France: Qemah delivers as favorite in Prix Rothschild
Qemah won her second consecutive Group 1 race, and first against older fillies and mares, in Sunday’s $334,800 Prix Rothschild at Deauville Racecourse in northwest France.
The win gave trainer Jean Claude-Rouget his fifth Group 1 race with a 3-year-old filly since mid-May. Qemah won the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. The stable’s La Cressonniere won the French 1000 Guineas and French Oaks in May and June. Jemayel won the Group 1 Prix Saint-Alary in France in May and was third in Saturday’s Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in England.
Qemah, the 5-2 favorite, won the Prix Rothschild at a straightaway mile by 1 3/4 lengths over Volta, a 3-year-old filly who was third in the French Oaks. Ridden by Gregory Benoist, Qemah closed from the middle of a field of 10 to take the lead in the final quarter-mile.
Volta finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of Steip Amach, the 121-1 longest shot in the field.
Qemah, who is by Danehill Dancer, is owned by Al Shaqab Racing and has won 4 of 7 starts.