GERMAN raider Noor Al Hawa proved too good for an international field on Thursday and ran out an impressive winner of the $500,000 Qatar Derby at Doha. The three-year-old French-bred son of Makfi, bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, was three lengths clear of the Captain Gerrard colt Gerrard’s Quest, with the Irish-bred Acclamation gelding Al Mohalhal back in third.

The English challenged Scarlet Dragon was disappointing in the 16-runner field for the valuable 10-furlong race on turf.

Purchased recently by new owners Al Wasmiyah Farm, the winner was previously a dual Group 3 winner in Germany where he is trained by Andreas Wohler, responsible for stars such as Protectionist and Novellist. Noor Al Hawa also won a listed race at two in Germany and a similar contest this year in France. Adrie de Vries was in the saddle on the winner.

Noor Al Hawa was Wohler’s first runner in Qatar and gave Germany back-to-back victories in the Qatar Derby after Mario Hofer won the race last year in a dead-heat. Speaking afterwards Wohler said of the winner: “He was always in a nice position and given they didn’t go that fast he really quickened nicely and won very easily. Noor Al Hawa was my first runner in Qatar, so I am really pleased; the horse will remain in Qatar for the Emir’s Sword Festival.”

The Rainbow Quest mare Feel was sold for just 6,000gns in December 2012 at the December Sale, in foal to Aussie Rules. That Qatari-foaled offspring, a colt named Asaaf, landed the Qatar Derby for local thoroughbreds on the card. This was his second win of the year and he prevailed by the smallest of margins.

Wednesday’s card at the two-day meeting included the Qatar Oaks and victory in the 10-furlong contest went to Mango Tango, a French Group 2-placed daughter of Siyouni. She sold from Pascal Bary’s yard at this year’s Arqana Arc Sale for €400,000 and won in fine style for four lengths.

The Norwegian challenger Trouble Of Course came close to landing the feature Al Rayyan Stakes for two-year-olds, being denied by less than a length by the Ibrahim Al Malki-trained Pazeer, a son of Siyouni who was recording a big race double. The winner, a dual scorer in France this year, was sold from the Aga Khan Studs at the Arc Sale in October for €90,000.

The Sawda Natheel Stakes, a six-furlong sprint, was won by the Jassim Mohammed Ghazali-trained My Sharona, a seven-year-old daughter of Dark Angel. She finished a length clear of another daughter of the Yeomanstown Stud stallion, Bronze Maquette, with the Kodiac mare Lady Chantilly back in third.

Following the meeting Nasser Sherida Al Kaabi, General Manager of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, commented: “The Qatar Derby produced a very impressive winner in Noor Al Hawa and I would like to congratulate all of the connections. We are looking forward to welcoming more international runners for The Emir’s Sword Festival on the 23rd, 24th and 25th of February.”