Trophy juments 30 09 gb

PARISLONGCHAMP (FRA), SEPTEMBER 30th, 2023

QATAR ARABIAN TROPHY DES JUMENTS – POULICHES 4ANS

Gr1 PA – 4-year-old fillies – 2,000m (10f) – Turf – €150,000

The colours of Al Shaqab Racing shone in the first three Gr1 PA races for horses on this great weekend of PA racing. Following on from those of Afjan Ex Mahboop (TM Fred Texas) in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Gr1 PA) and Norma Al Maury (Azadi) in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1 PA), Nour Al Maury (Azadi) caught the mood in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments (Gr1 PA) for the same Qatari concern. Renée-Laure Koch christened this filly ‘Nour’ – which translates as ‘light’ in Arabic – at the suggestion of Hassan Mousli, who owns the filly’s sire, Azadi (Darike). Indeed, despite meeting trouble in running, ‘Nour’ lit up the Longchamp stage on this Saturday card. It was her fourth consecutive Gr1 PA win.

The hot favourite of this Gr1 PA race, Nour Al Maury did not have the smoothest of passages. The Spanish raider Casbar Meteora (Nieshan) made the running, with the future winner racing in her slipstream. Although the former backtracked in the final 400m after breaking down. Consequently, Olivier Peslier was forced to quickly take evasive action on Nour Al Maury by switching his mount towards the middle of the track. Under a hand ride, it took the filly the best part of 200m to get back on an even keel. This was the prelude to the filly taking the lead and remaining in the ascendancy – without ever forcing her talent – until the wire. The filly proved less impressive than in her three previous wins, but she secured the win nonetheless. Gorat Aeen (Azadi) was beaten three-quarters of a length into second. Doing her best work at the finish, Ghadah (Azadi) was a further length away in third. Still in the saddle on Nour Al Maury, Olivier Peslier said: « It didn’t feel very comfortable at the beginning of the straight because the two fillies in front of us both stopped. However, I know the filly well and knew that she would be able to find another gear. I wish the pace had been stronger because that would have helped.« 

Thomas Fourcy, the winning trainer, said: « It’s a bit of a relief. We would have liked to see her win even more easily. However, she won and that’s the most important thing. Despite the incident which bedevilled the filly in front of her at the time, my filly managed to get going again half way up the straight. You need to be talented to do this. Olivier Peslier told me that he had a lot of petrol still left in the tank, but the incident in question prevented him from doing what he wanted. A profitable winter in the Gulf awaits. She’s a very good filly. » Regarding the third, he added: « Ghadah was backing up again off a three week turnaround and ran a bit freely. » Despite this, Ghadah posted the fastest 200m split during the race.

François Rohaut, the trainer of Gorat Aeen (second) opined: « Before the race, there were a few fillies who had better credentials than Gorat Aeen. The filly had a superb race. She had been working really well recently and was magnificent. Frankly speaking, she delivered an excellent performance! She posted a career best performance by moving up a notch. We’re delighted – being aware of the fact that a champion beat us – and yet our filly managed to keep her honest all the way to the line! She has so much potential from a pedigree perspective that we’re not going to race her next season. So we intend to call time on her career. Maybe, she’ll run once more this year but otherwise that’s it. »

The first three home in this Gr1 PA race are daughters of the Haras de Thouars sire Azadi, This stallion is also responsible for Norma Al Maury (Azadi), and the latter shares the same breeder as the winner of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1 PA). Thomas Fourcy said: « I rode Azadi, the sire of the first three home, on the training grounds. He’s a super stallion with exceptional statistics to match. The sire produces energetic types and horses with an influx of qualities and generous by nature… and very lively types to boot. » Renée-Laure Koch, who had a great week as a breeder, explained: « I sent my mares to Azadi a while back but they failed to get in-foal. Given his success, I went back!He is a stallion who achieves exceptional results when ‘crossed’  with the Nour Al Maury line: as Nevadour’s descendants have strong backs and powerful hindquarters. The progeny of the stallion tend to have very healthy coats, and they are also ‘stamped’ with class and energy ». The 2023 season was a successful one for French breeders in the PA Racing Calendar. She added: « The competition is constantly proving more difficult. You have to question your every move. Previously, you could bank on the long term and create “fashionable” trends. As things stand, this is no longer possible because everything is evolving at a much faster pace. It’s also proving that much more expensive to breed horses. The current context pushes compels us to breed more precocious types. Operating on a short-term basis, as a breeder, is a bit un-natural. However, the natural order of things tends to re-take control, and I always endeavour to « fashion broodmare prospects » by using Dormane (Manganate) on a regular basis. »

Nour Al Maury was bred by Renée-Laure Koch. The dam, Nectarina Al Maury, is one of the rare daughters of Jalnar Al Khalidiah (Tiwaiq) at stud in France. She was unraced. The mare has also produced No Reply Al Maury (Azadi): the winner of the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge – Poulains (Gr2 PA) in September.

The grandam, Nemosie Al Maury (Kesberoy), and herself unraced, has produced Norma Al Maury (Azadi): the winner of the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1 PA) a few days earlier. Nemosie Al Maury is also (and above all) the dam of the stallion No Problem Al Maury (Dormane), the winner of the Malazgirt Trophy (Gr1 PA), and No Tear Al Maury (Jaafer Asf). The latter was third in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1 PA). Nemosie Al Maury is also the great grandam of No and No Al Maury (Nizam), the Coupe d’Europe des Chevaux Arabes (Gr1 PA) third, and the French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge Sprint (Gr2 PA) winning Natalma Al Maury (Dahess). This is the family of No Risk Al Maury (Kesberoy) and Nacrée Al Maury (the dam of Lady Princess and Mister Ginoux) …

THE RACE SEEN AGAINST THE CLOCK

THE SECTIONALS

First 1.000m : 1m’11’’07s

From 1.000m to 600m : 27’’32s

From 600m to 400m : 13’’21s

From 400m to 200m : 12’’11s

Final 200m: 12’’25s

Final time: 2m’15’’96s