Captain and Cornwallville make a super Saturday
Sheikh Fahad's spin on Captain Morley did not result in victory, yet after finishing fifth in a contest that raised funds and awareness for Irish Injured Jockeys, he told the Racing Post: "I loved every second of it and cannot wait to do it again. It was a brilliant feeling. I thought I'd be a bit cheeky and try to pinch it from the front, and felt I had it coming down the hill, but then I looked behind and saw Kevin [Darley] and Johnny [Murtagh] going well and I thought, 'Oh no, I've no chance now'."
Sheikh Fahad with fellow charity riders Peter
Molony (left) and Kevin Darley
Victory went to local hotelier and well-known source of young jumping stock, Brian Murphy, who at 60, and giving Sheikh Fahad 34 years, proved age is no bar to success. He rode Hurricane Sky, and said: "I loved it. I thought I'd finish third or fourth but he just kept picking up."
To help with Sheikh Fahad's fund-raising effort on behalf of Irish Injured Jockeys, visit:http://www.mycharity.ie/event/sheikh_fahad_al_thani_charity_race/
Meanwhile, at Toulouse in France, Cornwallville, a son of Qatar Bloodstock stallion Makfi, won the Listed Prix FBA Eymeri de Mauleon, displaying the typical toughness he showed in quantity during his juvenile season last year.
Carrying the colours of Pearl Bloodstock, he won by a nose, while in fourth, just a length behind the winner, was Qatar Racing's filly Harpy, also by Makfi.
Now standing at HH Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval in France, Makfi recently made a big impact in New Zealand when his son Marky Mark won the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes.
In Germany today (Sunday), recent Pearl Bloodstock acquisition, Karpino, won the Gr.3 Dr Busch Memorial at Krefeld for trainer Andreas Wohler. Andrea Atzeni rode the three-year-old son of Cape Cross to an easy win from five rivals.
#Captain Morley, Cornwallville and Harpy are among horses eligible for Qatar Racing's 8 to Follow competition, which raises money for the charity Racing Welfare. The closing date for entries is Friday (May 1), so for the chance to win prizes worth nearly £20,000 go to www.8tofollow.co.uk, or click on one of the 8 to Follow logos on this website.