By Sean Cronin
ParisLongchamp's mammoth Arc weekend opened with the G2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay, which went the way of Karl Burke trainee Al Qareem (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}–Moqla {GB}, by Teofilo {Ire}) after a thrilling finale to the 15-furlong contest. The 3-year-old gelding, who had snagged handicaps at Nottingham and York earlier this term, was last seen finishing seventh in Goodwood's G3 Gordon S. and went postward as an 11-2 chance. Tracking the leader in second until taking over at the entrance to the straight, he was scrubbed along when tackled approaching the quarter-mile pole and stayed on in resolute fashion under a continued drive to deny Sober (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) by a nostril after a ding-dong tussle.
“He's been mega unlucky a few times this year and I'm so delighted to win a big one with him,” commented owner Nick Bradley. “It was my fault [when he was fourth in the G2 Queen's Vase] at [Royal] Ascot as I told Clifford [Lee] to make the running on him, but he just did too much and was too free. He was a bit unlucky at Newmarket [when second in the G3 Bahrain Trophy] and Goodwood didn't go to plan, but the form of that race is amazingly strong. I'll have a good look at the programme book, but he could go to Saudi Arabia and there's also the Gold Cup on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan.”
Al Qareem, half-brother to a yearling colt by Muhaarar (GB), is the second of three foals produced by an unraced half-sister to G3 Earl of Sefton S. victor Mahsoob (GB) (Dansili {Ire}) and becomes the third pattern-race winner for his sire (by Cape Cross {Ire}). His second dam is the multiple stakes-placed Mooakada (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), herself a granddaughter of G3 Prestige S. victrix and G1 1000 Guineas third Bint Shadayid (Nashwan). The latter is one of two stakes winners bred from G1 1000 Guineas and G1 Prix Marcel Boussac heroine Shadayid (Shadeed), whose descendants also include GIII Thunder Road S. winner and GI Shoemaker Mile runner-up Farhaan (Jazil).
Saturday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX CHAUDENAY-G2, €200,000, ParisLongchamp, 10-1, 3yo, 15fT, 3:24.68, vsf.
1–AL QAREEM (IRE), 128, g, 3, by Awtaad (Ire)
1st Dam: Moqla (GB), by Teofilo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Mooakada (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire)
3rd Dam: Sulaalah (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (27,000gns 2yo '21 TATAHI). O-Nick Bradley Racing 33 & Burke; B-Shadwell Estate Company Ltd (IRE); T-Karl Burke; J-Ryan Moore. €114,000. Lifetime Record: 11-5-4-0, €219,846. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Sober (Fr), 128, c, 3, Camelot (GB)–Burma Sea (Fr), by Lope De Vega (Ire). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Wertheimer & Frere (FR); T-Andre Fabre. €44,000.
3–Duke De Sessa (Ire), 128, c, 3, Lope De Vega (Ire)–Dark Crusader (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (£60,000 RNA Ylg '20 GOFOR). O/B-Newtown Anner Stud Farm Ltd (IRE); T-Dermot Weld. €21,000.
Margins: NO, HF, 2HF. Odds: 5.50, 7.90, 1.90.
Also Ran: Fasol (GB), La Mehana (Fr), Ermelie (Fr), Whileuweresleeping (GB). Video, sponsored by TVG.
What a start to Arc weekend! Al Qareem wins the Group 2 Qatar Prix Chaudenay in a photo-finish for @karl_burke and Ryan Moore at @paris_longchamp pic.twitter.com/4UZm83XkSF
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 1, 2022
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