Fairy Glen produced a stunning reversal of fortunes in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu, moving from the back of the field to claim a Group One victory over the odds‑on favourite Sunly, delivering a memorable win for Newmarket trainers Simon and Ed Crisford. The race unfolded over a distance of one mile and six furlongs, with Mickael Barzalona guiding the five‑year‑old filly from a last‑place position.
Early in the contest, the pace was set by Consent, Cameo, Sugar Island and Amelia Earhart, who together ensured a solid tempo that kept the field well‑strung. As the field turned into the home straight, Fairy Glen began to make her move, accelerating with determination and closing rapidly on the leaders. Sunly, who had been backed to become the race favourite at 5‑6 odds, took command with a furlong left to run.
However, Barzalona timed his run perfectly, swinging wide on the outside and delivering Fairy Glen a powerful late surge that saw her snatch the lead by a neck at the line. The finish was a textbook illustration of patience and tactical riding, with Barzalona’s long‑range patience paying off in the most dramatic fashion.
Amelia Earhart, a St Leger third‑placer, rallied strongly in the closing stages to hold on for third place, finishing just three‑quarters of a length behind the winner. The result marked a significant achievement for Fairy Glen, who is slated for retirement at the end of the season after a distinguished career that includes a Group Two Balanchine win and a Dubai Gold Cup triumph at Meydan earlier in the spring.
She also placed fifth in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier in May, finishing behind Caballo De Mar. In preparation for the Prix de Royallieu, Fairy Glen had shown promising form with a second‑place finish in a Listed race at Yarmouth the previous month. Ed Crisford, speaking after the race, highlighted the long‑term strategy that had been employed: "Exactly what Mickael said would happen did happen – he said they'd get racing a long way out. He knows her really well from Dubai and just wanted to take his time on her.
They did get racing a long way out, he was following Sunly through and she's a game filly. She's never going to win by two or three lengths, but she gets the job done." Crisford added that Fairy Glen’s performance at Yarmouth had been a strong indicator of her readiness: "She probably should have won at Yarmouth a couple of weeks ago.
It was her first run after a summer break and we didn't want to give her a hard race because this was the aim." He praised the filly’s consistency and class, noting that she had already secured a Group One title and would likely retire at the end of the year. "She is in at Ascot on Champions Day and there might be something back here.
We'll talk to her owner, but we might be able to fit another race in before she goes to stud," he said. The victory also underscored the skill of jockey Mickael Barzalona, whose patient ride from the rear allowed Fairy Glen to unleash a powerful finish. Barzalona’s ability to gauge the pace and find the optimal moment to ask for her effort was pivotal, especially against a high‑class field that included the heavily‑favoured Sunly. In other news from the meeting, Wimbledon Hawkeye continued his impressive debut season for trainer George Scott by winning the Qatar Prix Dollar at Longchamp.
The son of Kameko, a former Royal Lodge winner for James Owen, was acquired privately by the Victorious Forever partnership during the off‑season. Since then, he has justified the investment with a Group Three victory at Deauville and a narrow nose defeat to Hotazhell in the Irish Champion Stakes last month. Ridden once again by Christophe Soumillon, Wimbledon Hawkeye proved the superior horse in the Group Two contest, edging Zaydann by half a length. Scott praised his colt’s class, saying, "He's a class horse – he's proven that time and time again this year.
He was a bit fresh beforehand and I was a bit apprehensive how fresh he was, but he travelled into it like a really good horse." Looking ahead, Wimbledon Hawkeye’s odds for the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes were dramatically reduced, yet an appearance on Champions Day at Ascot is not part of the plan. Scott explained that the horse’s future lies in Bahrain, where his owner Sheikh Nasser wishes to target the Bahrain International.
"He was bought for Bahrain so this is all a bonus really. I'll give him a week in the field when he gets home and the Bahrain International is going to be the perfect race for him," Scott added. Scott also expressed admiration for his jockey, noting, "It's cool to be associated with Christophe. He's not someone I know very well and I've had a bit of a man crush on him since he started riding!
He's got that charisma like Oisin (Murphy) and Frankie (Dettori) – they're just one‑offs." Overall, the Qatar Prix de Royallieu delivered a thrilling narrative of underdog triumph, strategic riding, and the culmination of a season for a filly destined for retirement. Fairy Glen’s victory not only adds a prestigious Group One to her résumé but also showcases the expertise of her connections, from trainer to jockey, and sets the stage for her final chapter in the breeding shed. The meeting also highlighted the rising talent of Wimbledon Hawkeye, whose future now points toward the Middle East, promising further excitement for racing enthusiasts worldwide.