Leo Powell
JIM Bolger launches an assault in the US$1 million H.H. The Emirs Trophy at Al Rayyan today the most valuable race for thoroughbreds staged in Qatar.
He does so with the Mubarak Al Naemi-owned Qatari Hunter, a five-year-old son of Footstepsinthesand.
Qatari Hunter had a prolific three-year-old season, running up a sequence of four wins after his debut fourth behind the subsequent dual derby winner Harzand. His most important success came in a premier handicap at Leopardstown and was followed by a career best performance, beaten two lengths into fourth behind Ulysses at Goodwood.
His only outing last year was over unsuitable ground at the Curragh when he was less than five lengths behind Sharmeen. He becomes Bolger’s first runner in Qatar, though he has an unfavourable draw in 15, one place from the outside in the 16-runner field.
At the barrier draw on Wednesday, Bolger’s representative Ger Flynn said that Qatari Hunter travelled well and will be suited by the ground conditions and the right-handed track. On the draw, he reminded the audience that the stable won a Hong Kong Cup from an outside draw, describing it as “now in the hands of the gods’’.
Drawn on the complete outside, in what observers consider to be the strongest renewal of this local Group 1 race, is the Andreas Wohler-trained Noor Al Hawa. The German traveller won the 2016 Qatar Derby and last year was runner-up in The Emirs Trophy to Chopin. His latest run in September saw him finish second to Taareef in a Group 2 at Chantilly.
Returning to Doha and hoping to go one better than Noor Al Hawa is the 2017 Qatar Derby winner Mac Mahon. The Italian-bred and Alduino Botti-trained four-year-old races for Japanese owner Takaya Shimakawa who was represented at the draw by the Irish-based Takashi Kodama. The colt is well drawn in stall two.
MURPHY’S CHARGE
Qatar Racing has one of the leading challengers in the Ralph Beckett-trained Chemical Charge, who will have the assistance of Ireland’s Oisin Murphy.
The son of Sea The Stars was trained for a period by Ger Lyons and finished less than two lengths behind Idaho in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes. His last run was in Hong Kong when he was fourth to Highland Reel and has drawn stall four which housed last year’s winner.
Francois Rohaut has the services of Christophe Soumillon for Best Fouad. The son of King’s Best has drawn an ideal stall seven, but has not raced since winning a Group 3 at Vichy last July.
A leading challenge comes from the USA in the Chad Brown-trained Money Multiplier and the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes runner-up last August will be partnered by Frankie Dettori. He would be a popular winner in the colours of the local Al Shahania Stud, though he faces a tough task having run disappointingly just 12 days ago at Gulfstream Park.
Andrew Balding sends one of just two mares in the race, the very smart Mount Nelson seven-year-old Elbereth. She is a seasoned traveller for trainer Andrew Balding and owner David Taylor and will be reunited with David Probert.