H.H. The Amir Trophy

Godolphin's Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who won the Listed HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar before causing a mild surprise over a star-studded field in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Mar. 30, is scheduled to travel overseas yet again for his next start. "He shipped back to Newmarket a couple of days ago, shipped well, and I think we'll stick with plan A and probably head to Hong Kong for the [May 26 G1 Standard Chartered] Champions and Chater there," trainer Charlie Appleby told Equidia's Katherine Ford Callier...

Mike Cheung's reigning champion Hong Kong stayer Russian Emperor (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) will not take part in Sunday week's G1 Longines Hong Kong Vase (2400mT), South China Morning Post reported Wednesday. The 6-year-old, who gave trainer Douglas Whyte his first victory on foreign soil when taking out last year's Listed HH The Amir Trophy in Qatar before successfully defending his title in the G1 Standard Champions and Chater Cup in May, will miss the Vase owing to an unspecified veterinary issue, SCMP reported. Winner of the 2020 G3 Hampton Court...

The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) this week announced significant purse increases for the 2023 three-day racing H.H. The Amir Festival, including a boost to $2.5 million for the signature H.H. The Amir Trophy. The festival--which is set for Feb. 16-18 and falls a week before the $20 million G1 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack--will again be contested at Al Rayyan Racecourse. The H.H. The Amir Trophy, which was previously worth $1 million, is a 1 1/2-mile turf test for 3-year-olds and up. "Certainly, raising the value of...

Among the 321-strong entries for His Highness The Amir Sword Festival in Qatar are 105 overseas horses set to contest the $2.95-million six-race card at Al Rayyan Racecourse in Qatar on Feb. 21-22. There are two $1-million races on tap, one for Thoroughbreds--the 2400-metre HH The Amir Trophy presented by Longines. 2019's winner, G1SW French King (GB) (French Fifteen {Fr}), squares off against the second-fourth-Royal Julius (Ire) (Royal Applause {GB}), Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), and The Blue Eye (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). Fellow German Group 1 winner Aspetar (Fr) (Al...