Cualificar leaves it late in G2 Prix Niel

Cualificar gained his biggest win to date and booked his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe place as he overcame a troubled run in the G2 Prix Niel at Longchamp, France, on Sunday, 7 September. 

Stepping up to a mile and a half, the G1 Prix du Jockey Club runner-up broke alertly and settled in a two-length third behind Tennessee Stud and Nitoi on the inside rail. 

William Buick tried to find a seam over two furlongs out but found his path blocked by the leading duo, with Bay City Roller and Parachutiste moving up on the outside of the Andre Fabre-trained colt shortly after. 

Cualificar eventually found room inside the final furlong and stormed home to collar Bay City Roller in the final strides for a short-neck verdict. 

Andre Fabre said: “It was an impressive win from Cualificar, but this is just a prep race for the Arc. He showed what I was hoping for and expecting over an extra two furlongs and on softer ground. 

“I used the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano and Prix Niel as a prep for Trempolino a long time ago. Cualificar became quite heavy this summer, so I thought he would need an extra race. 

“With Cualificar and Sosie, we have two serious horses for the Arc.” 

William Buick said: “I knew the whole way through the race that I would have to find an out at some stage. In these races, the horses are closely matched and I did not get the room down the inside. I had to come back to get out and to finish the way Cualificar did and win the race always takes a bit of doing. 

“Cualificar is improving. I was impressed with him when I rode him in the Prix du Jockey Club and he is getting better. This was his first time over a mile and a half – and he felt very comfortable over the distance. You would have to be very happy with what he did. 

“I don’t think soft ground would bother him, although he would not want it deep because he is a good-actioned horse. He has that bit of acceleration at the end of a race, so ground like this or on the easy side would be fine.”