BIG FIVE Wins Prix Gay Mecen in France

Paris, November 10 (QNA) - HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani's homebred BIG FIVE (GB) (Frankel x Louvain) maintained his unbeaten record by proving a clear winner of the Prix Gay Mecen, a class 1 race run over 2,400 metres for three-year-olds at Saint-Cloud. Trained by Francis-Henri Graffard and ridden on this occasion by Olivier Peslier, BIG FIVE won very cosily after leaving BARATIN (FR) (Tin Horse) three lengths in his wake. BIG FIVE's previous two career outings were at Clairefontaine and Compigne and he emerged victorious on both occasions. He clearly relishes the heavy going. Bred by Al Shahania Stud, BIG FIVE is a son of FRANKEL (Galileo). His dam is the Gr3 placed LOUVAIN (Sinndar). She already produced two black type winners, including the champion FLOTILLA (Mizzen Mast), winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Gr1) and the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (Gr1). Also, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani's homebred WEETAMOO (IRE) (Le Havre x Wild Silva) made a winning debut in Prix de Pomerol, a race for unraced juvenile fillies over 1900 metres at Bordeaux on Saturday, 7 November. The Philippe Sogorb-trained runner enjoyed a good trip, having sat on the heels of the leaders, and showed commendable courage by reeling in MIDNIGHT SPECIAL (Muhtathir) at the wire to win by a short head with Anthony Crastus in the saddle. WEETAMOO is a daughter of LE HAVRE and the German mare WILD SILVA. The latter was placed at group level and is a sister of WILD COCO, who, herself, was a Gr2 winner and placed in the Prix Vermeille (Gr1). (QNA)