Emperor Maximus Crosses Over in Qatar Derby

Wrapping up Day 29 in Qatar, the ultimate race on the Thursday card introduced collectively a well-matched area of 3-year-old colts that had been vying for a black-type prize. After a pair of scratches, out of the remaining 16 runners, Emperor Maximus proved finest, however it was not a foregone conclusion that he would have the ability to make the leap in firm after campaigning on-track at decrease ranges on three prior events. Simply final week Dec. 22, the colt received a handicap in opposition to 13 others by 1 3/4 lengths, however he was clearly going to must run his finest in right here.

On the break, it was Upton Park who broke alertly from the surface, angled into the three-path, and arrange store on the lead into the primary flip and continued to take action down the backstretch. Nestled alongside the rail within the third place, Emperor Maximus was content material to take a seat a ground-saving journey, as the remainder of the sector pursued. The chief went reasonably at :51.70 after 500 meters, and seemed to increase the bottom between because the gelding rounded the ultimate flip.

By the highest of the lane, the sector started to shake unfastened because the tempo started to quicken, and with lower than 500 meters Emperor Maximus was given his cue from the rail. Shifting swiftly, the darkish bay took intention at his rival, and beneath agency dealing with, totally prolonged himself previous the pacesetter to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Upton Park intently held second, and it was Persian Royal was up for third. The winner’s dam final produced a gelding by Zanzibari in 2021 with no report issued the yr earlier than.

Thursday, Al Rayyan, Qatar

QATAR DERBY (Black-Kind), US$500,000, Al Rayyan, 12-29, 3yo, 2000mT, 02:01.34, gd.
1–EMPEROR MAXIMUS (FR), 128, c, 3, by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire)
          1st Dam: Lapland (Fr), by Linamix (Fr)
          2nd Dam: Landlocked, by Unbridled
          third Dam: Land Shark (Fr), by Pitskelly (GB)
   1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Al Rufaa Racing; B-Thierry Storme,
Haras Des Sablonnets, Thierry Lohest (Fr); T-Gassim Ghazali;
J-Marco Casamento; US$285,000. Lifetime Document: 11-2-3-3.
2–Upton Park (Fr), 128, g, 3, Elm Park (GB)–Sienna Bella (GB),
by Anabaa. (150,000gns yrl ’22 TATJUL). O-Mohammed
Abdulhadi S. Al-Hajri; T-Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki; J-Tomas
Lukasek; US$110,000.
3–Persian Royal (GB), 128, g, 3, Al Kazeem (GB)–Poplin (GB), by
Medicean (GB). (450,000gns yrl ’22 TATOCT). O-Wathnan
Racing; B-D. J. and Mrs. Deer (GB); T-Alban Elie De Mieulle;
J-Soufiane Saadi; US$55,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 3/4, 1.