14.05.2018

PRIX NEFTA - NAJAH LEADS THE YOUTH REVOLUTION

TOULOUSE (FRA), 20^th April 2018

Gr. II PA - Fillies and mares - 4 & 5 year olds - 2,000m - € 25,000

Najah (Munjiz) defeated her elders in the Prix Nefta (Gr. II PA). She is one of four 4 year old fillies lining up in this inter-generational competition. Owned by Yas Horse Racing and trained by Frédéric Sanchez, she won smartly on good ground, ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem.

HER SECOND GROUP RACE AT TOULOUSE

The race was led at a quick pace by Wadeeaa (Mahabb), Najah’s stable companion. The eventual winner sat in third on the rail. In the straight, the leader came under attack from all sides, with Najah, Almaa (Amer) and Muneera (Dormane) in the assailing positions. The four fillies were head to head, however Najah proved the toughest. Third in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr. I PA), with valid excuses and finishing strongly, she won this French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge des Pouliches (Gr. I PA) on good ground at Toulouse. Almaa finished second by a little over a length. This winner of the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Classic (Gr. II PA) was coming off a good fifth place against the Qatari elite. The front runner Wadeeaa finished in third place in front of Muneera, who prefers softer ground.

Thierry Delègue, racing manager to His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, discussed Najah: "She has confirmed all that we thought about her. It's always nice to see that they have wintered well, as the step from 3 to 4 is a delicate one. It's very encouraging to see the filly run like this on her seasonal debut, as she wasn't at 100%. Despite everything, she won confidently. We are delighted, and she will stay running against fillies for the moment, and we hope that she will continue to improve. »

About the fact that she beat her elders, he added: "That didn't surprise us, even objectively, as she had a three kilo advantage in the weights. What is interesting is that she can run in races for 4 year olds only, and that is very encouraging."

Concerning Wadeeaa, who finished in third place, "she almost finished second (laughs). She led as no one wanted to go in front. She handled the finish very well, despite a small moment where she lost concentration, which is normal seen as she was having her first run of the year. She picked back up well, and with another stride, would have been second. It's an encouraging performance, and confirms that we have some of the best fillies of this generation, as we still have Joudh (Mahabb) who hasn't yet begun her season. We are well armed. It's great."

AN ACTIVE PEDIGREE FROM SHEIKH MANSOOR BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN’S BLOODSTOCK

Najah is a daughter of Dahwa (Tidjani), winner of the Prix de l’Élevage (Gr. II PA) and a half-sister to the useful Salaamah (Njewman). This latter won three races as a three year old, including the Emirates Equestrian Federation International Stakes (Gr. I PA) at Newbury, as well as Aryaan (Kesberoy), the dam of Naseem (Mahabb), winner of H.H. The President Cup and the Maktoum Challenge Round I (Grs I PA). Najah is a full sister to two horses trained by Frédéric Sanchez, Bandar (Munjiz), winner of three races including the Grand Prix de Sa Majesté le Roi Mohammed VI (Gr. III PA) at Casablanca, and to Thabit (Munjiz), a four-time winner including the Coupe du Sud-Ouest des Pur-Sang Arabes (Gr. III PA). All these horses run in the colours of  Yas Horse Racing, Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s racing operation.

TOULOUSE (FRA), 20^th April 2018

PRIX NEFTA

Gr. II PA - Female 4 & 5 year olds - 2,000m - € 25,000

1^st        NAJAH (55) F4

            Munjiz & Dahwa

            Owner: Yas Horse Racing Mana LLC

            Breeder: H.H. Sheikh M. Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

            Trainer: F. Sanchez

            Jockey: J.-B. Eyquem

2^nd       ALMAA (58) F5

            Amer & Nyriad

            Owner & Breeder: Al Shaqab Racing

            Trainer: T. Fourcy

            Jockey: J. Augé

3^rd       WADEEAA (55) F4

            Mahabb & Gaira

            Owner: Yas Horse Racing Mana LLC

            Breeder: H.H. Sheikh M. Bin Zayed Al Nahyan

            Trainer: X. Thomas-Demeaulte

            Jockey: É. Révolte

Other runners(s) in finishing order: Muneera, Um Graibah, Siya, Jamas D.A. & Mabrouca.

All ran (8). (Turf) Good. 2'12". Distances: 1 ^1/4 - sh - 1 ^1/2.