The second day of the QREC-sponsored Qatar Goodwood Festival featured a massive Qatari victory when Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned Lady Princess took her Group 1 PA tally to four with a win in the Qatar International Stakes on Wednesday.
QREC Board Member and Al Shaqab Executive Director Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Attiyah presented the trophies to the winners after the race.
Trained in France by Thomas Fourcy and ridden to success by Oisin Murphy, it was Lady Princess’ first start in Britain and was able to retain the title for Qatari owners for the third straight year as Ebraz had won the event in 2019 and 2020.
Held up towards the rear in the early stages of the 1,600m contest, Lady Princess travelled well in the hands of Murphy and had fellow Group 1 PA winner Ebraz for company. The two remained towards the rear as the leaders set a decent pace throughout the opening furlongs of the race. On the downhill run for home, Lady Princess took closer order and looked menacing on entering the home straight.
With the early leaders tiring, Ebraz began to make a move through the middle of the pack whilst Murphy sat patiently on Lady Princess. Just outside the furlong marker, Lady Princess was angled out for a run and closed down the fading Deryan (Mahabb) with a devastating turn of foot and went on to score by three lengths from Ebraz, who battled on gamely to claim second. Tayf, who is also trained by Fourcy, ran on well to take third late on.
“Lady Princess was well tucked in behind Deryan by Oisin Murphy and when he pulled her out for a challenge, she did it extremely easily. She is getting more mature and is certainly not as free as before, even if she can get a bit excited in the stalls. She has lots of character but that’s what makes her so good,” Fourcy said after the win.
“We will have a look at taking in the Qatar Arabian World Cup before going off to run in Saudi Arabia and then hopefully Qatar for the His Highness The Amir Sword. As for Tayf, I would have preferred if he had a clearer run in the straight. He was in great condition coming into this and will go straight to the Qatar Arabian World Cup, like last year.”
Bred by Earl du Champ Ginioux and Elodie Bellaud, Lady Princess is by multiple Group 1 PA winner and sire General, who stands under the Umm Qarn banner. She is out of the Group 3 PA winner Nacre Al Maury, who also produced Group 1 PA winner and stallion Mister Ginoux, an Al Shaqab Purebred Arabian sire.

Armor takes Group 3 Molecomb in fine style
The two-year-old colt Armor stormed clear to win the Group 3 Markel Molecomb Stakes for his owners Al Shaqab Racing in the third race in the card at the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
The colt is trained by Richard Hannon and was partnered to victory by jockey Ryan Moore. Armor won impressively by three lengths and a quarter. Race favourite Feraby finished second, while Boonie battled on gamely to take third.

Alcohol Free claims third Group 1 with Sussex success
Relishing the soft ground conditions, the Jeff Smith-owned Alcohol Free stormed clear to take the Qatar Sussex Stakes (Group 1).
Having celebrated Group 1 success in both the Cheveley Park and the Coronation Stakes, the three-year-old is trained by Andrew Balding and was ridden to success by Murphy. Alcohol Free duelled out the finish with Irish raider and favourite Poetic Flare. Inside the final furlong Alcohol Free began to get the upper hand and pulled away to a two-length success. Poetic Flare took second with the exceptionally well-bred Snow Lantern (Frankel) staying on well for third.
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