By Alan Carasso
In many ways, Mac Mahon (Ity) (Ramonti {Fr}) typifies the allure of international racing–bred in Italy, sired by an obscure, albeit highly talented racehorse, owned by Japanese interests and winning in the middle of the desert. And there could very well be more to come from the exciting colt, with a return trip to Doha for February's $1-million Emir's Trophy (2400m) a distinct possibility following a rousing success in Saturday's Qatar Derby.
Drawn the rail, Mac Mahon held his spot at the fence for the opening half-mile or so as Perfect Storm (Ire) (Excelebration {Ire}) doled out the early fractions. Settled one off the inside and slightly worse than centerfield down the back straight, Mac Mahon raced in traffic and looked to be checked slightly on the final turn, but angled sharply into the four path leaving the final corner. Pazeer (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) enjoyed the run of the race from third and slipped through inside to lead in upper stretch, but Mac Mahon had the superior turn of foot and took command a sixteenth of a mile from home before surging clear. Parviz (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) prompted the pace and led briefly in the final quarter mile, but could not quicken with the top two late.
Takaya Shimakawa, an organic foods entrepreneur and longtime active buyer at the Japan Racing Horse Association sales, campaigned the likes of Tosen Stardom (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) at home and acquired Mac Mahon prior to his five-length victory in the G2 Derby Italiano (2200m) at the Capannelle in May. He had dropped his last three, including a narrow defeat in the G2 Premio Roma (2000m) back in Rome Nov. 26.
The winner's sire, runner-up in the 2005 Derby Italiano when contested at Group 1 level, was later acquired by Sheikh Mohammed and annexed the G1 Queen Anne S., G1 Sussex S. and G1 Queen Elizabeth S. over a mile before stretching to 10 furlongs to win the G1 Hong Kong Cup.
Saturday's Results:
QATAR DERBY-Listed, $500,000, Al Rayyan, 12-30, 3yo, 2000mT, 2:00.41, gd.
1–MAC MAHON (ITY), 128, c, 3, by Ramonti (Fr)
1st Dam: Miss Sultin (Ire) (SP-Ity), by Celtic Swing (GB)
2nd Dam: Miss Caerleon (GB), by Caerleon
3rd Dam: Satin Pointe (GB), by Sadler's Wells
O-Takaya Shimakawa; B-Massimiliano Porcelli; T-Aldino Botti; J-Dario Vargiu; $285,000. Lifetime Record: GSW-Ity, 8-5-1-1, $762,309.
2–Pazeer (Fr), 128, c, 3, Siyouni (Fr)–Parandeh (Fr), by Kahyasi (Ire). (€90,000 HRA '16 ARQARC). O-Abdulatif Hussain M Z Al-Emadi. $110,000.
3–Parviz (Ire), 128, c, 3, Lope de Vega (Ire)–Sur Choix (GB), by Galileo (Ire). (€65,000 Ylg '15 ARQAUG; €70,000 2yo '16 ARQMAY). O-Darius Racing. $55,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 1, 1HF.
Also Ran: Darbuzan (Fr), Neguev (Ire), Northsea Star (Ger), Veranda (Fr), What A Surprise (Ire), Ming Jung (Fr), Burrishoole Abbey (Ire), Pleaseletmewin (Ire), Aluqdah (Fr), Khataaf (Ire), Notalot (Ire), Perfect Storm (Ire), Real Value (Fr). VIDEO
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