(Top) Mishal bin Ali al-Attiya (third from right) and trainer Jassim al-Ghazali lead in Al Hareth (Harry Bentley up) after winning HH The Emir’s Silver Shalfa Trophy at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURE: Juhaim

By Chris Hoover/Doha

Jassim al-Ghazali trained Al Murabitoon accomplished what the majority expected when landing HH The Emir’s Silver Sword, a Pure Arabian contest for non-Sheikh Qatari owned horses, which was one of main attractions of the day at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. The trainer and jockey combination of Ghazali and jockey Harry Bentley were in the limelight, clinching four winners each for the day.
Al Murabitoon towered over the rest by virtue of impressive achievements and jockey Harry Bentley rode him with the expertise of an accomplished jockey and was unperturbed when coming from way off the pace to measure the front running Ain Jalout in the final furlong.
Al Murabitoon remains unbeaten in his four starts after reigning supreme in this QR one million race.
“I was the most confident about Al Murabitoon winning today. Before coming here to Doha, he had run once where he was beaten second. That was the only defeat in his career. He is very talented and got a fantastic temperament. He settles well in whatever trip he is asked to take. He is a force to reckon with and an exciting prospect for the future,” jockey Bentley told the Gulf Times.
“It is the most important day of the week and to win four races today is brilliant. One could not have asked for more. I must thank trainer Ghazali for all the support and encouragement without which all this would not have been possible,” Bentley added.
Ghazali saddled Al Hareth carried too much class for the opposition in the 2,000 metres HH The Emir’s Silver Shalfa Trophy, a local Thoroughbred race for four years old and over. The four year old bay colt had the opposition stranded when he swept clear inside the final furlong and won pulling up in the hands of jockey Harry Bentley who completed a hat-trick with this victory.
Bentley had Al Hareth raced a handy fourth as Mutawassal set a fast pace and led into the straight. Al Hareth who came through with a ground saving run along the rails showed tactical brilliance as he shot through the gap that emerged on the outside of the front runner and quickly accelerated to leave the field stranded. Al Hareth was hailed a winner long way from home. Moaddie came from a way off the pace with a flourishing run but could only hope for the runner up berth. Absher ran on to finish third while Mutawassal stayed on to finish fourth.
It was indeed an amazing performance by Al Hareth, who was targetted in a 10 furlong race for the first time. He did surprise its sportive owner Mishal bin Ali al-Attiyah. “It was a surprising victory. Al Hareth has never run over 1,600 metres and to come and win here is simply brilliant. He is a fantastic horse and I am thrilled with this victory.”
Jockey Bentley, who completed a hat-trick for the day was elated with the success of Al Hareth.
“He has been a kind of stand-out horse for the season. He is far more talented than anyone here. He is also very versatile. I thought he would struggle with anything over a mile, but he has proved me very wrong today. He is a real champion.”
In the opener, Ghazali schooled Rock Up was a pillar to post winner of the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 70 to 90. Jockey Bentley and Rock Up were quickly off the mark and set a scorching before stretching away to win by half length from the fast finishing Jazz and Nawarah.
Ghazali and Bentley went to complete a back to back double through Botanica who held on gamely from stablemate City Zen to win the Thoroughbred Conditions race run over a mile.

RESULTS:

1st race: Rock Up (Harry Bentley) 1, Jazz 2, Nawarah 3, Harry’s Dancer 4. Won by: ½, ½, 1. Time: 00.57.37. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Abdullah Mohammed Al Kuwari Sons
2nd race: Botanica (Harry Bentley) 1, City Zen 2, rasheeda 3, Fast 4. Won by: Hd, 1 ¾, 1. Time: 1:33.93. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari
3rd race: Al Hareth (Harry Bentley) 1, Moaddie 2, Absher 3, Mutawassal 4. Won by: 1 ¾, 2 ½, 1 ½. Time: 2:03.57. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Mishal bin Ali al-Attiya
4th race: Majeed (Oliver Peslier) 1, Masnoon 2, Ghizwan 3, Thawi 4. Won by: 1, Shd, 1. Time: 2:51.57. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn
5th race: Crescent (Gerald Avranche) 1, Itorio 2, Lieutenant Kaff 3, The Blue Eye 4. Won by: Shd, ½, 1. Time: 1:52.49. Trained by: Ahmed Kobeissi.  Owned by: Mohammed Kazim Al Ansari and Sons
6th race: Al Murabitoon (Harry Bentley) 1, AJS Jalout 2, Bahia Du Barthas 3, Kimfalah 4. Won by: 1 ½, 3, ½. Time: 2:03.48. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari
7th race: Dubday (Frankie Dettori) 1, Ponfeigh 2, Peter Anders 3, Right To Dream 4. Won by: Nk, ½, ½. Time: 2:27.96. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Al Shaqab Racing
8th race: Al Mourtazez (Julien Auge) 1, Djainka Des Forges 2, Al Majh’hoor 3, Farh 4. Won by: 1 ½, 3, 2 ½. Time: 2:39.47. Trained by: Thomas Fourcy. Owned by: Al Shaqab Racing



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