01.10.2020

Qatar Cup - Prix Dragon: Fazza Al Khalediah books his World Cup place

PARISLONGCHAMP (FR), September 13^th 2020

Gr1 PA - 4 year-olds & up - Colts and geldings - 2,000m (10f) - €85,000

It was hardly the most memorable edition of the Qatar Cup - Prix Dragon (Gr1 PA), even if the winner, Fazza Al Khalediah (Jalnar Al Khalidiah) is entitled to finish in the first three in the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1 PA). After racing in third behind Lightning Bolt (Munjiz), it came as no surprise that his finishing dash easily made the difference after carrying him just under two lengths clear. Messi (Dahess) was the surprise package in second after depriving the leader Lightning Bolt of that spot by three-quarters of a length. The final time in the Prix Dragon proved to be the second fastest of the last 15 years... The winner of the Qatar Arabian World Cup in 2018 when he created a huge upset, and twice second in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) circuit, again at the highest level, subsequent to this, Fazza Al Khalediah was sidelined from March (2019) to February (2020). The 20^th February marked the day when the Michal Borkowski runner proved an easy winner on his return to action at Mons. He went on to finish fifth in the Doha Cup - Prix Manganate (Gr1) at Deauville during the summer.

Big race ambitions. Hubert Kulesza, the racing manager of Al Khalediah stables said: "We were beaten at Deauville when we aimed to come with a steady run. At the end of the day, it proved to be just a decent run out for Fazza Al Khalediah. Nevertheless, he was well beaten and so we reasoned that he would need another prep race before the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1 PA)." Christophe Soumillon told Equidia: "The very soft ground, and the fact that he hadn’t run for quite a while, explains his below par effort at Deauville. Reputedly a sluggish type, he needs to race on a regular basis to maintain his condition. Honestly, I didn’t understand the orders given to me (laughing). I wasn’t tied down to specific riding instructions. So consequently, I aimed to get the horse to switch off. I found myself in front a little earlier than planned but the horse responded well when called upon for his effort. They told me that he was far from being cent per cent fit coming into the race, and so the idea was to ensure that the race honed him to peak fitness for his assignment on the Arc weekend. I seized the initiative with time to spare and, on that ground, it helped my horse get home."

Messi is the surprise package. Messi’s trainer Timo Keersmaekers said: "He ran well today. He can pull himself up in the latter stages of a race and isn’t the bravest of horses. We were beaten by a good horse so I’m very happy. He has improved greatly since last year. We’ve been able to get a lot of work into the horse. As the Covid-19 crisis has meant that we’ve had a lot more time on our hands than usual! He may go for the Qatar Arabian World Cup. Failing that, he will be put away until next season." Kim Augenbroe, the trainer of Lightning Bolt, said: "He ran well. More of a soft ground type, the ground was riding on the fast side. We will decide next week whether to aim him at the Qatar Arabian World Cup or not."

Hailing from a great French line. Fazza al Khalediah was bred at the Haras de Gouffern & de la Genevraye, and he’s out of Assma Khalediah (Amer). The latter ran second behind the very classy Nachmiya (Azadi) in the Prix Nefta (Gr2 PA). The grandam Dalina des Fabries (Dormane), acquired at the Saint-Cloud sales, was a very smart performer. Second in the Abu Dhabi International Stakes (Gr1 PA), she went on to land the Coupe Al Asayl at Craon, a race open to international competition, and which would invariably carry a Gr1 PA label nowadays. She was to prove herself a top notch mare when retired to the paddocks, having foaled Ocyrrhoe (Al Nasr), the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge (Gr1 PA) winner at Saint-Cloud. The latter is the dam of Artemis (Azadi), the winner of the Prix Nevadour (Gr3 PA) and second in the Qatar Derby des 4ans (Gr1 PA).

The grandam Valina des Fabries (Djourman) produced Falina des Fabries (Dormane), the winner of five races including the Maktoum Challenge (Gr1 PA) and the Abu Dhabi International Stakes (Gr1 PA). In the next remove of the pedigree we come across the Quovalina (Chéri Bibi) strain of the family which we associate with the much heralded Nevada II line.

QATAR CUP - PRIX DRAGON

Gr1 - 3-year-olds and up - 2,000m - €85,000

1^st        FAZZA AL KHALEDIAH (58.5) H6

            (Jalnar Al Khalidiah & Assma Al Khalediah, by Amer)

            Owner: Polska Akf

Breeder: Al Khalediah Stables

            Trainer: M. Borkowski

Jockey: C. Soumillon

2^nd       MESSI (58.5)

            (Dahess & Jeanne d'Arc, by Dormane)

            Owner & Breeder: V. Keersmaekers

            Trainer: T. Keersmaekers

Jockey: E. Hardouin

3^rd       LIGHTNING BOLT (58.5) H8

            (Munjiz & Oleya du Loup, by Kerbella)

            Owner: Écurie Kooman Business Management.

Breeder: Mrs K. Van Den Bos

            Trainer: Mrs K. Augenbroe

Jockey: T. Bachelot

Other runner(s) in finishing order: Snan & Kanaan.

All ran (5).

2'13"86. Distances: 1 3/4 - 3/4 - 3/4.