PARIS // Djainka Des Forges was a third winner in succession of the Qatar Arabian World Cup for trainer Julian Smart at Longchamp yesterday.
There was no fairy-tale result for Thierry Jarnet in Paris, who was seeking a hat-trick of wins on the day after winning the Arc on Treve and the Prix de l’Opera on We Are, and his mount Al Tair was half a length behind at the post as Djainka Des Forges just held on under heavy pressure.
The previously unbeaten Dahor Du Brugere finished down in third place, unable to compete with the dominant pair, while Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid’s pair of Sivit Al Maury and Al Hibaab were seventh and eighth across the line, respectively.
Djainka Des Forges, who was ridden by Christophe Lemaire, was an unlucky second to Rabbah De Carrere in the Dubai Khayala Classic at Meydan Racecourse in March and may well return in a bid to go one better next year.
“She is good enough to stay in training for a while longer,” Smart said.
“I would keep her in training, but I will have to ask her owner, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani.
“She’s too good to let go at the moment. She’ll have a holiday and we’ll go back to Qatar and regroup. Her pedigree is one that allows her to run in Dubai, so we’ll see.”
The Qatar Arabian World Cup has been run only six times and has proved to be a punishing race in the past, for the horses competing.
General proved he had an enviable constitution when winning back-to-back races in 2009 and 2010. However, Lahib, the 2008 winner, and Areej and Mkeefa, who have won the past two editions, have barely been seen since their respective successes.
“It is up to me to keep her sweet,” Smart said of Djainka Des Forges.
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