26.04.2018

QATAR GOLD SWORD - GAZWAN HOLDS ON TO HIS TITLE

DOHA (QAT), 5^th April 2018

Gr. I PA - 4 year olds and over - 2,000m - QR 912,500

Winner of this race last year, Gazwan (Amer) kept his title in the Qatar Gold Sword (Gr. I PA), holding off Yazeed (Munjiz) and Ebraz (Amer). Al Shahania’s grey champion, who is trained by Julian Smart, finished up his 2017 season with a hard-fought win in the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr. I PA), in front of Yazeed and Ebraz. He then made his seasonal bow straight into the Emir’s Sword, which he also won. On the 5^th April, he lined up in this race far fresher than his two main rivals.

Gazwan and Ebraz’s stable companion, Aaley Al Magam (Amer), who also runs in the blue and white silks, set the pace in the race, while the eventual winner sat in second position on the rail. He was followed by Yazeed, with Spaghetti (Snoopi) on his outside. Turning into the straight, Gazwan was the first to make his move. Yazeed, hampered in the final turn, couldn’t follow him, and despite a brave effort, never caught Gazwan, who picked up again in the closing stages, under the hands of Cristian Demuro.

Julian Smart commented: "What horse could do better? He has run twice in Qatar this season, for two Swords [editor's note: the Emir and the Qatar Gold]. He’s a real superstar. There weren’t very many runners, but it was a quality field."

Regarding Ebraz, he commented to the Qatari press: "It’s a little bit disappointing, but I think that he will do better in Europe, on bigger racecourses, and a longer straight. When you have to run against horses such as Gazwan, it’s not easy. Gazwan is a different class. He is 7 years old, and I have never seen him pull, he can run at any pace, and accelerate off the lead. He’s a different horse now."

To watch the race replay: https://youtube/UtHBx0KlmSE

A REMARKABLE MATERNAL BLOODLINE

Gazwan is out of Arc de Ciel (Djendel), Qatar Horse of the Year in 2000-2001, when she won the Emir’s Sword (Gr. I PA). This mare is also the dam of Rathowan (Amer), second in The President of the UAE Cup - UK Arabian Derby, the Qatar Arabian World Cup and the Emir’s Sword (Grs I PA), as well as Iftekhar Asf (Amer), third in the Hatta International Stakes (Gr. I PA) at Newbury for Al Shahania Stud.

DOHA (QAT), 5^th April 2018

QATAR GOLD SWORD

Gr. I PA - 4 year olds and over - 2,000m - QR 912,500

1^st      GAZWAN (60) H7

Amer & Arc de Ciel

Owner & Breeder: H.H. Sheikh M. Bin Khalifa Al Thani

Trainer: J. Smart

Jockey: C. Demuro

2^nd     YAZEED (60) H5

Munjiz & Al Dahma

Owner & Breeder: H.H. Sheikh A. Bin Khalifa Al Thani

Trainer: A. de Mieulle

Jockey: O. Peslier

3^rd     EBRAZ (60) H7

Amer & Massamarie

Owner & Breeder: H.H. Sheikh M. Bin Khalifa Al Thani

Trainer: J. Smart

Jockey: T. Bachelot

Other runner(s) in finishing order: Spaghetti, Aaley Al Magam, Zameer, Almuheet & My First General.

All ran (8) - (Turf) - 2’09’’84 - Distances: ¾ - ½ - 11