Cheerio and Demah strike on debut for Al Shaqab homebred double

Al Shaqab Racing enjoyed a notable two-day sequence in France as our homebreds CHEERIO and DEMAH both made winning debuts, striking just 24 hours apart and continuing the strong run of form for our breeding programme following AFANDY’s success in the Prix Djebel Gr.3.

The first to score was CHEERIO, who made a highly encouraging start to his career at Le Mans racecourse. The three-year-old, a son of Lord Kanaloa out of Rjwa (Muhtathir), showed a professional attitude on debut over 2,300 metres. Positioned close to the pace, he was asked to quicken turning for home and asserted in the straight to land the maiden under Clément Lecoeuvre for Francis-Henri Graffard. It marked a smooth and promising first step in our colours for a colt bred at our Haras de Bouquetot base.

Homebred Cheerio strikes on debut at Le Mans (credit Claudie Liger)

Just one day later, DEMAH followed suit with an equally taking performance at Chantilly Racecourse. By Mehmas out of Wasmya (Toronado), and a sister to top-level performer SAHLAN, she overcame an educational start to her race before asserting decisively in the straight over 1,600 metres. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, she displayed both class and determination to open her account at the first attempt, again for the Graffard stable.

Demah is another homebred debut winner at Chantilly (credit APRH)

Both CHEERIO and DEMAH were raised in Normandy at Haras de Bouquetot, with back-to-back debut victories highlighting the quality emerging from our broodmare band and the consistency of our breeding programme. This double provides further encouragement as we look ahead to the season, with both winners shaping as horses to follow on the back of their first appearances.