18.05.2021

QATAR GOLD SWORD - Tayf extracts his revenge

DOHA (QA), April 1^st, 2021

Gr1 PA - 4-year-olds & up - 2,000m (10f) - $450,000 - Turf

Fourth in the H.H. The Amir Sword (Gr1 PA) on February 20^th over a longer trip, Tayf (Amer) gained his revenge by turning the tables on some of the horses which had finished ahead of him that day. Indeed, he repelled the efforts of Mon'nia (Amer) and Ebraz (Amer) at the business end of the feature race at Doha, the Qatar Gold Sword (Gr1 PA), on April 1^st. Tayf was also one of five winners on the card trained by Alban de Mieulle, who races in the colours of his breeder, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

Racing over his optimum trip.  Tayf is a genuine 2,000m (10f) horse, and he proved this on French soil when landing the 2020 Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1 PA), and The President of the UAE Cup - Coupe d'Europe (Gr1 PA) in 2019, both at Paris-Longchamp. Returning to Doha, Maxr (Jaafer Asf), again acting as the pacemaker for Mon'nia, a role which he had also filled in the Amir Sword, set the tempo. In a strongly run race, the hold-up horses made headway hand over first on the final bend. However, Tayf abruptly raised the stakes by unleashing a murderous burst, as Mon'nia and Ebraz tried to make up the leeway. However, well kept up to his task by Ronan Thomas, Tayf held the thrust of Mon'nia. The latter took a little time to warm to her task. Ebraz was a close third. Al Naama (Majd Al Arab) collected fourth.

A parting shot before retiring to stud? Alban de Mieulle, the winning trainer, told the Qatari media: "Tayf is such a good horse! Today he beat the world’s best. Maybe the time has come to retire him to stud, but Sheikh Abdullah will make that decision."

The son and grandson of champions. Brought into the word as a result of the embryo transfer process, Tayf was bred at the Haras du Grand Courgeon. He boasts the maternity of Djelmila (Manganate). The latter, bred at the Haras de Mandore, was the first to lower the colours of the crack performer Al Sakbe (Kesberoy). Her standout victories among the ten on her C.V., which were recorded far and wide, included the Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes at Chantilly, the Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 and the Hatta International Stakes… all races which have since been upgraded to their current Gr1 PA status. Six of Djelmila’s progeny went on to gain black type, including the Gr1 PA winning full brothers Majd Al Arab (Qatar International Trophy, H.H. The Emir’s Sword, The Dubai International Stakes and the Coupe d’Europe des Chevaux Arabes, Grs1 PA), and Raddad (Qatar International Derby, Gr1 PA). The grandam Cherifa (Chéri Bibi) captured the Dubai Stakes and the Coupe du Cheval Arabe (Grs1 PA). Around 20 of her descendants have gone on to gain black type, and namely Mushrae (Arabian World Cup Arabian Trophy des Poulains, Grs1 PA). This is the very prestigious line of the Watrigant breeding academy, which we widely credit for having produced two very influential PA sires, Dormane (Manganate) and Manganate (Saint Laurent).