The Peninsula
Injaaz Stud’s Qawaafi claimed the Ain Sinan Cup in fine style in the 11th Al Uqda Meeting of Qatar Racing Equestrian Club (QREC) at Al Uqda Racecourse yesterday.
Zuhair Mohsen-trained five-year-old mare was guided by jockey Soufiane Saadi perfectly in a brisk-paced 2,200m Handicap (0-75) for Local Thoroughbreds feature race of the day on dirt.
The 14-horse race took off to a flier once the gates opened and kept steady till the halfway mark before picking up more on pace. But with 100m to go, Saadi made Qawaafi break into a decisive final burst as the horse moved past the winning post by three-fourths of lengths.
QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi crowned the winners of the Ain Sinan Cup.
Earlier, Khaled Ali Al Shahwani’s Random Decision topped the 1,200m Handicap (0-80) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds by half a length for trainer Owaida Salem Al Hajri with jockey Faleh Bughanaim in the saddle.
In a double delight, Sabhea Awad Ibrahim’s homebred Shams Al Nahar doubled her tally winning the 1,300m Handicap (0-75) for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians by three-and-a-half lengths under Eduardo Pedroza for trainer Mohamed Khaled Elahmed.
In the colours of Abdulla Bin Mohammed Al Attiya, Khattab De Faust excelled in the maiden for Purebred Arabians aged between 4-6. Pranil Arvind rode the Ahmed Kobeissi-saddled six-year-old to a three-and-a-half length win in the 2,000m run.
Al Jeryan Stud’s homebred AJS Jallaad (QA) (Australia x Booker) on second start in Qatar got off the mark with an impressive 7¾ lengths victory in the 1,300m Maiden for three-year-old Local Thoroughbreds. Mohammed H K Al Attiyah’s ward was ridden by Szczepan Mazur.
The Ain Sinan Cup Day kicked off with the Abdullah Mohammed Al Kuwari & Sons-owned HI Meh Darling scoring a cosy half length win in the opener, a 1,300m Handicap (0-65) for three tears or older Thoroughbreds for trainer Jassim Ghazali and jockey David Allan.
11th Al Uqda Meeting: WINNERS
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
Ain Sinan Cup - Local Thoroughbred Handicap
Qawaafi; Zubair Mohsen; Soufiane Saadi
Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 4)
Random Decision; Owaida Salem Al Hajri; Faleh Bughanaim
Purebred Arabian Handicap
Shams Al Nahar; Mohamed Khaled Elahmed; Eduardo Pedroza
Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate
Khataab De Faust; Ahmed Kobeissi; Pranil Arvind Kharat
Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (3yo only)
AJS Jallaad; MHK Al Attiyah; Szcepan Mazur
Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 6)
Hi Meh Darling; Jassim Ghazali; David Allan