landing Dubai Kahayla Classic for Nayef bin Saad bin Sharida Al Kaabi
JDG
In the colours of Qatari owner Nayef bin Saad bin Sharida Al Kaabi, FIRST CLASSS (Dahess x Toppoftheclass) took Group 1 PA honours at the grand finale of the Dubai Racing Carnival on World Cup night, the Dubai Kahayla Classic at Meydan, UAE, on Saturday, 26 March. He came into the race off a win on the 25th February in the Al Mneefah Cup (Listed PA) at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and an impressive performance in Doha on the 29th January when he flew home to take the Qatar International Derby (Gr.2 PA) in front of the multiple Gr.1 PA scorer ABBES.
On Saturday at Meydan, the son of Dahess, who was bred in the U.S.A by Alan Kirshner and Deborah Mihaloff, jumped well out of gates to sit up on the pace. As they shuffled into order heading into the first turn, jockey Ronan Thomas settled his partner on the rail behind KERLESS DEL ROC with JUGURTHA DE MONLAU on his outside. There was a good pace in this 2,000 meter race on the dirt, and Jugurtha de Monlau began to show signs of weakening heading into the final bend, with the three horses several strides in front of the racing pack. In the final turn, Jugurtha de Monlau dropped away, leaving First Class and Kerless del Roc to fight out for the Group 1 honours. Once in the straight, First Class hit the lead and, under a confident ride from Thomas, galloped strongly to the line to win the opening race of Dubai World Cup night by 1/2 length. HADI DE CARRERE came in third for owner Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari by nine and a 1/2 lengths.
“We had a perfect race behind the leaders.” reported Thomas, “We had a lucky draw as it has a big effect on this track. The horse travelled strongly throughout the race. I came to join the leaders early as they were travelling well. We took the lead easily and the second horse was always 1/2 a length behind pushing us to the line. I am very happy to win this race!”
Trainer Alban de Mieulle, who was winning this race for the first time in his career, commented: “This was one race that I had been wanting to win, as I have won most of the other big Purebred Arabian races here, and it was missing from my record! I am delighted to have won this race for Qatar, even though it wasn’t for H.H Sheikh Abdullah (bin Khalifa Al Thani, his main owner), who decided not to run Abbes (TM Fred Texas) here but to aim him for the Qatar Gold Sword (Gr1 PA) on the 7th April. First Classs has improved with age, and as he is gelded it is easier than with an entire. We will probably head to the Qatar Arabian World Cup (Gr1 PA) rather than to Goodwood as I think that 1,600 meters will be too short for him.We will see with his owner, but that’s the idea at the moment.”
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club