Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani crowned the winners of the H.H. Sheikh Mohamed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy (QA GR2) and JAAFER CUP in presence of H.E. Mr Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Thursday, 10 March 2022. The nine race card concluded with Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki ‘s IN THE NIGHT landing the QAR 500,0000 finale, and Umm Qarn’sAL BALAGH (QA) (General x Zabieh) winning the QAR 250,000 Jaafer Cup in the penultimate race.
IN THE NIGHT lands the Gr2 Trophy
The Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki bounced back quickly to land the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy (QA GR2). The 5YO gelding’s string of wins came to a pause in his penultimate start, but he returned to the right way quickly and made no mistake to win the 2000m contest for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds by one and a half lengths under Tomas Lukasek. The Nasser Saif A R Al-Kubaisi-owned and Hamad Al-Jehani-trained LEOPARDS PARK (FR) (Siyouni) was the runner-up under Lukas Delozier. The runner-up of the last season’s edition, the Abdulatif Hussain M Z Al-Emadi-trained and Bader Al Balushi-trained PAZEER (FR) (Siyouni) finished third in the 2022 renewal as he was a further length behind under
Ronan Thomas.
AL BALAGH wins Jaafer Cup
Umm Qarn’s homebred AL BALAGH (QA) (General x Zabieh) won the Jaafer Cup in one of the several close finishes which marked the day. Under Ronan Thomas, the 5YO mare took the 2000m contest for 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians by a short head making it a double on the day for trainer Alban de Mieulle. The Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Eric Lemartinel-trained AL MIRAGE (QA) (AF AlBahar) was a close runner-up under Faleh Bughanaim. ABIDA (QA) (Dahess) gave Umm Qarn and Alban de Mieulle the third place as well as she finished a half length behind the second under Soufiane Saadi.
LATAMAH
There was yet another a close finish in the Gazwan Local Thoroughbred Conditions and it was Al Jeryan Stud’s homebred LATAMAH (QA) (Pivotal x Poseidon’s Bride) who came on top by a quarter of a length in the 1400m contest for 3YO+ under Alberto Sanna, who doubled up on the day, for trainer M.H.K Al Attiyah.
SAOUD AL SULAIMI
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalid Bin Nasser Al Thani’s SAOUD AL SULAIMI (QA) (T M Fred Texas x Hasna) completed a double in the Assy Local Purebred Arabian Conditions for 4YO+ over 1400m. The Jassim Ghazali-trained 6YO stretched clear impressively in the straight to win by two and a quarter lengths recording a double on the day for jockey David Allan.
AL GHARIYAH
The Noora Racing Limited-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained AL GHARIYAH (GB) (Dutch Art x Figment) emerged victorious in the Assy Thoroughbred Plate for 4YO+ fillies and mares over 1750m. The 4YO filly showed a fine attitude to see off the challenge of ZWELELA (FR) and win by a neck under Soufiane Saadi.
TEMBEL DE PINE
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mishal Bin Hamad Al Thani’s TEMBEL DE PINE (IT) (AF AlBahar x Razza Di Gallura) completed a hat-trick, clinching the Aziz Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-90), over 1400m, by a neck from UMM BAB (FR). Ridden by Marco Casamento, the 5YO recorded a double on the day for trainer Mohammed Ghazali.
RANDOM DECISION
Owaida Salem Al Hajri saddled the winner of the Ebraz Thoroughbred Handicap (0-80) as the Khaled Ali A A Al Shahwani-owned RANDOM DECISION (GB) (Exceed and Excel x Connote), under Alberto Sanna, took the 1500m race for 3YO+ by a neck from AMENABLE (USA).
RANAN
The Djendel Novice Plate went to the Jassim Mohamed D Al Darwish-owned and Mohammed Ghazali-trained RANAN (QA) (Mared Al Sahra x Aden). Under David Allan, the 5YO just got the better of AJS SOGHAN (QA) in the closing stages to win the a 1400m race for 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians by a head in a thrilling finish.
WADEEAH
Close finishes started early with the opener of the day, the Mared Al Sahra Premium Maiden Plate, as the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani-owned and Rudy Nerbonne-trained WADEEAH (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Meeyur), under Rashid Ali Al Saaq, just edged out ALARISH (FR) by a short head in the 2000m for 4-6YOs Purebred Arabians.