Chantilly, Paris: Tamayuz, owned by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Minister of Finance came up with a fantastic finish under Davy Bonilla to claim the Abu Dhabi Sorouh Prix Jean Prat (Group 1) in Chantilly on Sunday.
The lightly-raced son of Nayef from Freddie Head's yard finished strongly ahead of a classy field of runners with Raven's Pass and Godolphin's Rio De La Plata finishing in second and third in this first of two races sponsored by Sorouh Real Estate.
A field of 16 started in this featured Group 1 over the mile's distance and once Bonilla hit the front with about two furlongs to race, Tamayuz made no mistake to win by one and a half lengths in front of a packed Chantilly crowd.
The Shaikh Hamdan horse which had finished 9th in the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp for the only blemish in his career, was in awesome form and drew praises from his trainer Head.
Good horse
"I always knew he was a good horse and today he proved that. Though we had a bad draw and had to wait before making the move, he quickened well once in the front," said Head.
"Normally this race is much easier and I had kept him fresh for it but the entries surprised me," said Head, who had just on Friday combined with the same jockey to score on Marchand D'Or in the July Cup in Newmarket.
"It has indeed been a dream run over the last few days," said Head.
"There was nothing else for him after the Guineas and I didn't have a lot of choice so I kept him fresh to come here. I knew this race would suit him, but I was surprised when I saw the entries as it is usually a much easier race.
"We will have to talk to Shaikh Hamdan, but the Prix Jacques le Marois (at Deauville on August 17) would be the obvious race for him."
Commenting on the performance of Rio De La Plata, trainer Saeed bin Surour said: "Rio De La Plata ran well. He may well be suited by a mile and a quarter.
"We will see how he comes out of this race before making definite plans for him."
The Group One Juddmonte International over 10 furlongs at York on August 19 is a possibility for his next race.
Trainer John Gosden said of Raven's Pass: "He has run a blinder but the winner has ridden a good race - sat handy to the pace, stolen those lengths and we couldn't get him back.
Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan along with Masood Al Awar, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer of Sorouh gave away the trophies to the winning connections.
Apart from the ¤400,000.00 Abu Dhabi Sorouh Prix Jean Prat (Group 1), the UAE-based real estate developer Sorouh also sponsored the Abu Dhabi Sorouh Prix De Plailly, a ¤58,000.00 Handicap race.
The races were organized by the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation with The Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club and the Abu Dhabi International Hunting & Equestrian Exhibition playing a supporting role.
