Sheikh Abdullah’s Mutabahi wins Prix Louis Saulnier
HIS Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani’s homebred Mutabahi (FR) (French Fifteen x Marina Piccola) made a big impression by winning the Prix Louis Saulnier, a 2,000 metre race for three-yearolds maidens at Lyon-Parilly, France, on Sunday.
The two previous winners of the same contest, Channel (Nathaniel) (2019) and In Swoop (Adlerflug) (2020) went on to respectively to win the Prix de Diane Longines, and finish second in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Grs1).
After a good start, the Henri Alex Pantall-trained Mutabahi showed a sharp turn of foot some 250 metres from to wire to go clear of the field.
For the record, the HenriAlex Pantall-trained colt had two and a half lengths to spare over the JP. Gauvin-trained and Guillaume Millet-ridden Rock Joyeux (Rock Of Gibraltar x Joiedargent).
The principals were well clear of the rest as there was a further of gap of over six lengths back to the third, the JM. Baratti-trained and Maxime Guyon– ridden Peinture Secrete (Lope de Vega x Painter’s Pride).
“I waited until he had found his feet before going on the offensive,” said Julien Guillochon. “He really picked up well and his was a clean win. He responded willingly.”
Mutabahi is a son of Frech Fifteen (Turtle Bowl), a stallion based at the Haras du Logis Saint-Germain, and Marina Piccola (Halling). The latter won the Prix de Thiberville (L). He is a full brother to French King, winner of the Grosser Preis von Berlin, Berlin-Hoppegarten (Gr1) and the HH The Amir Trophy (Gr1 QA) at Al Rayyan Park, Doha.
The grandam, Marine Bleue (Desert Prince), won the Kolner Herbst-Stuten Meile (Gr3, 1,600m) (1m) at three. She has also produced the winner of this year’s Al Maktoum Challenge R3 (Gr2), Military Law (Dubawi).
Mutabahi is entered in the Grand Prix de Paris (Gr1) which will be run at ParisLongchamp on July 14.