QREC vice-chairman Abdulaziz al-Malki (fifth from right) is seen with the winners of the Al Shahania Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim
By Chris Hoover/Doha
Osama Omar al-Dhafa’s One More Roman continued his dominance while annexing the Al Shahania Cup, a Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 70 to 90, which featured the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. One More Roman recorded his third straight victory with a dazzling display and thwart the challenge of Late Debate.
Coming from way off the pace, jockey Stephen Swanepoel astride One More Roman, quickly covered ground and went past the pack to take control of the proceedings. Though Late Debate came with a late flourish, he could only diminish the margin of defeat.
Trainer Mohammed Hussain was in the limelight clinching a treble which included a victory in the Al Naama Cup, a local Thoroughbred Conditions race, run over six furlongs. Al Mazrooah (Darren Williams up) was a pillar to post winner of the event. Williams did well to prevent the spirited bid stablemate Assil to win by three quarters of a length.
Hussain saddled Safonic Sound rallied strongly towards the last 100 metres to win the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 0 to 60. Into the home straight Safonic Sound improved gradually from about fifth position to get into striking position. Jockey Marco Monteriso started to ride out the Hussain trainee strongly and the seven-year-old forged ahead to spare half length over Polish Crown, who put in an impressive performance and is capable of entering the winners enclosure when saddled next.
Trainer Hussain had earlier saddled Defendant (Salim Golam up) to victory in the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate. A power packed finish by Golam enabled Defendant to overhaul Alfie Lunette in the shadow of the winning post to record his first win in five starts.
A thrilling finish was witnessed in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 and below. Jassim al-Ghazali trained Ras Al Qimmah (Declan Cannon up) staved off the spirited challenge of Mowhoubat Al Zaidy to win by half a length. After racing a handy second behind Ladys Sandman, Cannon took Ras Al Qimmah to the front and looked set to land the spoils but had to be fully stretched to triumph. Mowhoubat Al Zaidy came with a ground devouring run in the final stages of the race but was unable to get past the front runner.
Hassan Ali Hassan al-Matwi’s Hassiba (Burning Sand-Gefool ASF) shed her maiden status by winning the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate in splendid fashion. This daughter of Burning Sand showed great maturity by producing a nice turn of foot in the final furlong of the 1,100 metres contest.
Being ridden out hands-n-heels, by Monteriso, Hassiba powered away to a start to finish victory over Kafayef and Maxentius. Now that she has found her winning rhythm, Hassiba can be expected to move up the ladder.
Debbie Mountain schooled Christmas Aria was a runaway winner of the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 50 to 70. After racing in third position, jockey Golam and Christmas Aria made their bid along the rails and skipped away from the field to win by a widening margin of five lengths.
Trainer Mohammed Hussain and owner Dr Mohammed Rashid al-Ardhi al-Marri lead in Al Mazrooah (Darren Williams up) after winning the Al Naama Cup at the QREC yesterday.
