Bangkok Heads Entries for Qatar International Derby Festival

[Wandering Eyes]

A total of 59 horses were entered in the four-race two-day Qatar International Derby Festival on Dec. 20-21 headed by GSW Bangkok (Ire) (Australia {GB}). Held at Doha’s Al Rayyan Racecourse, the event drew 10 overseas entries, among them the King Power Racing colourbearer, who won the G3 Classic Trial in April and was a last out second in the G3 Strensall S. on Aug. 24. He is being pointed toward the grassy $500,000 Qatar Derby over 2000m on Dec. 21. Other foreign raiders include Jockey Club Derby Invitational S. runner-up Pedro Cara (Fr) (Pedro The Great), Germany’s listed winner Say Good Buy (Ger) (Showcasing {GB}) for Henk Grewe and Norway’s Listed Norwegian Derby hero Privilegiado (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}).

“Bangkok has been targeting the Qatar Derby for some time and the race conditions should be in his favour–a mile and a quarter is probably his optimal trip,” said trainer Andrew Balding to the Qatar International Derby Festival notes team. “He likes fast ground, which is why he hasn’t run since August. We were happy to give him a break with this race in mind as the prospect of getting decent ground during the European autumn was pretty slim.

“I have had runners out in Qatar a couple of times before and though things didn’t work out for another of King Power’s horses, Stone Of Destiny [who finished an unlucky second in the Dukhan Sprint in Doha in February 2019], it’s a lovely track where the international events are always very well organised.”

Added Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club CEO Nasser Bin Sherida Al Kaabi, “The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club is delighted with the quality and variety of the entries for next month’s Qatar International Derby Festival. The fact that so many horses with form in European group and listed races are set to take part shows the progress that racing in Qatar in general and this Festival in particular is making.”

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