Newmarket based handler Phil Collington arrived in France this morning with Athbah Racing’s Thaydah Athbah and Thakeera Al Shahania who are entered to run in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments Group 1PA at ParisLongchamp. The race is one of three top level contests on the Saturday card of Arc weekend, along with the Qatar Prix Du Cadran and the Qatar Prix de Royallieu for thoroughbreds.
With a prize fund of €150,000, the race is for four-year-old fillies only and is run over the same 2000m as the Qatar Arabian World Cup which takes place the following day. The Juments has been won by many fillies that have gone on to make a great impact in the sport such as multiple Group 1PA winners, Sylvine Al Maury and more recently Lady Princess.
Speaking this morning Collington commented, “We got here at 2am, a bit later than we wanted to, as there was a lot of traffic at the border and Calais was very slow, with a shortage of vets. However at least they’re here now. We’ve just exercised them and they’re in good form, they feel well. We’re expecting the ground to have dried out to good to soft tomorrow which shouldn’t inconvenience either filly too much, all being well. I think the contrasting styles of their racing should help, as Thakeera needs to be nearer the front, whereas Thaydah can come from anywhere, she can take her time a bit. We’re very hopeful of big runs from both of them.”
© Debbie Burt
Thaydah Athbah is unbeaten in three starts and was most recently seen winning the one mile HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup (Gr3PA) at Haydock, on Sprint Cup Day under Athbah Racing regular, Tadgh O’Shea. O’Shea keeps the ride on Saturday and after that race said, “She’ a very nice, a huge filly, and I think she’ll only get better with age. Phil has always held her in high regard. This was her first time in Group company, but it was lovely, just a hands and heels ride. It was like a gallop for her, so she’s going to be going to Longchamp bursting with confidence.”
Thakeera Al Shahania also has a jockey familiar with her traits as she will be ridden by former three-time ARO leading lady rider, Joanna Mason. Mason, who turned professional in 2019, rode Thakeera Al Shahania to break her maiden at Doncaster, picking her up as a spare ride on the fillies’ UK debut in June. Though disappointing in Belgium on easier ground, she bounced back to form with Mason back on board at Doncaster in the UAE President Cup-UK Arabian Derby in August finishing third, beaten a length and a half.
That form puts her in with a strong chance on Saturday as she goes into the race the third highest rated filly in the race. She will reoppose the second, Ghadah, who has since franked the form with a Group 1PA win on Arc Trials Day over this course and distance. Mason, who flies in on Saturday morning said, “I’m really, really looking forward to riding Thakeera Al Shahania in ParisLongchamp this weekend, that’s what’s dreams are made of. I won on her at Doncaster and then was third in the Group 1 there on her last run, hopefully she can put up her best performance, on her ratings she’s in with a chance, I’m really delighted to be riding her.”
UK Arabian Derby in which they finished third in August
© Debbie Burt
Genny Haynes, Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) Chief Executive Officer said, “ARO is thrilled that to have two UK-trained representatives at such a prestigious meeting in what is effectively the French Oaks for Arabians tomorrow. We’re also delighted that they are to be ridden by two jockeys that have such a strong association with ARO in Joanna Mason and Tadhg O’Shea who was also our leading jockey last year.”
