant (Dubawi) put by heart and assured me he mediately on the attack, flying The Stars x Veda). Owned by middle of the tack and easily winner Skaletti (Kendargent), Qatar Prix De Royallieu: up an impressive performance was as well as when winning down the center of the track her breeder, HH Aga Khan. got the better of both Nemean who runs in the colours of Wonderful Tonight shines to defend his title in the Qatar this last year. I was still a bit past her opponents. Trained in Chantilly Lion (Golden Horn) et Step by French owner Jean-Claude The Qatar Prix de Royallieu Prix Daniel Wildenstein. stressed but now I’m relieved. Thomas Fourcy was de- (France) by Alain de Royer Step (Sidestep). Seroul. He was brought to the (Gr1) crowns the leading filly The horse, who runs in He is a super horse.” Sports Sunday, October 4, 2020 13 ‘Qatar has shown the rest of the world that there is a place for football to return’ Asian Football Confederation’s Deputy Director of Competitions praises Qatar’s response to pandemic, World Cup infrastructure QNA 2022 qualifiers about to re- DOHA sume, we are now more con- fident that this can be done THE Deputy Director of Com- so safely, with the Qatari ex- petitions and Football Events perience of hosting the AFC Division at the Asian Football Champions League playing a Confederation (AFC) Avazbek major part in that,” he said.