Qemah Easy Winner of Prix Rothschild
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Photo: Mathea Kelley
Qemah won the Coronation Stakes in June of 2016.
The year keeps getting better for French trainer Jean-Claude Rouget, whose filly Qemah effortlessly quickened away to win the Prix Rothschild (Fr-I) July 31 at Deauville, providing him with yet another group I win this season.
Qemah, the favorite, raced comfortably in midfield early, while stablemate Positive Vibration laid down the early tempo. Gregory Benoist was sitting chilly as he moved her into third with more than a quarter-mile to run. When he finally gave her the cue, she kicked away for an easy 1 1/4 length triumph over Prix de Diane (Fr-I, French Oaks) third-place finisher Volta.
Steip Amach came from the back of the field to take third.
The victory marked the second straight win at the top level for Al Shaqab Racing's Qemah, who took the Coronation Stakes (Eng-I) June 17 at Royal Ascot. Rouget has also enjoyed group I wins this season with La Cressonniere in the the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas) and Prix de Diane; Jemayel in the Prix Saint-Alary; Zelzal in the Prix Jean Prat; and Almanzor in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby).
"She is really good," Rouget told Racing Post, while making it clear he believes his Danehill Dancer filly ranks among some of the Europe's best fillies in the last 10 years. "We have seen other good fillies here in recent years, like Goldikova and Moonlight Cloud, and I think that she is up there in that kind of company."
Qemah covered the Rothschild's 1,600 meters (about one mile) in 1:38.09 on firm turf. She improved her record to 4-2-1 from seven starts. Sunday's win was her third from four outings this year, which also includes a third in the French One Thousand Guineas.
Nicolas de Watrigant's Mandore International Agency selected Irish-bred Qemah for Al Shaqab Racing at auction, signing the ticket for €200,000 (US$268,000) at the 2014 Arqana Deauville yearling sale. She was bred by Ecurie Cadran Bissons and SAS IEI, and is the first starter from the 2010 Prix Fille de l'Air third-place finisher Kartica, by Rainbow Quest. Her second dam is English highweight Cayman Sunset.