March 30, 2013, Dubai Meydan ~ Christophe Soumillon, who rode Al Mamun Monlau into first place in the Group 1 Kahayla Classic said: “It was a perfect race for me. I followed Sheikh Hamdan’s horse (Versac PY) and when he went clear I switched between horses and chased after him. My horse had a lot of ground to make up but in the end he was very genuine to catch the leader in the last stride.”
Jean Francois Bernard, winning trainer: “He is the best three-year-old in France and he liked it here from the day he arrived. He had a lot of gas left halfway round the turn (for home) and I thought he would finish well. Christophe (Soumillon) rode a great race and I am very happy.”
Other comments from the rail:
Paul Hanagan, on Versac PY, who ran second : “He ran very well. He did everything right but just got nailed on the line. No excuses.”
Oliver Peslier, who guided TM Fred Texas into third: “It was a nice race. It was a good pace. He ran well but the other two just had a little too mich for him.”
Gerald Avranche on fourth in, Nieshan: “He’s run well. Finished well but I couldn’t get to the leaders.
Wayne Smith for sixth on Af Sanadek: “He ran well. First time on the surface. First time here. Good effort to run sixth.”
Richard Mullen, seventh on Sahib Du Clos: “I jumped good. They were obviously going very quick. I sat off a strong pace. He had every chance because he does get the mile and a half. Over the mile and a quarter, they’re just too good for him.”
Ted Durcan on eighth place, Albar Lotois: “He ran a bit flat.”
Christophe Lemaire, ninth on Musharab: “Had a perfect trip behind Versac. Had every chance, just one paced.”
Brett Doyle, tenth finish on Af Alghabra: “Traveled well. He just wasn’t good enough when they kicked.”
Harry Bentley, eleventh finish on: “It was a very strong pace and I had a nice position. He traveled well to a point but I had to get after him a long way out and he did not pick up. I’m not sure that he’s really a Tapeta horse.”
Royston Ffrench, Rakha, 12th: “My filly she won at Abu Dhabi last time over a lot shorter and she didn’t get this trip.”
Ahmed Ajtebi, Areem, 13th: “We set a good pace. He’s a miler. He didn’t stay.”
Tadhg O’Shea, TM Junior Johnson, 16th: “I traveled well but I just never picked up. I probably didn’t get the trip. He’d be better off shorter.”
~end