After being well held in HH The Emir’s Sword Festival two weeks ago, Hassan Ali Hassan al-Matwi’s Raqee (Mared Al Sahra x Cath) and Hadi Nasser Rashid al-Ramzani trained AJS Al Rayyan (Amer x Mangaline Du Loup) locked the top two spots, with the former, lesser exposed than the latter, picking up a close win in the 1700m dirt feature. 
While Raqee was sixth in HH The Emir’s Silver Sword, AJS Al Rayyan had finished 14th in the top quality Arabian feature of the flagship weekend in Qatar racing.  However, on Wednesday, Saleem Golam helmed Raqee to a half a length victory, beating Tomas Lukasek ridden AJS Al Rayyan in duel, as Julian Colin Smart trained Aaley Al Magam (Amer x Abigaille), with Marc Lerner astride, finished third a little over two lengths behind.
Kufoo (Dormane x Al Anqa) was the second winner on the day for Umm Qarn, trainer Alban Elie Marie de Mieulle and jockey Jean Baptiste Hamel in the Purebred Arabian Handicap (90 & below)
The 5-year-old had won over C&D in December and finished in the frame twice since then. On Wednesday in the 1700m race, the colt registered his first win of the calendar year, and third overall, finishing comfortably ahead of Ahmed Mohamad Kobeissi’s charge Khor Al Adaid (Amer x Si Vous Plait), who finished second for the second straight race under Vaclav Janacek. Saleem Golam guided Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim al-Malki trained Afreetah (Majd Al Arab x Raleuse De Faust) to third place.
In the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 3) (70-90), Having missed out on a victory last time round on turf, Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim al-Malki trained Shobrom (Acclamation x Strasbourg Place) was back on the surface he has won twice on, and he added to that tally with a victory in the 1100m sprint. 
Ridden by Anas al-Seyabi in the colours of Rumailah Stud, the 3-year-old gelding beat Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain’s ward, Catch A Wave (Approve x Casablanca Jewel), ridden by Pierantonio Convertino, for the win with four and a half lengths to spare. 
Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi trained Hydroxide (Lope De Vega x Craighall) completed the top three under JP Guillambert.
Rashid Mohammed al-Jehani’s ward, Aluqdah (Zoffany x Halo De Lune), had won a similar grade handicap in December before being well held in the Derby and then finishing in the frame last time out. On Wednesday, under Gerald Avranche, the 4-year-old had little trouble beating the competition going past the post three and a half lengths ahead of the competition in the Thoroughbred Handicap Class 3 (70-90). 
Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi trained High Commander (Teofilo x Pellinore) was second under Marc Lerner, having edged out Mohamed Riyaz Ibrahim Kasim saddled Third Order (Hat Trick x Fifth Commandment), with Almotasem Al Balushi astride, by a neck at the line for the second place finish.
In the Thoroughbred Handicap Class 4, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Woodkid (New Approach x Waldtraut) had never finished outside the frame in Qatar since moving from France. Julian Colin Smart’s ward continued with that run, registering his second win in five starts, on Wednesday. 
Marc Lerner helmed the 4-year-old to a dominant victory finishing almost five lengths ahead of the competition. Mohamed Hussain Afroz saddled Succeed And Excel (Exceed and Excel x Woodbeck), with Jean Baptiste Hamel astride, edged out Hamad Mohammed al-Khayarin schooled Disco Inferno (Lawman x Pink Sovietstaia), ridden by Faleh Bughanaim, by a quarter of a length for the runner-up finish.
Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain’s ward, Zuzi (Dutch Art x Wedding List), picked up her first win since May 2015 when Pierantonio Convertino guided her to a comfortable victory over six furlongs on Wednesday. The 7-year-old had she her maiden status two years ago. On Wednesday, under Convertino, the Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik owned mare went past the post with a little more than two lengths to spare.


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