Kanti de Bozouls harnesses his turn of foot to good effect

DOHA (QAT), DECEMBER 21^st, 2023

QATAR 3-YEAR-OLD PUREBRED ARABIAN DERBY

Gr3 PA – 3-year-olds – 1,600m (1m) turf – $100,000

A winner on his debut in France, Kanti de Bozouls (No Risk Al Maury) has invariably been among the top PA colts of his generation. Trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, he was third in France’s premier 3-year-old race, the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (Gr1 PA) at Saint-Cloud, before snaring his first PA Group win, in the form of the Prix Chéri Bibi (Gr3 PA), over a mile at Toulouse. Subsequently campaigned in Qatar this winter, Kanti de Bozouls was still a long way off the pace on hitting the home straight in the 2023 renewal of the Qatar 3-year-old Purebred Arabian Derby. However, with the way ahead of him parting like the Red Sea, he was able to harness his turn of foot to telling effect, and in a manner which we readily associate with the good horses.

A little flat-footed in the early stages, and scrubbed along by his jockey, Aurélien Lemaître, in a race run at a good lick, Kanti de Bozouls waited at the back of the pack, having opted to go the shortest way around, as Ajs Burkaan (Af Albahar) similarly languished towards the rear. However, Kanti de Bozouls was able to capitalise on a gap which fortuitously opened up for him in the straight, which was the cue for him to unleash his sharp turn of foot, whereas Ajs Burkaan challenged widest of all. Maintaining his momentum, Kanti de Bozouls never let up and, on reaching the post, he prevailed by just over a length. However, it was very close run thing for the placings, as Ajs Burkaan ran on to snatch second in the final strides, whereas the “Francois Rohaut” charge Al Zeer (Al Mamun Monlau) took third, but not without some recrimination, as he was forced to swing to the centre of the track in order to deliver his challenge, having tried unsuccessfuly to get through on the rails. Al Zwair (TM Fred Texas) and Ajs Falak (Af Albahar) were also in close attendance as the battle for the places literally went to the wire.

Bred by Marcel Mezy, Kanti de Bozouls is a son of Al Mamun Monlau (Kesberoy), the Al Shaqab Racing sire based at the Haras de Thouars, and Mesk de Bozouls (Dahess) who made little impact on the racecourse. The latter is out of the successful endurance performer Dorasa de la Forêt (Dormane), The fourth dam, Udjella (Djourman), has produced the Zabeel International Stakes (Gr1 PA) winning Djeldor de Bozouls (Dormane); plus Udjidor de Bozouls (Dormane): the winner of the Hatta International Stakes (Gr1 PA), and third in the Malazgirt Trophy (Gr1 PA) won by the outstanding Dahess (Amer).