Sheikh Abdullah’s Mutabahi lands Prix Louis Saulnier

Julien Guillochon (right) guides Mutabahi to victory in the Prix Louis Saulnier in Lyon-Parilly, France, on Sunday. (H. Durand)

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani’s homebred Mutabahi made a big impression by winning the Prix Louis Saulnier, a 2,000m race for three-year-old maidens in Lyon-Parilly, France, on Sunday. The two previous winners of the same contest, Channel (2019) and In Swoop (2020) went on win the Prix de Diane Longines (Group 1), and finish second in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1). After a good start, the Henri Alex Pantall-trained Mutabahi showed a sharp turn of foot under Julien Guillochon some 250m from the wire to go clear of the field. The colt finished two-and-a-half lengths in front of JP Gauvin-trained and Guillaume Millet-ridden Rock Joyeux. The principals were well clear of the rest, as JM Baratti-trained and Maxime Guyon-ridden Peinture Secrète was more than six lengths behind in third. Mutabahi is a son of French Fifteen, a stallion based at the Haras du Logis Saint-Germain, and Marina Piccola. He is a full brother to French King, winner of His Highness The Amir Trophy (Group 1 QA). Mutabahi is entered in the Grand Prix de Paris (Group 1) which will be run at ParisLongchamp on July 14.