Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club
Al Ghazali Stud’s AJS Wathanan (Amer x Mangaline Du Loup) was well held on his C&D season opener in October. But that proved to be no benchmark for the Gassim Mohammad Ghazali saddled gelding as the 8yo bolted to a scintillating victory in The Late Rabia Saad Al Kaabi Cup (Local Purebred Arabian Conditions) at the dirt track in Al Rayyan Park on Wednesday.
Alberto Sanna was astride the grey gelding for the first time and the duo was unstoppable as they surged forward to a healthy advantage, eventually winning by a dominant six lengths in front of Umm Qarn’s Mehdi (Majd Al Arab x Jaljalah), helmed by Michael Forest for trainer Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle. Another De Mieulle ward, Sealine (Amer x Jaljalah), completed the top three-five and three-quarters lengths behind under Ronan Thomas.
After a forgettable start to this term, Sheikh Faisal Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani’s Topsy Turvy (Pivotal x Helter Helter) has been on an upward trend. On Wednesday, after three promising outings since the season opener, the Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki trained gelding stepped into the winner’s enclosure again with Tomas Lukasek in the saddle. In the penultimate race of the day, a 1900m Thoroughbred ( Class 2) run, the 8yo coasted to a comfortable victory with two lengths and three quarters to spare.
Running his longest distance so far in Doha, Saeed Nasser Al Qadi’s Zarandi (Scat Daddy x Zaralanta) raced to his fifth overall victory with Meteb Ali Al Marri in the saddle. Saddled by Hamad Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehani, the colt was helmed by the Qatari apprentice rider for the first time in his career in the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 3) (75-95). The 1900m run saw Al Marri and his partner beat the duo of Ali Khalid Al Mosallam and his mount Dheban by a length and a quarter at the post.
After a few forgettable outings since arriving in Qatar from the United Kingdom, Al Murtages Racing Syndicate’s Li Kui (Poet’s Voice x Lily Again) registered his first win at Al Rayyan Park in breezy fashion on Wednesday. The Mohammed Hamad Al Attiya trained gelding lined up for the first time this term and had Khalid Al Balushi at the helm in the thoroughbred Handicap (Class 4) (80 & below). The 1900m race saw the 4yo win comfortably with two lengths and three quarters to spare at the post.
Mansoor Ebrahim Al Mahmoud’s Al Neksh (Amer x Redjila) was well held on his past three outings on dirt, with his turf runs showing promise. On Wednesday, that changed for Gassim Mohammad Ghazali trained 6yo as the grey horse entered the winner’s enclosure for the first time since April of 2019. With Qatari jockey Ali Khalid Al Mosallam in the saddle, the 6yo managed to hold his own over the 1900m Purebred Arabian Handicap (100 & below) beating Carlos Henrique ridden Tasslam by two lengths.
Al Sakab Stud’s Mizoun (Intense Focus x Champagne Fizz) completed a hat-trick of victories when the Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki trained mare landed the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (85 & below) on Wednesday. With Francois Herholdt in her saddle for the 5yo the first time, Mizoun took full advantage of a slight weight advantage on a couple of other contenders to bag the 1100m dirt race with two lengths and three quarters to spare. It was the mare’s second consecutive C&D victory.
Stepping down in distance from earlier efforts saw Abdulaziz Hamad Ateeq Al Marri’s LAMA (Hatteen x Ahazeej) improve dramatically when she shed her maiden status over C&D last week. On Wednesday, in the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate, the 4yo filly was once again partnered by Qatari apprentice rider Ali Khalid Al Mosallam and the duo breezed past the competition and the post for their second straight victory together. The grey filly won the 1100m run by five and a half lengths.
Umm Qarn’s Khaldoun (Al Mamun Monlau x Farraaha) has only improved since his sixth-place finish on debut in October. The 4yo hit the frame a month ago over C&D and finally stepped into the winner’s enclosure on Wednesday in a dominant fashion. Ridden by Ronan Thomas for trainer Alban Elie Marie De Mieule in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, the grey colt had little trouble stamping his authority and topping the 1900m run on dirt by seven and three-quarters lengths at the post.