Fairy Glen staged a stunning reversal of fortune in the Qatar Prix de Royallieu, surging from the back of the field to defeat the odds‑on favourite Sunly and secure a coveted Group One triumph for the Newmarket training partnership of Simon and Ed Crisford. The race, run over a distance of one mile and six furlongs, saw the five‑year‑old filly, under the guidance of jockey Mickael Barzalona, settle at the rear while a solid early tempo was set by Consent, Cameo, Sugar Island and Amelia Earhart.
As the field turned into the home straight, Barzalona began to make his move, positioning Fairy Glen for a decisive run. Sunly, who had been backed to win at 5‑6 and had taken the lead with a furlong left to run, appeared to have the race in hand. However, Barzalona timed his challenge perfectly, guiding Fairy Glen wide and late into the final furlong.
The filly produced a powerful finishing burst, edging Sunly by a neck at the wire. Amelia Earhart, who had previously placed third in the St Leger, rallied strongly to hold on for third place, finishing just three‑quarters of a length behind the winner.
The victory carries special significance for Fairy Glen, who is slated to retire at the end of the season. Earlier in the spring, she captured the Group Two Balanchine and the Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan, and in May she finished a respectable fifth in the Prix Vicomtesse Vigier behind Caballo De Mar. Her preparation for the Qatar race included a runner‑up finish in a Listed event at Yarmouth the previous month, a performance that Ed Crisford described as exactly what jockey Mickael Barzalona had predicted. "He knew she needed a long run to get into rhythm," Crisford said.
"Mickael has worked with her in Dubai and understood her best pace. He let her settle, then asked her to chase Sunly when the time was right." Crisford added that Fairy Glen is not the type of filly to win by large margins, but she consistently delivers when it matters.
"She might not win by two or three lengths, but she gets the job done," he noted. He also reflected on her recent form, saying, "She should have won at Yarmouth a couple of weeks ago. It was her first run after a summer break, and we deliberately gave her a gentle start because we had a specific target in mind." Looking ahead, the connections are weighing the possibility of one more start before she heads to stud. "She has a Group One win on her résumé and will retire at the end of the year," Crisford explained.
"We have an entry for her at Ascot on Champions Day, and there might be another opportunity locally. We'll discuss it with the owner and see if we can fit in a final race before she begins her breeding career." The race card also featured a noteworthy performance from Wimbledon Hawkeye, who continued a promising first campaign for owner George Scott by taking the Qatar Prix Dollar at Longchamp. The son of the celebrated Kameko, Wimbledon Hawkeye was acquired privately by the Victorious Forever operation 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 class of the field in the Group Two contest, winning by half a length over Zaydann. Scott praised the colt’s temperament and ability, saying, "He's a class horse – he’s proved that time and again this year. He arrived fresh and travelled beautifully, showing the hallmark of a top‑level performer." Despite his success, Wimbledon Hawkeye’s connections have no immediate plans for the Qatar Racing Champion Stakes or a return to Ascot’s Champions Day.
Instead, they are eyeing a lucrative target in Bahrain, where Sheikh Nasser has expressed interest in the colt. "He was bought for Bahrain, so this is a bonus," Scott explained.
"We’ll give him a week’s rest when he gets home, then aim for the Bahrain International, which should suit him perfectly." Scott also shared a personal note about his relationship with jockey Christophe Soumillon, admitting, "It’s cool to be associated with Christophe. I’ve had a bit of a man crush on him since he started riding!
He has that charisma like Oisin Murphy and Frankie Dettori – they’re in a league of their own." Overall, the Qatar Prix de Royallieu delivered a dramatic narrative, with Fairy Glen’s late surge overturning the expectations set by Sunly’s favoritism, and Wimbledon Hawkeye confirming his rising stature on the international stage. Both stories underscore the unpredictable excitement of top‑level flat racing and set the stage for intriguing decisions regarding the future campaigns of these talented horses.