04.02.2021

QATAR DERBY: LADY PRINCESS RACKS UP THE WINS

Doha (QAT), DECEMBER 20^th, 2020

Gr2 PA - 4-year-olds - 2,000m - $150,000

The Al Rayyan racecourse commentator vented his joy in the wake of Lady Princess (General) taking the Qatar Derby for 4-year-olds (Gr2 PA). "The best horse in the world", was his ecstatic pronouncement. Gérard Larrieu, having acquired the filly on behalf of her current owner, said in an interview which is published in full in this edition: "Her success in the Qatar Derby – Easter de Faust had previously won this race in the same colours – was a big moment, and a reward for Thomas Fourcy, Julien Augé, and the team as a whole, after    complying with the quarantine process so as to be able to accompany the filly. To be able to win such races and beat stables such as Al Shaqab, Al Shahania and Umm Qarn, which have a great number of horses at their disposal, is really something!" Lady Princess is tiny physically and her appearance in the paddock inevitably leads to the question of how can she possibly win? However, the Thomas Fourcy runner, racing in the colours of Sheail Al Kuwari, continues to rack up the wins in both France and Qatar alike and, yet again, her turn of foot worked wonders. It also enabled her to turn the tables on Jabalah (Al Mamun Monlau), as the latter came out on top when they met in the Qatar 3-year-old Derby last year. Jabalah kicked for home early but he repeatedly hung towards the rails, whereas Lady Princess made a beeline straight for her favourite target: the winning post. Lady Princess was coming off a win in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (Gr1 PA).  On the basis of this, she was credited with a rating of 52.5. However, over the last decade, only Sylvine Al Maury (Munjiz) and Kiss de Ghazal (Dormane) have been credited with a higher mark in this Gr1 PA race by the handicappers of France Galop.

THE SISTER OF MISTER GINOUX

The sister of Mister Ginoux. Paul Basquin, in the company of Lisa and Pierre Deymonaz, bought Lady Princess after visiting the stud of Bruno Bellaud. The filly was then sent to Haras du Saubouas where she followed the evolution of the growing process before being broken-in and undergoing the pre-training process. Her dam, Nacrée Al Maury (Kesberoy), acquired by Bruno Bellaud on the recommendation of Martial Boisseuil, won the Prix Damas (Gr3 PA). Her first foal proved to be the future Al Shaqab stallion and Haras de Thouars resident, Mister Ginoux (Amer). Nectarine Al Maury (Baroud III), the grandam, produced No Risk Al Maury (Kesberoy), the winner of ten Group PA races, and currently a successful ‘Shadwell’ sire based at the Haras de Saint-Faust.

AL RAYYAN PARK (QAT), 20^th DECEMBER

QATAR DERBY 4YOS

Gr2 PA - 4-year-olds - 2,000m - $150,000

1^st        LADY PRINCESS F4

            (General & Nacrée Al Maury, by Kesberoy)

            Owner: K. Bin Sheail K. Al Kuwari
            Breeders: E.A.R.L. Champ Gignoux & Ms E. Bellaud

            Trainer: T. Fourcy
            Jockey: J. Augé

2^nd       JABALAH C4

            (Al Mamun Monlau & Kouthar, by Nizam)

            Owner: Umm Qarn
            Breeder: Scea du Haras de Victot

            Trainer: A. de Mieulle
            Jockey: S. Saadi

3^rd       METHGAL C4

            (TM Fred Texas & Theeba, by Amer)

            Owner: H.E. Sheikha Reem M. K. Al Thani
            Breeder: Al Shahania Stud

            Trainer: J. Smart

Jockey: A. Sanna

All ran (9).

(Turf). 2'14"79. Distances: 2 3/4 - 1/4 - 1/2.