Latest news with #Qatari-owned
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Al Wasmiyah Racing's Laffan stays unbeaten with Gr.2 (PA) win at La Teste
Tribune News Network La Teste (France) Al Wasmiyah Racing's homebred Laffan (Af Al Buraq) confirmed his exciting potential with a composed and professional performance to win the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Gr.2 (PA) Qatar Coupe de France des Chevaux Arabes at La Teste, France, on Monday. Ahmed AmanAlla Al Sheebani, Director of QREC Support Services Department, presented the trophies to the winners of the Gr.2 (PA) contest for three-year-olds over 1600 metres. The Purebred Arabian colt is trained by François Rohaut and was ridden on the occasion by Jean-Bernard Eyquem. The race brought together a field of seven runners and marked just the second career start for Laffan, who, under Eyquem as well, had made a successful debut last month over the same trip at Bordeaux. Stepping straight into Group company, the son of Af Al Buraq remained unbeaten with another polished display. The early pace was not particularly strong, with Mansour de Faust (Mister Ginoux) taking up the lead and Ghazan Du Soleil (Gazwan) tracking in second. Favourite Laffan was caught three wide without cover, but travelled well despite his position. Eyquem kept him relaxed throughout and began to move closer as they approached the final turn. Once balanced at the top of the straight, Laffan moved up smoothly to take the lead. He responded gamely when asked and maintained a narrow advantage to the line, holding off fast-finishing rivals. Amjaad (Azadi), owned by Al Shaqab Racing, trained by Thomas Fourcy and ridden by Mme Margot Romary, came flying late to take second, beaten only a head. Motus De l'Aigle (Mister Ginoux), representing Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, trained by Mme Jf. Bernard and partnered by Valentin Seguy, also finished strongly to claim a very close third in a thrilling finish, just a short head further behind. Once again, the top three placings went to Qatari-owned runners—mirroring the result less than 24 hours earlier in the QREC-sponsored Gr1 P/A Qatar Purebred Arabian 4YO Derby at Chantilly. Bred by Al Wasmiyah Racing, Laffan is out of Ajaayib (Mahabb), a winner over 1650 metres at three and 1500 metres at four. Ajaayib is a half-sister to Moshrif (Dahess), a dual Gr.1 (PA) winner over 2000 metres at three and 2200 metres at four, and to Muraaqib (Munjiz), a five-time Gr.1 (PA) winner over 2000 metres at three, four and five, and over 1600 metres at six.
Qatar Tribune
6 days ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Al Shaqab Racing's Hajmah gallops to Purebred Arabians Qatar Derby triumph at Chantilly
Tribune News Network Chantilly (France) Al Shaqab Racing's Hajmah took a major step forward as she claimed Gr1 4YO PA Qatar Derby at Chantilly in France on Sunday. Khalifa bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, QREC Board Member, awarded trophies to the winners of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Gr1 PA Qatar Derby des Pur-Sang Arabes de 4 Ans, run over 2000m. Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Mansour, Chief Operating Officer of Al Shaqab Racing, received the trophy on behalf of Al Shaqab Racing after their homebred filly, Hajmah (Al Mourtajez) clinched the prestigious title in a standout performance. The four-year-old Hajmah, facing a competitive field of 10 runners, delivered a strong performance to claim her first Gr.1 (PA) victory. She arrived at Chantilly following a fair seasonal return last month in the Gr.2 (PA) Qatar Prix de l'Élevage at Toulouse, a run that served as a solid stepping stone toward this target. Already a Gr.3 (PA) winner at three, having landed the Prix Nevada II over 1600m, Hajmah had shown clear potential. This time, stepped up in distance and grade, she confirmed that promise. Not the quickest out of the stalls, Hajmah improved her position to race in midfield, just behind Bianca De Ghazal (Al Mourtajez) while Mureb (Gazwan) set the pace up front. Entering the final straight, Soumillon switched her to the left and she moved up smoothly, keeping Bianca De Ghazal boxed in. Inside the final 300m, Hajmah was asked to go forward. Though briefly niggled along, she responded well, took the lead and battled gamely to the line. She held off the late challenge of Lippo De Carrere (Al Mourtajez), who finished fast to get within half a length at the post. Ridden by Mickael Barzalona and trained by Alban de Mieulle for Wathnan Racing, Lippo De Carrere secured second place. The favourite, Moneer (Al Mourtajez), also owned by Wathnan Racing, trained by Damien Watrigant and partnered by James Doyle, came in third a further one and a quarter lengths behind. Notably, the top three placings were all secured by Qatari-owned runners, who are all sired by Al Mourtajez. Bred by Al Shaqab Racing, Hajmah is out of Easter de Faust (Mahabb), a Gr.1 (PA) winner over 2000m in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches at three, and a Gr.3 (PA) winner over 1600m the same year. Easter de Faust is a half-sister to Battash De Faust (Af Albahar), a multiple winner over 1400m and third in a Gr.1 (PA) over 1600m in Doha.
Straits Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Retrofitting Qatari jet as Air Force One for Trump to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, Air Force says
FILE PHOTO: The motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump is parked next to a 12-year old Qatari-owned Boeing 747-8 that Trump was touring in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 15, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo Retrofitting Qatari jet as Air Force One for Trump to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, Air Force says WASHINGTON - It will cost hundreds of millions of dollars to retrofit a Qatari luxury Boeing 747 jetliner to fly as the new Air Force One, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said on Thursday. Last month, the U.S. military accepted the gift from Qatar to transport U.S. President Donald Trump. Retrofitting the 13-year-old plane, which has a luxurious interior, will require significant security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent spies from listening in and the ability to fend off incoming missiles, experts say. "It's probably less than $400 million to retrofit that aircraft," Meink told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing. Democratic lawmakers have said it could cost more than $1 billion to retrofit the plane. Meink said a lot of those costs are ones the Air Force would have experienced anyway. "I think there has been a number thrown around, on the order of a billion dollars, but a lot of those costs associated with that are costs that we would've experienced anyway," he said, adding that this included buying additional platforms for training and spares. Legal experts have questioned the scope of laws relating to gifts from foreign governments that aim to thwart corruption and improper influence. Democrats have also sought to block the handover. Qatar has dismissed concerns about the aircraft deal. Trump has also shrugged off ethical concerns, saying it would be "stupid" not to accept the 747-8 jet. The Air Force One program has faced chronic delays over the last decade, with the delivery of two new 747-8s slated for 2027, three years behind the previous schedule. Trump toured the Qatari Boeing plane in February at a Florida airport. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
News18
01-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
Champions D'Europe: UCL Winners PSG Return To Paris As Heroes
Last Updated: First-time UEFA Champions League winners PSG were received in befitting fashion on their return to the French Capital City after their 5-0 win over Inter Milan. PSG were welcomed by hordes of adoring fans on their return to the French Capital City of Paris on Sunday, following their heroics in Munich as Luis Enrique's men clinched their maiden UEFA Champions League title with a thumping 5-0 victory over Inter Milan a day earlier. There was stringent security surrounding the parade as fans gathered at the Champs-Élysées to mark the historic occasion, after two people were reported dead and a police officer was put into an induced coma due to the wild celebrations PSG's win set off in France. Desire Doue starred with a brace, while Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Senny Mayulu all also found the back of the net in an emphatic performance to give the Qatari-owned side their first-ever Champions League title. French President Emmanuel Macron, who lauded the side's feat and hosted them following the parade, also took the event to condemn the devastation caused in the name of celebrations in the European nation following PSG's continental crown. 'Nothing can justify what has happened in the last few hours, the violent clashes are unacceptable," the French leader said. 'We will pursue, we will punish, we will be relentless," the 47-year-old coninued. 'The violent clashes that took place are unacceptable and have come at a heavy cost: two people are dead, around 30 police officers and several firefighters have been injured," Macron said. 'My thoughts are also with the police officer in Coutances who is currently in a coma," he added. 'These isolated acts are contrary to the club's values and in no way represent the vast majority of our supporters, whose exemplary behaviour throughout the season deserves to be commended," the club said on Sunday. First Published: June 02, 2025, 00:49 IST
France 24
01-06-2025
- Sport
- France 24
PSG's emphatic Champions League triumph gives Qatari owners long-awaited glory
PSG could not win European football's biggest prize in previous seasons with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, or later with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, and even after that when they added Lionel Messi to the mix. But they have done it now after shifting the focus away from signing glamorous superstars and letting a brilliant coach in Luis Enrique work with a hungry, dynamic young team. PSG have been Europe's best side in 2025, but the display against Inter Milan in Munich topped it all as they romped to a 5-0 victory, the biggest win in the final in the competition's history. It was ultimately worth the long wait for the Gulf owners who arrived in 2011 when Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) bought an ailing club. Qatar got the perfect World Cup final in 2022, when Messi's Argentina beat Mbappe's France on an epic night in Doha, and now Qatari-owned PSG have the most stunning Champions League final win. It is easy to forget now, but they lost three of their first five games in the tournament this season. "We had a difficult start. Everyone criticised us and doubted us. Lots of people didn't believe in our project," PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi told broadcaster Canal Plus. "The objective now is to win again. It has taken 14 years of hard work but we are building something for the future." Khelaifi, who is close to Qatar's ruler and holds several influential positions in football including as chairman of the European Club Association, was beaming as he celebrated with the trophy. The first of many? It is just the second time any French club has won it after Marseille in 1993. It surely won't take over 30 years for PSG to win another Champions League, especially as this thrilling young side should now stay together for a long time. The average age of their starting line-up on Saturday was under 25 and their oldest player is Marquinhos at 31 -- he has been there since 2013. "I have suffered and I have grown with this team," the Brazilian told broadcaster M6. "My thoughts are with all the players who played here but were not able to win it." It has required 14 years, eight coaches, and over two billion euros ($2.27 billion) spent on transfer fees for QSI to get here. In the last 12 campaigns before this season, PSG reached one final, losing to Bayern Munich in Lisbon in 2020. There were two semi-final defeats, but there have also been humiliating collapses in the last 16 against Barcelona in 2017, Manchester United in 2019 and Real Madrid in 2022. "I said when I came in that the objective was to win important trophies, and the only one missing was the Champions League," said Luis Enrique, appointed in 2023. Club World Cup the next target After Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City's victory two years ago, also against Inter, it is another triumph for a club with mega-rich Gulf owners. PSG's victory was always only a matter of time. Their revenue last year of just over 800 million euros made them the third-richest club in analysts Deloitte's Football Money League. They sat behind only Real and City, and just ahead of traditional European aristocrats United, Bayern and Barcelona. PSG's last reported annual wage bill was close to double Inter's entire revenues. The difference with past years is that they are now spending the money more intelligently, on the likes of Saturday's two-goal hero Desire Doue, Joao Neves and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Luis Enrique and sporting director Luis Campos recently signed new contracts with the club who also won all three available titles in France this season. PSG will now take away more than 100 million euros just in prize money from winning the Champions League, and there is the chance for more glory and riches as they head to the highly lucrative FIFA Club World Cup in the USA. Qatar-owned PSG's quest for domination will not stop with Europe. "I think it is an incredible competition," said Luis Enrique, whose side face Atletico Madrid in Los Angeles in two weeks' time.
