03.02.2019

QATAR DERBY - Amir Al Cham posts his biggest win

DOHA (QAT), 22^nd December 2018

Gr. III PA - 3-year-olds - 1,600m - $ 100,000

Victorious at Toulouse in November, Amir Al Cham (TM Fred Texas) was racing for the first time at Doha. He maintained his winning momentum by capturing the Qatar Derby

(Gr. III PA) under Julien Augé. It marked his first Group PA success and enabled his trainer, Thomas Fourcy, to win this race for the fourth time in five years on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing.

Tabouk (General), the only filly in the race and blinkered for the first time, set the pace. Meanwhile, Amir Al Cham was held-up in mid-division. He made headway rounding the final bend before drawing upsides the leaders on entering the straight. In the ensuing battle,

Amir Al Cham showed the necessary thrust to win in pleasing style. Daloob (TM Fred Texas), formerly trained by Thomas Fourcy stable but now with Alban de Mieulle, was second. The latter was coming off a winning debut on the Qatar circuit over a longer trip. Ajs Moaddie (Af Albahar) completed the placings in third.

To watch the race

https://youtu.be/WlQdMYKDoGk

The personal domain of Thomas Fourcy

Amir Al Cham successfully trod in the hoofprints of other Thomas Fourcy runners and namely: Ateej (Af Albahar) (2016), Aba’ath (Amer)) (2015) and Mister Ginoux (Amer) (2014). The trainer said of this year’s renewal: "Amir Al Cham didn’t get off to good start but Julien [editor's note: Augé] was inspired. He made an early move which entailed him forcing matters on the outside. Amir Al Cham has a touch of class. He is a fighter, he has a good action and he certainly saw it out to the very end. In the straight, he also showed that he was still a bit tender and immature. However, I think he has progressed."

Hailing from the family of Saklawi Jardane

Amir Al Cham was bred by Hassan Mousli and Nada Mousalli. He raced as an entire here but has since been gelded in January.

TM Fred Texas (Burning Sand), the sire of the winner, is a resident at Haras de Thouars in France. He is responsible for Marid, a dual Group I PA winner and the top French colt of last season (2018). Amir Al Cham is the sole product of the dam, Al Yakout (Al Saoudi), currently registered in France.

Nasma Al Chame (Kesberoy), the grandam, is a full sister to the eight times winning Saklawi Jadrane. The latter proved successful in the Prix du Président des Émirats Arabes Unis, the Coupe d’Al Asayl and the Coupe d’Europe et des Emirats Arabes Unis (Gr. Is PA). This is the close family of Al Saklawiya (Al Sakbe), the Qatar Total Arabian Trophy Juments (Gr. I PA) second.

This is the female line of Djoura (Ourour) who has generated the sire Djouras Tu (Manguier).

DOHA (QAT), 22^th December 2018

QATAR DERBY

Gr. III PA - 3-year-olds - 1,600m - $ 100,000

1^st      AMIR AL CHAM (58) G3

TM Fred Texas & Al Yakout, by Al Saoudi

Owner: Al Shaqab Racing

Breeder: H. Mousli & Nada Mousalli

Trainer: T. Fourcy

Jockey: J. Augé

2^nd     DALOOB (58) G3

TM Fred Texas & Haija, by Amer

Owner & Breeder: Al Shaqab Racing

Trainer: A. de Mieulle

Jockey: F. Bughenaim

3^rd     AJS MOADDIE (58) M3

Af Albahar & Gabie de Carrère, by Manganate

Owner & Breeder: Al Jeryan Stud

Trainer: H. Al Ramzani

Jockey: T. Lukasek

Other runner(s) in finishing order: Tabouk, Husam, Annan, Garrafah, Gold Amer, Di Oco Py, Djeziz des Forges & Ajs Al Uraiq.

Ran (11) - (Turf) - 1’44’’67

Distances: 1 ¼ - Shd - 2 ½