QREC vice-chairman Abdulaziz bin Hamad al-Malki is seen with the winners of the Doha Pure Arabian Oaks Trial at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURE: Juhaim
The Pure Arabian Fillies Championship unfolded on expected lines as far as the finish was concerned. The two-pronged finish saw racing at its best and the crowd had a lot to cheer for at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Al Anga edged her stablemate Djainka Des Forges in a nail -biting finish in the QR 150,000 event, which featured the nine-event card.
Vit’al Fauquey set the tone for the 1,850 metres trip and led them into the straight before bowing out. Julian Smart trained Djainaka Des Forges (Richard Mullen up) then took charge and was picking up momentum, while Harry Bentley produced stable companion Al Anga from the stand side. At the distance post, Djainka Des Forges had the slight edge, but he was soon joined by Al Anga. Djainka Des Forges stretched herself to fight on bravely and was going all out. Bentley then got Al Anga to finish with a powerful run to head the wire at just the right time.
Aden (Burning Sand-Mayada), a Qatar debutant from the stables of Smart, won the Doha Pure Arabian Oaks for Pure Arabians in an absolutely thrilling finish. The daughter of Burning Sand stopped the clock at one minute 34.97 seconds. Aden had earned her maiden win in Newbury but was not in her elements when campaigned in France earlier this year. Jockey Richard Mullen was at his forceful best when he fought out with the well bred Haifa (Amer-Djelmia) in the final furlong and win by three fourths of a length. This was indeed an amazing performance and Aden will definitely be serious threat in the forthcoming classics.
“I am just happy the way the season has been going so far. This was a very small field but I am delighted with the manner in which Harry handled Al Anga in the race. Al Anga’s objectives are Qatari based, while Djainka Des Forges could go to Dubai as she has the pedigree to go there. We have got two nice fillies and they are maturing into good types. Our next target would be the Oaks and we will do our best to win that,” trainer Smart told the Gulf Times.
“Aden is a very nice filly and she ran a very good race. We ran her in Europe and they were sick in Paris and could not do well there. They did not do themselves justice but today she beat a very good filly,” Smart added.
Trainer Jassim al-Ghazali had another rewarding day at the races. Ghazali lead in four winners that included Momarloka, which came with a brilliant stretch to overhaul long time leader Lady Moonlight and win the Doha Thoroughbred Oaks Trial. French jockey Gerald Avranche rode a well judged race on the winner.
Ghazali started the day with Al Safi running to glory in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Al Safa was up in second behind TM Reagan Bret and surged ahead with a forceful ride under the handling of Stephane Ladjadj to catch up with TM Reagan Bret, who set a fast pace for the 1,200 metres trip. TM Reagan Bret after looking good most of the way, could not sustain at the business end and could not prevent Al Safa slip into the lead. Once ahead, Al Safa kicked on gamely and stretched out purposefully to sustain his bid all the way to his maiden victory in his eighth start.
Ladjadj scored his second victory with another Ghazali trainee Hab Reeh (Hatteen-Quinquinna) in the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate.
The third win for the duo came through Botanic Garden in the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate. Botanic Garden claimed his second career victory in a commanding fashion and outpaced his rivals with awesome ease.
Smart saddled Raheel galloped to a stylish victory in the local bred Pure Arabian Graduation Plate. Settling in third behind leader Al Ka’ed, Raheel forged ahead soon on turning for home.
RESULTS
1st race: Al Safa (Stephane Ladjadj) 1, TM Reagan Bret 2, Ugo Des Vialettes 3, Dominicus 4, Won by: 2, Distance, ½. Time: 1:20.98. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari
2nd race: Hab Reeh (Stephane Ladjadj) 1, Maazouz 2, Kafatef 3, Al Nefor 4. Won by: Nk, 1, Shd. Time: 1:51.20. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari
3rd race: Shadeedah (Declan Cannon) 1, Zelzal 2, Fiha 3, Besher Al Naif 4. Won by: 1, Shd, 1. Time: 1:35.15. Trained by: Mohamed Hussain. Owned by: Hamad al-Marri
4th race: Raheel (Richard Mullen) 1, Suwaida 2, Al Majd 3, Al Wasmiya 4. Won by: Nk, 2 ½, 1. Time: 1:22.25. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: Al Shahania Stud
5th race: Botanic Garden (Stephane Ladjadj) 1, Secret Destination 2, Mojave Desert 3, Al Jahaniya 4. Won by: 5, Shd, 3. Time: 1:26.28. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari
6th race: Alkazim (David Bouland) 1, Zakon 2, Marked Card 3, Preiguex 4. Won by: ½, ½, ¾. Time: 1:56.60. Trained by: Ahmed Kobeissi. Owned by: Mohammed Kazim Al Anasari and Sons
7th race: Al Anga (Harry Bentley) 1, Djainka Des Forges 2, Safqah 3, Vit’al Fauquey 4. Won by: Shd, 11, 7. Time: 2:05.98. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
8th race: Aden (Ricard Mullen) 1, Haifaa 2, Al Sabeq 3, Angela Treize 4. Won by: ¾, 13, 5. Time: 1:34.97. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
9th race: Momarloka (Gerald Avranche) 1, Lady Moonlight 2, Azma 3, Girl Of Cadiz 4. Won by: 3 ¾, 3, 1 ¾. Time: 1:57.41. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheikh Mohammed bin Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani
