London // Djet Taouy is on course for another attempt to win the biggest prize in Purebred Arabian racing after a comfortable success in the HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup at Newbury on Saturday night.
French jockey David Michaux was barely pressed at the line as his mount held off favourite Nashmi by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
Shadiya was third, and Djakbar Des Forges was the first of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid’s four runners in fifth behind Nerbah.
Djet Taouy won last season’s prestigious President Of The UAE Cup in July and winning trainer Jean-Francois Bernard did not rule out a defence of the Group 1 race before a tilt at the €700,000 (Dh3.5 million) Qatar Arabian World Cup at Longchamp in October in which he was fourth last season to Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed’s Mushrae.
“It’s a well-deserved victory and for the jockey on board who gave him every chance to show his best,” Bernard said. “Djet Taouy recaptured his true form and reputation as a top-class racehorse. “His obvious target is the World Cup on Arc day in October, but big races at Newbury, Deauville and Chantilly are also on the agenda.”
Djet Taouy is owned by the Royal Cavalry of Oman, having previously been trained in Holland by Diana Dorenberg, and his victory added to that of the fellow Omani-owned Marif, who won the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship race.
Marif, ridden by Brazilian professional Jeane Alves, beat Sophia to the line by a length and a quarter with Suhaim a full seven lengths back in third.
As is custom, Alves will be allocated a berth for the final in Abu Dhabi in November.
In Chantilly, The Grey Gatsby gave a huge boost to the form of the Dante Stakes with a stylish victory in the Prix du Jockey Club – the French Derby.
The Grey Gatsby beat True Story into third at York 18 days ago, with Keiren Fallon set to ride the Godolphin colt in the English Derby at Epsom on Saturday.
The Grey Gatsby beat the Aga Khan’s Shamkiyr, and Prince Gibraltar. Godolphin France’s Earnshaw finished out of the frame.
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