Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the fourth race meeting in the 2021-22 season at the Al Rayyan Racecourse turf track on Thursday, 21 October.
The Eng. Osama Omer Al Dafea-owned & trained TAXIWALA (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperor x It’s True) won the feature and eight race in the card when he annexed the Sealine Cup. It was a sparkling performance by the four-year-old colt, confirming his class especially after the several trophies he landed in the previous season. He ended the 2020-21 season with three consecutive victories in feature races when he took Al Shaqab Racing Trophy in February this year, the Gr3 Dukhan Sprint less than three weeks later and the Class 1 Sealine Trophy in his last start. He picked up where he left off the previous season, and it is quite interesting that he ended the previous season with a victory and started the new one with another and both of them have the name “Sealine”. Faleh Bughanaim was the man in the saddle steering TAXIWALA on Thursday and he made it a double on the day. The talented Qatari jockey has been doing very well so far this season with four wins and 11 placed finishes in 27 starts.
The feature race was a class 2 conditions for Thoroughbreds over 1200m. TAXIWALA broke from barrier 5 to quickly take the lead against the rail with a strong pace. He was followed by LAUDED (GB) (Acclamation), who almost joined him on several occasions up to the final bend. However, once in the home straight, TAXIWALA showed his real attitude. His response was immediate to Bughanaim and he showed an amazing turn of foot, increasing the margin between him and LOADED. He went on to be alone in front as if he were chasing his own shadow. He scored by 3¾ lengths, leaving his eight rivals behind battling for the minor honours. Injaaz Stud’s KHAFOOQ (GB) (Kodiac) managed to snatch the runner-up place in the last strides. He is trained by Jassim Ghazali and was ridden by Marco Casamento to finish by a ¾-length margin in front of the Stefano Ibido-saddled and the Anas Al Seyabi-ridden DARK PURSUIT (GB) (Pastoral Pursuit) in the colours of Abdulhadi Mana A SH Al-Hajri.
In an interview with the winning owner-trainer, Eng. Osama Omer Al Dafea, was happy with TAXIWALA’s win and performance. “I was very worried today because the horse wasn’t fully ready as we found out in his last gallops under Faleh. However, we preferred to run him in this race because the following suitable race for him would be after a month. There were also good horses in the race and I was worried because of LOADED, who challenged TAXIWALA in the early and middle stages. Faleh followed the instructions as I told him to take the lead just before the final bed. He did and we won!”.
Following the feature race, Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
MWARID
In the penultimate race, Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-105) for 4YO+, Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred MWARID (FR) (Amer x Al Nachmiya) remained unbeaten for the 4th straight outing in his 5th career start. It is just an impressive strike rate. The 5YO horse was saddled by Alban de Mieulle to pick up where he left off the previous season with a 1½-length win under Soufiane Saadi tin the 1750m race. No doubt, all eyes will be on MAWARID and expectations are getting higher in his future outings, especially as he is still in his early days. The second and the third places went to MAGHAMIR DES FORGES (FR) (Mahabb) and ASKAR (FR) (Munjiz) respectively.
SAQR
The sixth race in the card went the way of Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s SAQR (FR) (Dutch Art x Varega) who tripled his tally winning the Thoroughbred Conditions, a 1500m class 2 race for 3YOs, by impressive 4 lengths for trainer Jassim Ghazali and jockey Marco Casamento, who recorded their double on the day. ACTION HERO (IRE) (Dandy Man) and CHOCO CHARLY (FR) (Myboycharlie) third.
SEDDIK
In race 5, Mohammed Ahmed Al Hajri’s SEDDIK (QA) (T M Fred Texas x Mashaael) got off the mark in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-85). The Dr. Fahad Salman Al Hajri-trained 6YO horse took the 1500m race for 3YO+ by a length with Rashid Ali Al Marri in the saddle. AJS AL MOHEEB (QA) (Amer) and AJS AL AREDH (QA) (Majd Al Arab) took the minor honours in this order.
MAJHOOL AL ZAEEM
Sharq Stud’s MAJHOOL AL ZAEEM (QA) (Hockney x Lady Jameela) won the fourth race in the card. Trainer Owaida Salem Al Hajri’s 6YO ward tripled his tally taking the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-70) for 3YO+ over 1750m. He was guided to a ½-length win by Tomas Lukasek who made it a double on the day. JADEED (QA) (Joshua Tree) and AL KHOR SURPRISE (QA) (Abide With Me) completed the frame.
DJAFAR
The third race in the card saw a win with the smallest of margins when Al Ghazali Stud’s DJAFAR (FR) (Dahess x Badira) won the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate by a nose. DJAFAR was saddled by Jassim Ghazali to pick up where he left off the previous season. He was ridden by Marco Casamento to success win in the 1750m for 3YOs. The Alban de Mieulle-trained Hakida (FR) (TM Fred Texas and) and Bin Al Tair (FR)
(Al Tair) finished second and third respectively.
ALRUGROG
The second race of the day will be memorable for the connections of ALRUGROG (FR) (Mister Ginoux / Ishra). In the colours of Al Shaqab Racing, he managed to win his debut in Qatar as he took the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate for 3YOs over 1400m giving trainer Eric Lemartinel his 1st win in Qatar as well. Faleh Bughanaim rode the grey colt to a ¾-length win. ILOUCIO (FR) (Josco Du Cayrou) and KARAAMAH (FR)
(Al Mamun Monlau) completed the frame.
ROGUE NATION
Sheikh Faisal Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani ‘s ROGUE NATION (IRE) (Acclamation x Xema) won the opener of the day. The Ibrahim Al Malki-trained 3YO colt was steered by Tomas Lukasek to win the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for 3-6YOs over 1500m by1¾ lengths. It was a 1-2 for the owner and the trainer as SHIJIN (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperor) finished runner-up. BERCHENY (IRE) (Oasis Dream) was third.