In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Paris Longchamp Racecourse witnessed yesterday evening the final and grand day of this year’s Qatar Arc de Triomphe race, and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani crowned the winners of the Qatar World Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses of the first category at the Paris Longchamp Racecourse, in the presence of Mr. Hamad bin Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, and Mr. Guillaume de Saint-Saëns, President of France. Then His Highness also crowned the winners of the Qatar Race for the Arc de Triomphe, category one, in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic, Mr. Guillaume de Saint-Saëns, President of France Gallot, and Mr. Arnaud de Cécile, Vice President of France Gallot. The 2026 edition of both major races witnessed the emergence of new champions who recorded their names in the annals of history, as the Qatar World Cup was won by the purebred Arabian horse Al-Jawad. HM Al Shaheen, King of Hilal Al Alawi, under the supervision of trainer Elisabeth Bernard and led by Christian Demur, announced the beginning of a new phase at the pinnacle of purebred Arabian horse racing after the absolute dominance of the horse “Al Ghadeer” over the title during the past three editions. At the same time, the colt “Dariz”, king of Aghan Khan Studs, champion of last year’s edition of the Qatar Arc de Triomphe Prize, returned to maintain his title in the largest race for purebred hybrid horses in Europe, and join a small number of legendary champions who achieved victory. With this title twice in a row, under the supervision of coach Francis-Henri Gravart and the leadership of Al-Khayal, Michael Barzalona.
The closing day witnessed 8 other rounds, including 5 rounds in the first category, where dignitaries and officials crowned the winners: His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic, crowned the winners of the Qatar Jean-Luc Lagardère Prize in the first category, which was won by the filly “Amusengli,” owned by Judmont Farms Inc. and under the supervision of coach Francis-Henri Gravard. Mr. Hamad bin Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, crowned the winners of the Qatar La Foret Award in the first category, which was won by the filly “True Love,” owned by Michael Tepper, Derek Smith, and Susan Magnier, and under the supervision of trainer Aiden O’Brien.
Mr. Rashid bin Nasser Saree Al Kaabi, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, crowned the winners of the Qatar Marcel Boussac Award in the first category, which was won by the filly “Green Empress”, owned by the Thrabred Racing Corporation, under the supervision of coach Joseph O’Brien and the rider Christophe Soumillon. Mr. Patrick Aoun, CEO of Longines, crowned the winners of the Longines L’Appe Longchaux Award in the first category, which was won by the filly “Miss Chance”, owned by Al Laith Racing Club, under the supervision of trainer Carl Burke. Mr. Patrick Aoun, CEO of Longines, also crowned the winners of the Longines Opera Award in the category, and it was won by the filly “Miss Scott”, owned by The Throbard Racing Limited, under the supervision of trainers John and Thedi Gosden. “HM Al Shaheen”, champion of the Qatar World Cup, won the horse “HM Al Shaheen”, owned by Hilal Al Alawi, won the Qatar World Cup title for purebred Arabian horses in the first category for purebred Arabian horses aged 4 years and above over a distance. 2000 AD, which witnessed the participation of 12 horses, under the supervision of trainer Elisabeth Bernard and led by the horseman Christian Demuro. “Daryz” wins the Qatar Arc de Triomphe Award for the second year in a row. The horse “Dariez”, owned by Aga Khan Studs, won the Qatar Arc de Triomphe Award in the first category for purebred hybrid horses aged 3 years and above for a distance of 2400 metres, in a high-level race that witnessed the participation of 16 horses, and the four-year-old champion colt won the title. For the second year in a row, under the supervision of coach Francis-Henri Gravart and led by Al Khayal, Michael Barzalona.
“Green Empress” wins the Marcel Boussac Award
The filly “Green Empress”, owned by The Thrabred Racing Corporation, won the title of the Qatar Marcel Boussac Award in the first category for a distance of 1600 meters for two-year-old purebred female horses, which witnessed the participation of 12 fillies, under the supervision of trainer Joseph O’Brien and led by the horse Christophe Soumillon.
The filly “Amusengly” wins the Qatar Jean-Luc Lagardère Award
The filly “Amusengli,” owned by Jedmont, won the Qatar Jean-Luc Lagardère Prize in the first category for purebred crossbred horses, two years old, over a distance of 1400 metres, which witnessed the participation of 10 horses of this age group, and which was supervised by trainer Francis-Henri Gravard and led by Colin Keane.
“True Love” returns to win the Qatar La Foret Award
In the last round of the first category of this year’s edition of the Qatar Arc de Triomphe race, the three-year-old filly “True Love”, owned by Michael Tepper, Derek Smith and Susan Magnier, won the Qatar La Foret Prize in the first category for purebred horses aged 3 years and above over a distance of 1400 metres, and her run witnessed the participation of 8 horses. She achieved this victory under the supervision of trainer Aiden O’Brien and led by horseman Ryan Moore.
Qatari leadership…a strategic vision in the silence of the history of global racing
The curtain came down on the 2026 edition of the Qatar Prix Arc de Triomphe festival in Paris, crowning eighteen years of the alliance between the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club and France Gallo. Since its launch in 2008, this sponsorship was not just traditional sponsorship, but rather constituted a strategic shift that reshaped the map of European racing, and gave purebred Arabian horses an unprecedented large space in the heart of major festivals, specifically through the Qatar World Cup race, which became the focal point capturing the attention of millions before the Qatar Arc Prix race. Victory.