PARIS — Al Shaqab Racing won both Group 1 Purebred Arabian races on Friday as the 2026 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe meeting got under way at Saint-Cloud Racecourse.
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) sponsors the meeting, which was attended by QREC Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah and Vice Chairman Rashid Nasser Sraiya Al Kaabi. France Galop President Guillaume de Saint-Seine and Vice President Arnaud de Seyssel were also present.
Al Shaqab Racing’s Msaieed opened the day’s Group 1 double by winning the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Poulains for three-year-old colts. Ridden by Jean-Bernard Eyquem and trained by Thomas Fourcy, the Azadi colt secured his first victory at the highest level.
Sheikh Hamad bin Joaan Al-Thani received the trophy from QREC board member Abdulrahman bin Mansour Al Mansour in the presence of de Saint-Seine.
Balsam then completed the double for Al Shaqab Racing in the Qatar Arabian Trophy for three-year-old fillies over 2,000 metres.
Owned and bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Balsam was ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot and trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte. The victory was her first at Group 1 level, with stablemate Narbonne finishing second to give the trainer a 1-2 result.
The two victories gave Al Shaqab Racing both Group 1 prizes on the opening day of the meeting, which features Purebred Arabian racing alongside the wider Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe programme.
