Declaration of War Colt Causes Upset in Qatar Derby

[Wandering Eyes]

A two-time winner in 14 European starts for the Coolmore triumvirate and trainer Aidan O’Brien, Full Moon (Ire) (Declaration of War) sat the box-seat trip in Saturday’s Qatar Derby in Doha and clawed back French raider Mr Satchmo (Fr) (Mr. Sidney) in the final two strides to take down the lion’s share of the US$500,000 on offer. Es’hail (Giant’s Causeway) ran on well down the centre of the track to grab third.

Drawn gate seven, Full Moon raced prominently early on for the well-traveled Ryan Curatolo and finally got the cover it appeared he was coveting when Berkeley Square (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) came across to set the pace at the fence. Mr Satchmo was three deep out of the stretch for the first time, covering Qatar Guineas winner Prepare For Battle (Declaration of War), but that one went wrong midway on the turn, adversely effecting Giuseppe Garibaldi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), and that left Mr Satchmo in a pace-pressing position for the remainder. Berkeley Square galloped them along at a decent clip, but he’d had enough soon after they turned into the straight, and Mr Satchmo set sail for home. But Full Moon came away from the fence to deliver his challenge inside the final 100m and was up in the shadow of the post.

Full Moon is the 10th black-type winner for his sire and hails from the female family of champion and MG1SW Grand Lodge (Chief’s Crown). The winner’s dam is also responsible for Nevereversaynever (Ire) (No Nay Never), a debut winner over the Dundalk all-weather Nov. 2, as well as a yearling colt by Camelot (GB) that fetched €125,000 from Gaelic Bloodstock at this year’s Goffs Orby Sale. The mare produced a Camelot filly this past May 5.

Although Qatar is officially a Part 3 country in the International Cataloging Standards Book, the Qatar Derby is one of three races contested locally that is eligible for black-type. The $1-million Emir’s Trophy and the $250,000 Qatar Gold Trophy are the other black-type eligible races held in February and April, respectively.

Saturday’s Results:
QATAR DERBY, US$500,000, Al Rayyan, 12-22, 3yo, 2000mT, 2:02.17, gd.
1–FULL MOON (IRE), 128, c, 3, by Declaration of War
1st Dam: Dowager (GB) (SW-Eng), by Groom Dancer
2nd Dam: Rose Noble, by Vaguely Noble (GB)
3rd Dam: La Papagena (GB), by Habitat
*1ST STAKES WIN. (€200,000 Ylg ’16 GOFORB). O-Abdullah Hassan Ali Abdulmalik; B-Lynch Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock; T-Debbie Mountain; J-Ryan Curatolo; $285,000. Lifetime Record: 16-3-3-1, $329,152.
2–Mr Satchmo (Fr), 128, c, 3, Mr. Sidney–Windya (Fr), by Linamix (Fr). O-OTI Management Pty Ltd, A Houyvet, Y Houyvet, S Carant, M Devena, Mrs C Hersant & Mrs F Houyvet; B-J-Y Payet Descombes, Ecurie Biraben, Mme J-Y Payet Descombes; T-Antoine de Watrigant; $110,000.
3–Es’hail, 128, c, 3, Giant’s Causeway–Much Obliged, by Kingmambo. ($70,000 Ylg ’16 KEESEP; €6,000 2yo ’17 ARQMAY). O-Khalid Rashid G K Al-Mohannadi; B-Pin Oak Stud LLC (KY); T-Rashid al Jehani; $55,000.
Margins: SHD, 1HF, 1 3/4.
Also Ran: Al Adaid (Fr), Ming (Ire), Tip To Win (GB), Alhazm (Fr), Masterpiece (Fr), Giuseppe Garibaldi (Ire), Beachwalk (GB), Berkeley Square (Ire). DNF: Prepare For Battle.

WATCH: Full Moon along in time in the Qatar Derby

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