Al Shaqab Racing's Hajmah gallops to Purebred Arabians Qatar Derby triumph at Chantilly
Chantilly (France)
Al Shaqab Racing's Hajmah took a major step forward as she claimed Gr1 4YO PA Qatar Derby at Chantilly in France on Sunday.
Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, QREC Board Member, awarded trophies to the winners of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Gr1 PA Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes de 4 Ans, run over 2000m.
Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Mansour, Chief Operating Officer of Al Shaqab Racing, received the trophy on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing after their homebred filly, Hajmah (Al Mourtajez) clinched the prestigious title in a standout performance.
The four-year-old Hajmah, facing a competitive field of 10 runners, delivered a strong performance to claim her first Gr.1 (PA) victory.
She arrived at Chantilly following a fair seasonal return last month in the Gr.2 (PA) Qatar Prix de l'Élevage at Toulouse, a run that served as a solid stepping stone toward this target.
Already a Gr.3 (PA) winner at three, having landed the Prix Nevada II over 1600m, Hajmah had shown clear potential. This time, stepped up in distance and grade, she confirmed that promise.
Not the quickest out of the stalls, Hajmah improved her position to race in midfield, just behind Bianca De Ghazal (Al Mourtajez) while Mureb (Gazwan) set the pace up front. Entering the final straight, Soumillon switched her to the left and she moved up smoothly, keeping Bianca De Ghazal boxed in.
Inside the final 300m, Hajmah was asked to go forward. Though briefly niggled along, she responded well, took the lead and battled gamely to the line. She held off the late challenge of Lippo De Carrere (Al Mourtajez), who finished fast to get within half a length at the post.
Ridden by Mickael Barzalona and trained by Alban de Mieulle for Wathnan Racing, Lippo De Carrere secured second place. The favourite, Moneer (Al Mourtajez), also owned by Wathnan Racing, trained by Damien Watrigant and partnered by James Doyle, came in third a further one and a quarter lengths behind. Notably, the top three placings were all secured by Qatari-owned runners, who are all sired by Al Mourtajez.
Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Hajmah is out of Easter de Faust (Mahabb), a Gr.1 (PA) winner over 2000m in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches at three, and a Gr.3 (PA) winner over 1600m the same year. Easter de Faust is a half-sister to Battash De Faust (Af Albahar), a multiple winner over 1400m and third in a Gr.1 (PA) over 1600m in Doha.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
2 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar makes historic 24 Hours of Spa debut in major step for global motorsport ambition
Tribune News Network Doha In a historic milestone for Qatari motorsport, the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), in partnership with seasoned endurance team Sainteloc Racing, made its debut at the 24 Hours of Spa. Running in the Bronze class of the 2025 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, the QMMF by Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II marked Qatar's first-ever entry in the fabled endurance event held at the legendary 7 km Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium's Ardennes region. The 2025 Spa grid featured a record-breaking 76 cars and approximately 280 drivers representing ten major manufacturers. Facing such formidable competition, the Qatari outfit—featuring drivers Ghanim Al Maadheed, Abdulla Al Khelaifi, Ibrahim Al Abdulghani, and guest driver Julian Hanses - delivered a commendable debut, finishing 14th in class and 46th overall. Sainteloc Racing, founded in 2004 by Sebastien Chetail in Saint‑Etienne, France, is one of the most respected GT teams in Europe. It has competed at Spa since 2012 and secured victory in 2017 with an Audi R8 LMS, becoming a top-tier competitor in GT3 endurance racing. In 2025, the team also led the opening day of the Spa prologue test, underlining its preparedness for endurance competition. Prior to Spa, the QMMF by Saintéloc squad enjoyed notable success in regional endurance events, including triumph at the 24 Hours of Dubai in the 992-class Middle East Trophy earlier this year - underscoring their pedigree in endurance racing on international terrain. This landmark entry at Spa represents more than a debut; it reflects Qatar's strategic commitment to nurturing world-class motorsport talent. Through the QMMF's partnership with elite teams like Sainteloc, Qatar continues to build a development pathway - from karting and regional series to endurance icons like Spa and beyond. With each passing race, Qatar's motorsport aspirations are tangibly unfolding, as evidenced by this historic outing. The nation is rapidly progressing towards its future in the sport.
ILoveQatar.net
13 hours ago
- ILoveQatar.net
Four Qatari referees selected as international referees by FIBA for 2025–2027 cycle
The Qatar Basketball Federation announced the inclusion of four Qatari referees on the list of international referees approved by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) for the 2025–2027 cycle - an achievement that reflects Qatar's growing progress in developing high-caliber sports officiating talent. The four Qatari referees recognized by FIBA are Youssef Zainal, Bandar Al Suwaidi, Alaa Suleiman, and Yassine Kachkach, who earned their international badges after successfully passing the required technical qualifications and FIBA-approved tests, making them eligible to officiate in continental and global tournaments under the federation's umbrella. In a statement, the Federation noted that this recognition is the result of a sustained strategic effort to qualify and enhance the basketball officiating system in the country. It added that the achievement is a direct outcome of long-term investments in national talent through training programs, partnerships with international institutions, and practical exposure in both domestic and regional competitions. The Federation emphasized that this milestone boosts Qatar's presence in the global refereeing scene and provides Qatari referees with opportunities to represent the nation at major tournaments - contributing to the broader reputation of Qatari sports and supporting the country's ambition to become a regional and international hub in various sports disciplines. The Qatar Basketball Federation made significant strides in recent years across technical and organizational domains, including referee development, youth training, and increased international participation, as part of a comprehensive vision to elevate Qatar's basketball profile both regionally and globally.
Qatar Tribune
17 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar crowned champions of Gstaad beach volleyball tournament in Switzerland
GSTAAD: Qatar's beach volleyball team, featuring the world-class duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, clinched the title at the Gstaad Elite16 tournament in Switzerland after a straight-sets victory over Sweden's Jacob Holting Nilsson and David Ahman in the final, with scores of 21-19 and 22-20. Qatar team displayed exceptional skill and composure throughout the match, securing the championship in one of the premier stops of the Elite16 tour - part of the prestigious five-star circuit governed by the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB). This triumph further cements Qatar's standing among the world's top beach volleyball nations and adds to an impressive string of achievements by the duo this season. Earlier this year, Younousse and Tijan claimed gold at the Xiamen Elite16 event in China, followed by a victory at the Pingtan Asian Open. They also secured gold at the GCC Beach Games 'Muscat 2025'. On the continental stage, the Qatari pair continued their dominance by winning the 24th Asian Beach Volleyball Championship in Songkhla, Thailand - one of the continent's oldest and most prestigious tournaments. They also took gold at the Asian Beach Tour held at Al Gharafa Beach Courts in Doha, defeating Australia in the final in straight sets, further underscoring the rising standard of Qatari beach volleyball and the growing strength of local competition. Qatar's beach volleyball program has seen a meteoric rise in recent years, marked by a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and a fourth-place finish at Paris 2024. These accomplishments highlight the country's steady progress toward becoming a global powerhouse in the sport.
