01.10.2020

UAE President Cup - UK Arabian Derby: Hattal strolls his way to victory in Britain

DONCASTER (GB), September 12^th 2020

Gr1 PA - 4 year-olds & up - 2,000m (10f) - £80,000

Having already annexed the Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes de 4ans (Gr1 PA) – after sending the clock into orbit at Chantilly – Hattal (Mahabb) did equally well in the British equivalent at Doncaster on September 12^th. The Yas Horse Racing runner is trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, and the winning margin doesn’t tell the whole story in the wake of his dominance over his fellow French raider Jugurtha de Monlau (Al Mamun Monlau). The latter is trained by David Morrison. The principals were well clear of the rest… Hattal is some horse and it’s worth reminding ourselves that he has barely reached his fourth birthday, having been born on August 4^th. That’s impressive! The Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte stable has been enjoying a purple patch in black type races. Ambition (Dubawi), beaten the minimum distance in the Darley Prix Jean Romanet (Gr1), has been earmarked for a crack at the Prix de l'Opéra Longines (Gr1). Furthermore, All Rumours (Shamardal) landed the Grand Prix de Fontainebleau - Fonds Européen de l'Élevage (L) on September 16^th, which enabled the handler to train his first stakes winner for the Wildenstein stable.

A champion in the making. Thierry Delègue, the racing manager of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, explained: "Tadhg O'Shea gave the horse a peach of a ride. For he got his mount to switch off. Consequently, the horse didn’t pull which is, perhaps, his weak point, Although Hattal has certainly matured. He’s more relaxed. He let the leader stride on. After biding his time until the final 300m, he came to win his race very easily. That is to say under a hand ride. We didn’t wish to overtax him in terms of effort, as it isn’t the easiest of journeys as regards getting here, particularly with the heat. He won in very good style. He’s still a young horse, and we will see how he comes out of this race before determining where he goes next." If he continues to improve in this way, Hattal has all the necessary attributes to become a PA performer of the very highest order.

A pedigree to die for. Hattal was bred by Sheikh Mansoor and he is by that owner’s top stallion Mahabb (Tahar de Candelon). The dam, Mizzna (Akbar), was a performer of the highest calibre in the wake of her five Gr1 PA wins, including the Dubai Kahayla Classic in which she accounted for the top class Madjani (Tidjani). At stud, she gave birth to the Gr1 PA winners Ziyadd (Bibi de Carrère) and Rabbah de Carrère (Bibi de Carrère). The grandam, Unchainedd Melody (ZT Ali Baba), proved herself to be among the very best PA performers of the last few decades in the wake of a race record which reads 37 wins from 38 career starts. This included a hat-trick of wins in the Kahayla Classic during the 1997-99 period. Unchainedd Melody is the dam of the top stallion Munjiz (Kesberoy), who sadly died recently.

DONCASTER (UK), 12^th SEPTEMBER

UAE PRESIDENT CUP

Gr1 - 4-year-olds and up - 2,000m

1^st        HATTAL (C4)

(Mahabb & Mizzna, by Akbar)

Owner & breeder: Yas Horse Racing Management

Trainer: X. Thomas-Demeaulte

2^nd       JUGURTHA DE MONLAU (C4)

            Al Mamun Monlau & Amina de Monlau, by Monsieur Al Maury)

Owner: Helal Alalawi

Breeder: R. & M.-A. Bourdette

Trainer: D. Morrison

3^rd       LOOLWA (C4)

(Al Saoudi & Zormania, byDormane)

Owner: Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum

Breeder: Shadwell Estate

Trainer: P. Collington