Paris In Spotlight As Qatar Prix De L'arc De Triomphe Nears

Doha, Qatar: Paris will host one of the world's most prestigious horse race meetings, the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, from October 2 to 5 at the historic Longchamp Racecourse. Held annually, the weekend, sponsored by Qatar, represented by the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), is part of the long-standing partnership between QREC and France Galop and set to continue until 2027.

This year's edition will feature a prominent presence from Visit Qatar, which will host a dedicated pavilion offering a wide range of promotional activities highlighting Qatar. With the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe fast approaching, QREC, led by Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, is coordinating closely with France Galop to finalise arrangements for this major event, which draws significant media and public attention. As in previous years, prominent figures will be in attendance.

QREC officials aim to ensure that this year's renewal of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe achieves the highest levels of success and realises the shared benefits of continued Qatari sponsorship for this major international meeting. Qatari sponsorship of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend began in 2008 and will continue through 2027.

Programme

The event will commence on Thursday with the Arqana Purebred Arabian Sale at Saint-Cloud Racecourse with numerous owners, trainers and breeders in attendance. A select line-up of horses will go under the hammer, with expectations of solid sales this year.

On Friday, Saint-Cloud Racecourse will host a day of racing highlighted by two Group 1 contests for three-year-old Purebred Arabians, one for fillies and the other for colts.

The Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (fillies) currently has 17 entries, including Karama Del Roc representing Wathnan Racing; Amjaad, El Bnoud, Jouza and Subahiyah all racing for Al Shaqab Racing; Marakez Al Shahania in the colours of HE Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani; Alwasmiyah, owned by Al Wasmiyah Racing; Al Fareeq and Fayda racing for Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari; Altamira representing Mubarak bin Ali AlNuaimi; and Inaya Grine owned by Salmeen bin Abdulla Al Jabri.

The other feature is the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains (colts), which currently has nine entries, including Khaddah in the colours of Wathnan Racing; Sab'aan Al Shahania, racing for H E Sheikha Iman bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani; Al Harith and Laffan, representing Al Wasmiyah; and Mektoub El Ahlem owned by Abdulghani Al Abdulghani.

Saturday and Sunday will feature the most prestigious and competitive races of the event at ParisLongchamp. On Saturday, nine races are scheduled, including three Group 1 and three Group 2 contests. The Group 1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu boasts 47 entries while the Group 1 Qatar Prix du Cadran lists 19 entries.

In the Group 1 Qatar Arabian Trophy des Juments, 14 fillies are entered, nine of them racing for Qatari owners.

Among the Group 2 contests, the Qatar Prix Chaudenay sees 37 entries, the Qatar Prix Daniel Wildenstein presents 67 and the Qatar Prix Dollar features 68 entries.

The highlight of the event will take place on Sunday at ParisLongchamp, where nine races are scheduled, including seven Group 1 contests, headlined by the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. With total prize money of €5m – the highest for a Group 1 flat race in the European season – this race has reached its elevated status thanks to Qatari sponsorship.

Treve, representing Al Shaqab Racing, remains the only Qatari-owned horse to have won the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, claiming victory in both 2013 and 2014.

This year's entry list for the iconic race includes 80 horses, including Map Of Stars, Dare To Dream, Damysus and Pearla, all representing Wathnan Racing; Doha, representing Al Shaqab Racing; and Parachutiste, in the colours of Qatar Racing Limited.

Qatar Arabian World Cup

The Qatar Arabian World Cup, a Group 1 PA contest with total prize money of €1 million, is one of the feature races on the final day, taking place immediately before the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

This race represents the second leg of the Doha Triple Crown series launched by Qatar to support and promote Arabian horse racing worldwide.

It is among the most significant benefits of Qatari sponsorship of the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend, particularly as it showcases a world-class Arabian race at ParisLongchamp while also serving to promote the upcoming H H The Amir Sword Festival at Al Rayyan Racecourse in February.

Al Ghadeer, representing Al Shaqab Racing and trained by François Rohaut with jockey Christophe Soumillon aboard, won the Cup in the past two years.

Al Ghadeer is entered again this year, aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive victory in the international Cup, a feat that may prove difficult to replicate in the future as this year's entry list includes 13 horses.

The Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac includes 83 entries, Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere lists 79 and the Qatar Prix de La Foret features 70 entries.

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