Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani crowned the winners of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy (QA GR2) (TB 3-year-old & older) and JAAFER CUP (Far Bend) at Al Rayyan Park on Saturday, December 26, 2020. The ten race card concluded with Al Wasmiyah Farm’s NOOR AL HAWA (Makfi x Majestic Roi) landing the QAR 1000000 finale, and Al Jeryan Stud’s Ajs Moaddie (AF AlBahar x Gabie De Carrere) winning the Jaafer Cup.
Noor Al Hawa completed a hattrick of wins this season landing the 2000m Group 2 feature in style at the Al Rayyan Park’s turf track. Helmed by third straight time by Alberto Sanna, the Georges Mikhalides trained 7yo had started the widest in the 15 strong feature. Coming on to the home straight, the chestnut horse upped his pace and took a narrow lead in the final furlong. Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s Pazeer (Siyouni x Parandeh) gave chase under Soufiane Saadi, but Noor Al Hawa held on to his advantage and won the event for the second straight year. Pazeer was second ahead of Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s The Blue Eye (Dubawi x Soneva), guided to third by Jason Watson for Mohammed Hussain Afroz.
Al Jeryan Stud’s Ajs Moaddie (AF AlBahar x Gabie De Carrere) won a thriller halting a string of near misses since the Qatar bred 5yo won the Qatar Silver Sword in April of 2019. The crack at Jaafer Cup CUP (Far Bend) (Local PA) was also the grey horse’s second attempat the 2000m run, with the Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani saddled horse finishing runner up last year. Ridden by Alberto Sanna, AJS Moaddie held off a threatening challenge by Umm Qarn’s versatile SEALINE (Amer x Jaljalah), the Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle trained 6yo who finished second under Ronan Thomas by a neck. A length behind was H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Khatafaynee (AF AlBahar x Fifth), ridden to third by Tomas Lukasek for Julian Colin Smart.
Patrice Alexandre Nicolet’s BARRA (Munjiz x Daniah) won for the first time since February 2019 when the Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle schooled horse won the Harran Local Purebred Arabian Conditions (Far Bend) in a breezy finish. With apprentice rider Ali Khalid Al Mosallam in the saddle, the 7yo was unstoppable racing to a dominant finish with five lengths and a quarter to spare at the post as another De Mieulle ward, Umm Qarn’s Abahat, finished runner up under Ronan Thomas.
Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s Black Pearl (Footstepsinthesand x Ella) improved his strike rate winning for the seventh time in nine starts when the Bader Al Balushi trained gelding emerged victorious in the Gazwan Local Thoroughbred Conditions (Far Bend). With Soufiane Saadi in the saddle, the 4yo had little trouble building the advantage in the seven-furlong race and winning by two lengths, holding off two Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki’s wards — Shaman Bu Thaila and Al Faisaliya, for the victory.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Ghali Al Athman (Harran ASF x Al Nefor) had made a promising start to his time in Qatar with a maiden win, followed by promising top three finishes in two handicaps thereafter. Julian Colin Smart trained colt was back in the winner’s circle on Saturday when the grey horse landed the DJENDEL LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN NOVICE PLATE (Far Bend) in fine fashion. Ridden by Tomas Lukasek for the fourth straight start, the duo won by a length and a quarter at the post, beating Marco Casamento ridden Muthhil for the victory.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Dawi (Amer x Djamour Des Forges) made a winning debut on Saturday. In the Mared Al Sahra Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Far Bend), Julian Colin Smart-trained colt had Francois Herholdt for company, and despite a wide start to the 2000m race, a fantastic ride put the 3yo grey horse in a great position for the win. Dawi made good use of the advantage on most in the field to win by a length and a quarter in front of Soufiane Saadi ridden Bin Al Tair.
Injaaz Stud’s Fahd De Faust (No Risk Al Maury x Hagnes De Faust) had not finished outside the top three since a fifth place finish in the Aziz Asf Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Far Bend) last year, even as a win had eluded the Gassim Mohammad Ghazali trained horse. The 5yo finally entered the winner’s circle on the seventh time of asking as Marco Casamento guided the bay horse to a fine win with a length and three quarters to spare in the seven furlong run, with Alberto Sanna ridden Rammah finishing runner up.
Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Festive (Literato x Path Of Life) had missed out on Assy Thoroughbreds (FILLIES & MARES) (Class 4) for two straight years finishing in the frame both the times. Ali Yousuf Al Kubaisi trained mare was third time lucky as the 6yo won the 1850m race on Saturday in a cozy finish. Ridden by Ronan Thomas, Festive one better than her last outing earlier this month to enter the winner’s circle for the sixth time in her career. At the post, Festive had beaten Rashid Ali Al Marri ridden Cruella Dovil by three lengths and three quarters.
After missing out on his first win in his last couple of starts, Mohammed Bin Fahad Al Attiya’s Goldamer (Amer x Nacree Al Maury) finally stepped into the winner’s circle on Saturday. Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle’s ward landed the Asraa Min Albarq Purebred Arabian Handicap (70-90) with a dominant display. The 4yo was helmed by Soufiane Saadi who was in the saddle in a C&D outing earlier this month too. This time there was no stopping the duo on the home straight in the mile-long run as Goldamer breezed past the post for a five-length win.
Saeed Mohammed Shafi Al Shafi’s Al Mikdam (Myboycharlie x Kilfarasy) raced to his second C&D victory this season when the 6yo landed the Ebraz Thoroughbred Handicap (CLASS 4) (80 & below) in a thrilling finish. In the miler, the bay horse, saddled by Al Shafi himself, had Qatari rider Rashid Ali Al Marri for company just like their winning outing in a handicap in October this year. On Saturday, Al Mikdam and his partner edged Alberto Sanna ridden Al Haitham, trained by Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki, by a head at the post in what was Al Marri’s ninth win of the season.