3 minute read
Karl Burke’s Al Qareem got the British raiding party off to a flying start on Arc weekend at ParisLongchamp with the narrowest of victories in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay.
A winner at Nottingham and York earlier in the year, the Nick Bradley Racing-owned three-year-old went on to finish fourth in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot before suffering a head defeat in Newmarket's Bahrain Trophy.
Having finished down the field in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on his latest appearance, Al Qareem knuckled down in the soft ground under Ryan Moore to get the better of Sober by a nose in the Group Two contest.
Bradley did not make the trip to France but was nonetheless thrilled, saying: "He's been mega unlucky a few times this year and I'm so delighted to win a big one with him.
"It was my fault at Ascot as I told Clifford (Lee) to make the running on him, but he just did too much and was too free.
"He was a bit unlucky at Newmarket – I think he might have won in another half-furlong – and Goodwood didn't go to plan, but the form of that race is amazingly strong."
Considering future plans, Bradley added: "I'll have to have a good look at the programme book, but he could go to Saudi Arabia and there's also the Gold Cup on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan."
Trainer Jean-Claude Rouget is eyeing a trip to Royal Ascot next summer with Erevann following his stylish victory in the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein.
Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, who hit the headlines for the wrong reasons on Friday after incurring a two-month ban at Saint-Cloud, the Dubawi colt was moved to the far rail early in the home straight and showed a smart change of gear to grab the lead.
The Revenant, successful in this Group Two contest in 2019 and 2020 and runner-up to Real World 12 months ago, once again finished with a flourish, but Erevann was well on top at the line.
Rouget said: "We gave him time and he was impressive (when third) in the Jacques Le Marois, he was impressive today and I think he will be impressive next year.
"Ascot is my favourite course. The ground will be better than today, but he goes on all grounds – he's like Sottsass who won the Prix du Jockey Club on firm ground and the Arc on very soft.
"I like this horse – he's a champion. He will be entered in the two races at Royal Ascot, but I think we will stay at a mile (for the Queen Anne Stakes)."
Souzak repelled the late thrust of Aidan O'Brien's Denmark to secure top honours in the €300,000 Haras de Bouquetot – Criterium Arqana.
The latter was a warm order to follow up his successful racecourse debut at Naas in early August, but was under pressure some way from home.
To his credit, the Camelot colt did respond to Ryan Moore's urgings and was making ground hand over fist in the last half-furlong, but Jerome Reynier's Souzak clung on in the hands of Anthony Crastus.
O'Brien said of Denmark: "He's a baby that is still coming to himself.
"He wouldn't be one for the Breeders' Cup, but will be a nice middle-distance horse next year."