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Kiss De Ghazal gallops to glory

Kiss De Ghazal, Eyquem Jean-Bernard up, landed the sixth round of the Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Prix Cheri Bibi (Gr-2 PA) at the Craon Racecourse in great style.

The three-year-old Dormane filly raced against the fences behind the early speed and was always going well as Alibaba Croix Noire left the machine very quickly and showed the way from the centre of the track.

Gerald Avranche put Athlete De Sol in the second position while the hot favourite Musharab was perfectly poised in third place on the outside. Tania De L’ardus, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, missed the break and virtually didn’t take part.

No change in the order of running did happen and Alibaba Croix Noire continued to lead. Musharab was asked the question by Veron Fabrice and made smooth progress to hit the front at the home turn with about 500 metres to go.

At this stage, Jean-Bernard up put the brilliant filly on top gear and Kiss De Ghazal responded keenly before she saw off Musharab at half-way and stormed home impressively.

“The pace has served my plans,” said a jubilant jockey Jean-Bernard later. “She’s a great filly and I think she can improve even further. I think she’s a mile and a half horse,” he added.

Trainer JF Bernard said Jean-Bernard gave the filly a very good right and Kiss De Ghazal did nothing wrong throughout the trip.

“Let’s find out how she comes from the race before deciding her next target,” he added.

““There are some interesting races and she may probably head for Longchamp,” he concluded.

“She’s a good filly. She did everything right as a two-year-old. Today, the way the race was ridden set it up for her. She’s a top-class performance.

Great success

With 8000 enthusiastic fans applauding the UAE acting charge d’Affaires Abdullah Al Shamsi and the organizing committee at the crowded venue, it became evident that the event has hit the highest levels of success.

“There’s nothing to be said or added,” Al Shamsi commented.

“The Arabian horse is part of our culture and heritage and we are here to introduce him to the rest of the world.

“I think the efforts of Shaikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival have achieved its objectives,” he said.

1. Kiss De Ghazal (JF Bernard) Eyquem Jean-Bernard. 2. Musharab (F. Rohaut) Veron Fabrice. 3. Ibn Battuta Monlau (P. Corsi) Roussel Alexandre.