Sheikh Abdullah’s Abbes lands Group 3 Prix Dormane

Olivier Peslier (foreground) rides Abbes to victory in the Sheikh Mansour Festival — Prix Dormane (Group 3 PA) at La Teste-de-Buch in France. (Robert Polin)

Abbes, carrying the colours of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, made a winning return at La Teste-de-Buch, capturing the Sheikh Mansour Festival — Prix Dormane (Group 3 PA) on Wednesday. With Olivier Peslier in the saddle, the Thomas Fourcy-trained colt prevailed by the minimum margin at the main expense of Abdullah bin Fahad al-Attiyah’s Munir Du Soleil who was ridden by Julien Auge and was campaigned at Doha during the winter. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Hoggar De L'ardus was a further 1¼ lengths behind in third under Jerome Cabre. It was a special day for the French trainer recording a 1-2-3 in this contest.