With Japan celebrating the spoils of the $20m Saudi Cup, in neighbouring Qatar it was fellow countryman Deep Monster who also claimed the $2.5m HH The Amir Trophy.
“We had the most beautiful run round, drawn one and just inside Goliath, who was a possible pace angle,” said jockey Tom Marquand. “I was impressed with how this horse has delivered.”
“He’s only recently won his first Group race and is just stepping up with age. The Japanese contingent know how to deliver their horses off the plane and this guy was absolutely on the money.”
In scoring a neck over French visitor and race pacemaker Goliath, Deep Monster clocked 2.26.43 for the 2400m on a good-firm turf track in the black and green silks of DDM Dream Club.
Jumping beautifully from Gate 1 of the 7 runners, and with Goliath in Gate 2, Deep Monster raced on the rail behind the pace set by Goliath, before hitting the front halfway up the home straight.
And with the HH The Amir Trophy being a Group 2 event, and winning the Gr2 Kyoto Daishoten in October will Deep Monster be looking to Group 1 glory at the Dubai World Cup Carnival.
Now getting the better of his international rivals, it was Goliath and the third placed Giavellotto who are coming off placing to the French visitor Sosie in the Hong Kong Vase in December.
With Goliath winning the Gr1 Grosser Preis von Baden it was Giavellotto as a Group 1 placed Group 3 winner last season, having won the Hong Kong Vase in 2024, and now has £3.3m in stakes.
As Frenchman Christopher Soumillon rode Goliath all-out to win for Chantilly base Francis Gaffard, it was former French ace Pierre-Charles Boudot riding Giavellotto for Newmarket’s Marco Botti.
“Two years ago I brought a horse here called Zeffiro, who was second,” said Yasutoshi Ikee. “Although the ground is firm I felt it was still softer than in Japan, so I thought the ground would suit.”
“It suited Deep Monster as well. His condition here was perfect and Tom rode perfectly, just as I expected him to.”
With the ever consistent Deep Monster being of a late maturer for Yasutoshi Ikee, who trained Orfevre, it was his father Yasuo who mastered the racing career of his sire Deep Impact.
Bred by Yano Bokiyo, and from his Gr2 winning Bellamy Road mare Sisterly Love, Deep Monster is the immediate family of Royal Heroine winner Parranda, and of the sires Dixie Brass and Odyle.
Newmarket trainer Stuart Williams had his tough 6yo gelding Quinault prove too strong in the Dukhan Sprint Cup of 1200m when he dug-deep to score by a length in the hands of Marco Ghiani.
And with Quinault staring at defeat when challenged in the straight by the locally trained Taxiwala, ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, it was Quinault who came again in the ‘final furlong.’
“He’s an absolute superstar for us. He’s got an amazing will to win and if it’s close, he just wants it,” said Stuart Williams with this being Quinault 12th race victory from a total of 32 starts.
Purchased by owners THE racing for 25,000Gns at the 2022 Tattersalls August Sale, he was originally a 310,000Gns Godolphin yearling sired Oasis Dream from the extended black type family of Querari, Quidura, Quasillo.
