Fabre’s Arc Hand Strengthened As Cualificar Wins The Niel

[Wandering Eyes]

Up to a mile and a half for the first time on Sunday, Godolphin's Prix du Jockey Club runner-up Cualificar (Lope De Vega) threw his hat into the ring for the Arc as he mastered his peers in the G2 Qatar Prix Niel. Trapped in behind at a crucial stage under William Buick, the 12-5 shot was out in time to run down Bay City Roller (New Bay) close home and win by a short head.

Andre Fabre, who will have a strong hand in next month's showcase along with the third-placed Parachutiste (Dubawi) and the Prix Foy runner-up Sosie, had run the winner in the 10-furlong G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano last month and explained, “He got quite heavy this summer, so I thought he needed an extra run before this and it was something I did a long time ago with Trempolino. This was what I was hoping for and expecting, with the step up in trip and the softer ground.”

 

Cualificar reels in Bay City Roller to win the Group Two Qatar Prix Niel! pic.twitter.com/nRRMygnB4J

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 7, 2025

 

Sunday, ParisLongchamp, France
QATAR PRIX NIEL-G2, €119,000, ParisLongchamp, 9-7, 3yo, 12fT, 2:30.56, g/s.
1–CUALIFICAR (GB), 128, c, 3, by Lope De Vega (Ire)
1st Dam: Qualify (Ire) (G1SW-Eng & GSW-Ire, $485,356), by Fastnet Rock (Aus)
2nd Dam: Perihelion (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
3rd Dam: Medicosma, by The Minstrel
O/B-Godolphin; T-Andre Fabre; J-William Buick. €67,830. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 8-4-1-2, €533,445. *1/2 to Swing Vote (GB) (Shamardal), GSW-UAE, $198,861. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bay City Roller (Ire), 128, c, 3, New Bay (GB)–Bloomfield (Ire), by Teofilo (Ire). (€320,000 Ylg '23 GOFOR). O-Victorious Racing Ltd; B-John Connaughton; T-George Scott. €26,180.
3–Parachutiste (Ire), 128, c, 3, Dubawi (Ire)–Paix (Ire), by Muhaarar (GB). 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. (€500,000 Ylg '23 ARQAUG). O-Qatar Racing Ltd, Ecurie des Monceaux & Ecurie Skymarc Farm; B-Ecurie des Monceaux & Ecurie Skymarc Farm; T-Francis-Henri Graffard. €12,495.
Margins: SNK, 1HF, SNK. Odds: 2.40, 16.00, 8.60.
Also Ran: Tennessee Stud (Ire), Nitoi, Leffard (Fr), Swagman (Ger), Aftermath (Ire).

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