Prelude to a Doha Derby

When the opportunity arose for a TDN writer to travel to Doha to cover the Qatar International Derby Festival, there wasn't much ruminating from this correspondent's quarters to put his hand up for the task. Ok, so I was breaking a 20-plus year tradition of attending Leopardstown's Christmas four-day jump racing extravaganza, but one should never spurn a chance to broaden one's horizons, so I packed my bag for a whistle-stop maiden voyage to Doha.

Al Rayyan Racecourse is part of a large equestrian complex that also plays host to other disciplines such as show-jumping, dressage and Arabian racing. The grandstand enclosure is compact and like most things in Qatar, it radiates a shiny, new feel. The sun was setting by the time the second race was under orders at 5 p.m. local time and as the flood lights kicked in, the crowd amused themselves without the all too familiar distractions of gambling and alcohol.

German trainer Mario Hofer shared the Derby spoils last year when his Rogue Runner (Ger) (King's Best) dead-heated with the Mike de Kock trained Taanaaf (Ire) (High Chaparall {Ire}) and the trainer was in relaxed form on Wednesday, looking forward to the challenge of Noble House (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) in Thursday's feature. The trainer's confidence grew further as he watched his Kick And Rush (Ger) (Tertullian {Ger}) land a smart juvenile conditions race at Deauville the same afternoon, leaving Hofer dreaming of a potential G1 German Derby challenge next year.

“He's a very promising horse and I hope he might develop into a Derby horse next year,” said Hofer. “Hopefully we can also land tomorrow's Qatar Derby again. Noble House is well and I enjoy coming here. The sun is shining, the people are very hospitable, there is nothing not to like about it.”

For a moment it looked like Hofer would also add Thursday's feature, the Al Rayyan S. to his haul, but his Hyper Hyper (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) was just run out of the placings as Pazeer (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), formerly trained by Jean-Claude Rouget but now in the care of Ibrahim Al Malki, landed the $100,000 contest. Mark Johnston's Masham Star (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) was fancied to go close in this despite a heavy schedule this season that saw him make his 12th start of the year on Wednesday, having also taken in a race at Velifendi in Turkey in September. He perhaps did too much too early in the 1400m contest and having rounded the turn upsides the former Kevin Prendergast-trained Catch A Wave (Ire) (Approve {Ire}), faded soon after to finish 10th.

Charlie Johnston, son and assistant to the trainer was on hand and commented after the race, “He got a bit warm beforehand which was a worry and then he got taken on for the lead early on. He seems fine after it so he'll probably go to Dubai next.”

Ultimately the race provided a 1-2 for trainer Ibrahim Al Malki as Perfect Storm (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}), a Navan maiden winner for Aidan O'Brien, finishing a joint-second with the best of the European trained runners in Trouble Of Course (Fr) (Rajsaman {Fr}), trained in Norway by Niels Petersen.

Ibrahim Al Malki, German based jockey Eduardo Pedroza and The Aga Khan Stud's Siyouni (Fr) (Pivotal {GB}) went on to complete a big-race double when Mango Tango (Fr) routed her opponents in the $100,000 Qatar Oaks. She brought high-class French form to the table, running second in the G2 Shadwell Prix de Pomone in August for Pascal Bary before fetching €400,000 at the Arc Sale at Arqana in October and she proved a different class to her opponents, beating Croara (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}) by five lengths with Matara (Fr) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) a further three lengths back in third.

The first thoroughbred race of the evening, the Sawda Natheel S. over 1200m for fillies and mares saw Yeomanstown Stud's Dark Angel (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) get the exacta as My Sharona (GB) beat Bronze Maquette (Ire). The winner, trained by Jassim Mohammed Ghazali, was winning for the 14th time and both her and the runner-up showed a smart level of form for their previous trainers in Britain before continuing their careers in Qatar.

A similar racing programme is scheduled for Thursday with proceedings brought to a close by the $500,000 Qatar Derby. Before that however, is the obligatory cultural activity involving a guided tour of the Souq Wafic on Thursday morning, where supposedly lots of weird and wonderful things are for sale…stay tuned.