Qatar's Emir's Sword Festival, which takes place Feb. 23 to 25 in Doha, has attracted a handful of international entries for its feature events. German trainer Andreas Wohler has entered Noor Al Hawa (Fr) (Makfi {GB}), winner of the Qatar Derby on Dec. 29, in the $1-million H.H. The Emir's Trophy, where he could oppose the Doug O'Neill-trained Royal Albert Hall (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}) from the U.S. and Sir Michael Stoute's Arab Spring (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), as well as Richard Fahey's Gabrial (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Nicolas Clement's Now We Can (GB) (Martillo {Ger}). Wohler said of Noor Al Hawa, “He's really well. His work has been very good and he looks fantastic. The biggest concern we have at the moment is the step up in trip [to a mile and a half], but he won well [in the Qatar Derby] over a mile and a quarter, so we are hopeful as he's in fantastic shape.”
Aidan O'Brien has entered Cougar Mountain (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) in the $200,000 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup, and the German-trained Diplomat (Ger) (Teofilo {Ire}) is also confirmed for the mile event. The Breeders' Cup sponsored Dukhan Sprint will include popular 11-year-old sprinter Medicean Man (GB) (Medicean {GB}) as well as representatives from Britain and Scandanavia.
Nasser Sherida Al Kaabi, General Manager of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, said, “The 2017 Emir's Sword Festival is our most prestigious race meeting of the year in Qatar and we are delighted to have attracted such a strong international entry. I am particularly pleased to see the victorious Qatar Derby winner, Noor Al Hawa, return to try and claim the H.H The Emir's Trophy.”
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