Winner of the Gr.3 (PA) Prix Tidjani – the Al Shaqab-owned homebred Afjan (Tm Fred Texas) produced a showstopping performance to win the Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Arabian Trophy Des Poulains, which followed on from his excellent third place in the Gr.2 (PA) French Arabian Breeders’ Challenge – Poulains at La Teste earlier this month.
Trained by Francois Rohaut, the Purebred Arabian colt was one the fancied contenders for the 2,000m contest at Saint-Cloud. Slightly raced, the three-year-old was having his only fourth start and is now a Gr.1 (PA) winner.
With Christophe Soumillon in the saddle, Afjan was held up the second last of the twelve runners through the early stages of the contest. Still a lot to find on the leader on the turn for home, Afjan gradually improved his position showing plenty of determination to beat and reverse the form with Extra Time (Valiant Boy) in second. Kanti De Bozouls (No Risk Al Maury) took third.
Speaking after the race, the winning trainer said: “We made a mistake last time out at La Teste when he made the running, he’s a horse that we need to ride cold at the back of the field as he can be a bit nervous. We know he has a good turn of foot and that our main dangers today were the ones that finished ahead of us last time out at La Teste. I was worried about the David Morrison-trained Extra Time who ran a remarkable race once again”.