Recently purchased by owner Al Shaqab Racing, the three-year-old Purebred Arabian, Norma Al Maury (Azadi) improved quickly to land the Gr.1 (PA) Qatar Arabian Des Pouliches at Saint-Cloud only 30 minutes after Ajfan secured the colts’ trophy for the same owner.
Trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte and patiently ridden by Olivier Peslier, the filly was having her second start and despite having shown greenness when the pace lifted, Norma Al Maury delivered with tenacity. Kept towards the outside of the pack, Norma Al Maury stayed on strongly to win by one and a quarter lengths in front of Divana Chica (Majd Al Arab). Alrasha (Mahabb) took third.
Norma Al Maury is now a Gr.1 (PA) winner and remains unbeaten from two lifetime starts.
The winning trainer said after the race, “I was a bit worried about the wide draw but the magic hands of Olivier Peslier and the talent of the filly made the difference. I didn’t want to run between her first start and today as she needed to come into this race fresh. She’s well bred and I never had any doubt about her ability” Bred by Mlle Renee-Laure Koch, she is by Azadi and out of Nemosie Al Maury, sister to Gr.1 PA winner and sire No Risk Al Maury.