He’s a real trooper! A second Barzan Cup for Dark Trooper

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. But what about an old horse? Take Dark Trooper – not exactly old, but the wily five-year-old has, quite literally, been around the tracks. A winner many times (nine before tonight’s race), in Britain and France and here in Qatar. Second, too, on racing’s most glamorous stage, at Royal Ascot. There’s not much Dark Trooper doesn’t know about the game, but here he is, under a beautifully persuasive ride from retained jockey James Doyle, sweeping to the front in the prestigious Qatar-Group 3 Barzan Cup, his very first win over the 1,600m trip. He crossed the line ears pricked, as happy as can be at encountering something new.

His first triumph at a mile – but his second Barzan Cup: he’d won this race last year when it was transferred to the tight Al Uqda oval and run over 200m shorter. The victory opens up new horizons for the 107-rated son of Dark Angel, who’d previously been considered more of a sprinter.

Barzan Cup day was also Guineas day, with a series of one-mile challenges for three-year-olds which tip their hat to the first Classic of the European season, the 2,000 Guineas, run at Newmarket on the first Saturday in May. Wathnan drew a blank in those contests but started the day in fine fettle. Race two brought another Wathnan win – in fact, a one-two – with two horses at the other end of their racing journey: the darker grey Qilton, James Doyle’s mount, and eventual winner Zameer, ridden by Soufiane Saadi, were both having their very first racecourse experience. Zameer got to the front entering the straight and stayed there, Qilton doing his best to bridge the gap, but failing by three-quarters of a length. Both have greater days ahead, as perhaps does Dark Trooper, illustrious though his record already is.