QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani (centre) and QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain (second from right) are seen with the winners of the Umm Al Houl Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.  At right:  QREC chairman Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani (right) presents Umm Al Houl Cup to trainer Jassim al-Ghazali.  PICTURES: Juhaim

By Chris Hoover/Doha


Jassim al-Ghazali trained River Goddess put up a forceful gallop to win the Umm Al Houl Cup, a Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 50 to 70, which was the highlight of the 28th day’s races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
The Harry Bentley ridden River Goddess came with telling strides in the final furlong and overhauled Succeed An Excel to win by half a length. The Ghazali trainee was up with the pace throughout and then capped it with a power-packed finish to land the QR 100,000 event.
“I am very happy for the owners as they very much deserve this Cup victory. This was not an easy race to win as all the horses had a chance here. River Goddess was given a great ride by Bentley and I am delighted with the performance,” trainer Ghazali told the Gulf Times.
Jockey Bentley was pleased with the performance of River Goddess as well. “I was a little bit concerned about the wide draw but River Goddess jumped well and gave me a good position. She responded well to the urgings and won well.”
Julian Smart saddled Refaal (Majd Al Arab-Dixie Darlene), which had finished fourth to Ain Jalout in her previous start, came up with a dazzling display while annexing the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate to shed her maiden status. The Majd Al Arab progeny was quickly off the blocks and set her own pace before skipping away from her 12 rivals to win by a widening margin of three lengths. Naamah chased the winner all the way to finish second ahead of Batel, who was a further six lengths behind in third. Jockey Richard Mullen was astride the winner, who clocked a timing of one minute 19.22 seconds for the six furlong trip.
Jockey Mullen later rode a confident race while steering Smart schooled Meghwaar (Kerbella-Djamour Des Forges) to a dominationg win in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 to 80. Coming from way off the pace, Meghwaar pounced on the front runners and went sailing clear to win as he pleased. Ashkal was second ahead of Guide Al Khal.
The colours of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani were prominent during the day as Wonder Of Qatar (Exceed And Excel-Imperial Quest) gave its owner his third win. The Jassim al-Ghazali trained three year old bay colt with Harry Bentley in the saddle, demolished his opponents to win the Thoroughbred Handicap for three year olds in taking style. Wonder Of Qatar lloks to be a good type of youngster who is capable of climbing the ranks pretty soon.
Osama Omar al-Dhafa’s Man Amongst Men (Cedric Segeon up) broke through the maiden ranks in his 10th career start with a comfortable victory in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Man Amongst Men raced a handy second before taking control of the proceedings at the home turn. Once into top gear, the Osama trainee went on to win by five length from Stealing Thunder. Soebroto was third ahead of Rum, who tried runaway tactics bit failed to sustain.
Majid Safedeen saddled Goldenrod (Alberto Sanna astride) put in a gallant display while taking his secind career win with a thrilling victory in the Thoroughbfed Graduation Plate. Goldenrod was taken to the front and as the field straightened out for the home stretch. Ithe Safedeen trainee stretched away nicely and later warded off the late challenge from Mudhish to win by a neck. Mohamed Hussain schooled Defendant clinched a stylish victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 60 to 80. Settling in mid bunch in a pack 13, Defendant forged ahead soon on turning for home. Once jockey Tadgh O’Shea showed the daylight to the Hussain trainee, Defendant unleashed a terrific gallop to draw away and win by a widening margin of three lengths. Go For Broke came with a late run, to finish second.
Al Jasra Stud’s Mekhbatt held on gamely to win the Local Bred Pure Arabia Advanced Plate. Though Maazouz put in a spirited challenge along the rails, Italian saddle artist Pier Convertino was upto the challenge as he rode out Mekhbatt with vigour to win by a neck.
Peter Anders from the stables of Zohair Moghsen was a comfortable winner of the Thoroughbred Conditions race, run over 1,80 metres. After racing upfront, jockey Marvin Suerland took the initiative as the field entered the homestretch and took Peter Anders to the front. The Moghsen  trainee was in no danger of being caught, as he showed a clean pair of heels and went away to win by five lengths from stable mate Pearl Bridge, who was in futile chase of the winner. In the day’s other action, Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri owned Rebelde (Marco Monteriso up) clinched the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 50 to 70.

Results
1st race: Refaal (Richard Mullen) 1, Naamah 2, Batel 3, Dheram Al Naif 4. Won by: 3, 6, 3. Time: 1:19.22. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
2nd race: Man Amongst Men (Cedric Segeon) 1, Stealing Thunder 2, Soebroto 3, Rum 4. Won by: 5, 1 ¾, 3. Time: 1:56.29. Owned and trained by: Osama Omar al-Dhafa
3rd race: Meghwaar (Richard Mullen) 1, Ashkal 2, Guide Al Khal 3, Qadeer 4. Won by: Distance, 5, 3 ½. Time: 2:06.29. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheilh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
4th race: Goldenrod (Alberta Sanna) 1, Mudhish 2, Seamless 3, Persidha 4. Won by: Nk, 1 ½, 10. Time: 1:54.84. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Mubarak Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi
5th race: Defendant (Tadgh O’Shea) 1, Go For Broke 2, Christmas Aria 3, Big Gees 4. Won by: 3, 2 ½, 1. Time: 2:02.95. Trained by: Mohammed Hussain. Owned by: Ali bin Adel al-Musalmani
6th race: Mekhbatt (Pier Convertino) 1, Maazouz 2, Hassiba 3, Hab Reeh 4. Won by: Nk, 2 ½, ½. Time: 1:19.66. Trained by: Badr al-Abid. Owned by: Al Jasra Stud
7th race: Peter Anders (Marvin Suerland) 1, Pearl Bridge 2, Star Deal 3, Hunting Tartan 4. Won by: 5, 3, Hd. Time: 1:53.47. Trained by: Zohair Moghsen. Owned by: Al Murqab Stud
8th race: Wonder Of Qatar (Harry Bentley) 1, White Vin Jan 2, Red Connect 3, Cajoling 4. Won by: 6, Hd, 2. Time: 1:12.30. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
9th race: Rebelde (Marco Monteriso) 1, Half Turn 2, Rome 3, Afortunado 4. Won by: 1 ½, 2 ½, 2. Time: 1:11.66. Trained by: S. Ibido. Owned by: Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri
10th race: River Goddess (Harry Bentley) 1, Succeed And Excel 2, Sunley Pride 3, Champagne Babe 4. Won by: ½, 2, 2 ½.  Time: 1:11.96. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Abdullah Mohammed Al Kuwari Sons



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