ParisLongchamp hosted a high-profile nine-race meeting on Saturday, featuring a mix of Group 1 and Group 2 competitions as part of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend. The event, backed by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), showcased strong performances from Qatari-owned horses, further extending the nation’s successful run in international Purebred Arabian racing.
Among the standout results was the victory of Fakhira, a four-year-old Purebred Arabian filly owned by Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon and trained by Thomas Fourcy, Fakhira claimed the Group 1 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments over 2,000 meters. The chestnut filly surged late in the race to secure her third Group 1 win of the season, having previously taken the Liwa International Stakes and the Criterium des Pouliches at La Teste. Saturday’s triumph marked her fifth win from six starts this season, reinforcing her status as a leading contender in top-level Arabian racing.
In other key races, Jabracadabra, a three-year-old gelding trained by Amy Murphy and ridden by Ebbe Verhestraeten, secured his first Group 2 victory in the Qatar Prix Chaudenay over 3,000 meters. Owned by Kevin Freeman, Jabracadabra delivered a strong performance to overcome a field of eight, building on earlier successes including a Listed win at Craon.
Wimbledon Hawkeye, a four-year-old Thoroughbred colt carrying the colors of Victorious Forever, demonstrated his class in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar over 1,950 meters. Trained by George Scott and guided by Soumillon, Wimbledon Hawkeye won convincingly against seven competitors. The colt’s recent form includes a second-place finish in the Irish Champion Stakes and a prior Group 3 victory at Deauville.
The Group 1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu, run over 2,800 meters for fillies and mares aged three and older, was claimed by Fairy Glen. The five-year-old mare, owned by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al-Maktoum, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, and ridden by Mickael Barzalona, earned her first Group 1 success after having placed second in a Listed race upon returning from a break.
Another highlight was Caballo de Mar’s win in the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran, a long-distance race of 4,000 meters. The five-year-old gelding, also owned by Victorious Forever and trained by George Scott, was ridden by Oisin Murphy and secured a notable Group 1 double for his connections in the meeting.
The final race on the card, the Group 2 Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein over 1,600 meters, was won by Qirat, a five-year-old gelding.
The weekend’s program attracted prominent figures, including HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani and senior QREC officials, who, together with France Galop representatives, presented trophies throughout the day. The event set the stage for Sunday’s centerpiece, the Group 1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, which will see sixteen leading middle-distance horses compete over 2,400 meters for one of Europe’s most prestigious titles.