Al Shaqab Racing's Caracal (left) heads towards win.
Doha: The Al Shaqab Racing-owned colt Caracal (Zelzal x Caramanta) showed plenty of class on debut and finished strongly to take the Prix du Chateau Peychaud at Bordeaux-Le-Bouscat on Sunday.
Trained by Jean Claude Rouget and ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem, two-year-old Caracal looked smart and took the 1,600m contest, reserved to un-raced colts and geldings, with ease.
Slowly out of the stalls, Caracal was forced towards the back of the field through the first part of the race and travelled keenly under Eyquem.
Square Captain (Iffraaj) took the field along through the early stages and set a relatively steady pace.
At halfway, Caracal had only one of his eight rivals behind and spotted the leader around eight lengths. The colt began to make some ground as the field turned for home and he was angled out wide around 400m from home.
Showing an excellent turn of foot, Caracal quickly closedon the leaders under hands and heels. Inside the final 200m, he had the company of INUIT (Carravagio), but soon got the better of that rival and went on to score by a comfortable two-length margin. Stablemate to the winner Alcaraz (Intello) showed a good attitude and finished third.
“He has always shown plenty in the mornings and now he has done it on the track”, said winning jockey Jean-Bernard Eyquem after the race, “We didn’t go very fast and to win in a sprint finish wouldn’t have been easy from that position. Once he has a bit more experience, I think he can go far.”
Almafjar lands first group success
Returning to his favourite distance of 1400m, the Al Shaqab Racing-owned Almafjar proved his class when taking the French Arabian Breeders Challenge Sprint (Group 2 PA) at Bordeaux-Le-Bouscat on Sunday.
Trained by Elizabeth Bernard, the four-year-old Almafjar is proving to be one of the most exciting Arabian sprinters in training, having now won four of his eight career starts. He was ridden to his latest success by Jean-Bernard Eyquem.
Quickly away from the stalls, Almafjar quickly took the lead and was left untroubled by his five rivals. Setting only a steady pace, Eyquem was able to stack the field up behind Almafjar, who travelled with supreme ease.
Turning for home, Almafjar was challenged towards the outside by the other Al Shaqab Racing’s contender Meethag and the pair drew clear of the remaining four runners.
Almafjar was briefly headed by Meethag 300m from home, but rallied under pressure and began to stretch clear inside the closing stages, crossing the line just over a length clear.
