FOLLOWING last Friday’s big Irish win in Doha by the Ado McGuinness-trained Bowerman, there were no further European victories in Qatar on Saturday, the second day of the Amir’s Sword Festival.

However, there were two Irish-bred winners in the shape of Taxiwala and Devious Company.

A four-year-old gelding by Holy Roman Emperor, Taxiwals won the six-furlong Dukhan Sprint, a local Group 2. He was bred by John and Michelle Weld at River Downs Stud in Co Kildare. A half-brother to two winners, he was sold for €105,000 as a foal, but only made 50,000gns as a yearling.

Archie Watson trained Taxiwala to win at two years, and the horse was acquired by current connections for just 10,000gns at the 2019 Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale.

Last Saturday’s $250,000 race was an all-local affair and Taxiwala won by half a length from Zyzzyva (ex-Roger Varian) with the Rathasker Stud-bred X Force (also ex-Archie Watson) in third.

John Tuthill’s Owenstown Stud in Co Kildare, bred Devious Company, winner of the $250,000 Al Biddah Mile, another local Group 2 event.

A three-year-old colt by Fast Company, the winner was placed in two Group 2 races in Britain last year for trainer Tom Dascombe, before being sold privately to Qatari interests.

Andrew Balding sent over Berkshire Rocco for the most valuable race on Saturday’s card, the 12-furlong H.H. The Amir Trophy, a local Group 1 worth $1 million, but the Doncaster St Leger runner-up had to settle for second place behind local hope Noor Al Hawa, an eight-year-old by Makfi.