The Peninsula
Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned Saqr and jockey Marco Casamento formed a brilliant combination to clinch victory in feature race of the Qatar International Derby Day at the Al Rayyan Racecourse, yesterday.
The Jassim Ghazali-trained gelding was in stunning form, beating Maxime Guyon-helmed Devious Company by 2¼-L to win the $500000 Gr1 QA Qatar Derby.
Minister of Sports and Youth H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali crowned the winners of yesterday’s feature race as the victorious side pocketed $285,000, while the runners-up walked away with $110,000. It was third win of the day for trainer Ghazali.
In the $200000 Qatar International Derby for Purebred Arabians, Nayef Bin Saad Bin Sharida Al Kaabi’s First Classs reigned supreme, with Ronan Thomas in the saddle. The winners of the race received $114,000.
Guyon, who ended runner-up in the feature race, earlier guided Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Nuance – making Qatar debut – to an impressive 3½-L victory in the Al Rayyan Stakes, giving British trainer Charlie Fellowes a title in his third attempt in the 7f contest.
Also yesterday, Al Jeryan Stud’s colours and trainer Ghazali were the winners when AJS Sarhan, ridden by David Allan, won the Qatar National Derby for 4YO Local Purebred Arabians. Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Moshrif also notched up a title yesterday, clinching victory in the Qatar Derby for Purebred Arabians.
Trained by Francois Rohaut and ridden by Jim Crowley, the colt made it three wins from four career starts.
Earlier, trainer Ghazali got his first win of the day when Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Perfect Empire, steered by Tom Marquand, prevailed in the Thoroughbred Conditions.