Dettori repeats feat on Dubday
Successful 12 months ago on the Al Shaqab Racing-owned five-year-old, the popular Italian repeated the feat as the son of Dubawi beat former John Oxx inmate Ponfeigh under thefloodlights at Al Rayyan racecourse
Drawn widest of all in stall 16 on the sharp right-handed track, the former Qatar Derby and Gold Cup winner was soon tucked in by Dettori and travelled powerfully for much of the mile-and-a-half journey.
Dubday was caught a little wide rounding the home turn and the response was not immediate onceDettori got to work, but he eventually found top gear and mowed downPonfeigh and last year’s runner-upPeter Anders to emerge triumphant.
Dettori, who delighted the locals and guests with his trademark flying dismount, said: “It was a lot closer than I thought. It took a bit of time to get going, but once the turbo kicked in I knew I was going to win. It was for the boss (Sheikh Joaan Al Thani), it’s the biggest day’s racing here and I was riding the best horse in Qatar.”
Al Shaqab’s racing manager, Harry Herbert, said: “Frankie is just great round here, he rides it so well – he is a magician. The Sheikh is here and it’s just terrific. Hopefully he’ll go to Dubai now for the Gold Cup. If he happens to prove himself over the trip (two miles), it opens up options like the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and Goodwood, which Qatar sponsor.
“I’d love to see him in Europe. This is the superstar of Qatar racing.”
The Emir’s Sword, main event for purebred Arabians, also went to the Al Shaqab team as Al Mourtazez made every yard for trainer Thomas Fourcy and rider Julien Augue. Trainer Julian Smart, who saddled three of the seven runners, was responsible for the second and third Djainka Des Forges and Al Majh’Hoor.
Smart is likely to be a major player in those seeking to land the newly-launched Qatar Arabian Triple Crown, which was announced at a press conference earlier in the day.
With a £1m bonus available for connections, the first leg will be at Goodwood on Nassau Stakes day with the Qatar Harwood International Stakes. The mile contest will be run as the seventh of eight races on theshowpiece Qatar-sponsored card.
The 10-furlong Arabian World Cup on Arc day at Longchamp forms the second leg, with the mile-and-a-half Emir Sword next February thepotential history-making third event.
