QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain (third from right) and QREC deputy general manager Tariq Abdulhameed al-Sidiqi (extreme right) are seen with the winners of the Al Gharafa Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim
By Chris Hoover/Doha
Majid Safedeen trained General Duke’s produced a sparkling run in the final 50 metres to get the better of stable mate Mojave Desert to win the Al Gharafa Cup, a Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 85 and above, which featured the 50th day’s races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
Mojave Desert had taken over the running in the final furlong after a keen tussle with Oasis Cannes and Amico Mio and looked set to land the spoils. At this point, General Duke’s found his wings and was able to get past the front runner thanks to a power packed finish by jockey Darren Wiliams.
“He has always been a great horse and this season especially General Duke’s has done extremely well. He is my favourite horse here and it has taken me two years to know how to ride him. The pace was very strong and he was way back but he loves the challenge and did very well to pass the front runner and win. It has always been a pleasure to ride him and am looking forward to riding him again,” jockey Williams told the Gulf Times.
Al Jeryan Stud’s Al Fateh finally scored his maiden victory with ease in the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. The Mohammed al-Yaqout saddled Al Fateh (Salim Golam up) stalked Thageb all the way into the straight and then unleashed an impressive gallop to draw clear of the field. Dhalayek Al Naif came with a late flourish to finish second ahead of Raghed.
The trainer and jockey combination of Yaqout and Golam went on to complete a back to back double with AJS Ghazi’s first career win in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate in a pulsating finish. Osama Omar al-Dhafa’s Shmoos (Gerald Avranche up) had taken charge and was picking up momentum, while Golam produced Ghazi from the outside. At the distance post, Shmoos had the slight edge, but he was soon joined by Ghazi. Shmoos stretched herself to fight on bravely and was going all out. Golam then got Ghazi to finish with a powerful run to head the wire at just the right time.
Jaber Sultan Abdullah al-Jaber owned Mutazz raced away to a stylish victory in the local bred Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 0 to 50. Settling in fifth behind leader Robbama, Mutazz forged ahead soon on turning for home. Jockey Marvin Suerland waited with the Abdullah al-Jaber trainee until well into the straight and when he began to urge Mutazz, the Amer progeny unleashed a terrific run to draw away and ward off the spirited bid of Rabha, who found the winner too good on the day.
After finishing a close second in her previous two starts, Alban de Mieulle schooled Jouharah romped home to a fluent victory without countering any resistance in the Local Bred Pure Arabian Graduation Plate. Jockey Suerland who was astride the winner, went on to complete a double.
Ghazali trained Botanic rallied strongly towards the last 100 metres to win the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate. Trading Profit went on a start to finish mission closely followed by Mallak and Botanic. Into the home straight Trading Profit continued to call the shots and skipped away to establish a sizeable lead. With Mallak failing to up the ante, Yanis Aouabed brought Botanic into contention with a smooth run. Aouabed started to ride out Botanic strongly and the four-year-old grey filly forged ahead to spare half length over Trading Profit, who went down fighting.
A power packed ride by Evert Pheiffer ensured victory for Debbie Mountain saddled Sunley Pride in the Thoroughbred Handicap, a race for horses rated 50 to 70. Using runaway tactics, Northern Water led the field till the final furlong at which time jockey Pheiffer goaded Sunley Pride to produce his patented burst of acceleration. The Mohammed Hassan Ali Abdulmalik owned Sunley Pride quickened easily and sped past the front runner to win by half a length.
Ibrahim al-Malki saddled Azma (Gary Carter up) held on gamely from a fast finishing Belhambar to win the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 65 to 85. Azma raced prominently into the straight and took charge inside the final 200 metres and kicked clear and lasted out to win from Belhambar who threw a scare with a powerful finish.
Results:
1st race: AJS Al Fateh (Salim Golam) 1, Dhalayek Al Naif 2, Raghed 3, Al Sabeg 4. Won by: 1, 1 ¾, 1 ¾. Time: 1:47.55. Trained by: Mohammed al-Yaqout. Owned by: Al Jeryan Stud
2nd race: AJS Ghazi (Salim Golam) 1, Shmoos 2, Al Koufa 3, Taghya 4. Won by: Hd, 3, 1. Time: 1:33.10. Trained by: Mohammed al-Yaqout. Owned by: Al Jeryan Stud
3rd race: Mutazz (Marvin Suerland) 1, Rabha 2, Muhim 3, AJS Admiral 4. Won by: 2 ½, 5, 2 ½. Time: 1:32.18. Trained by: Abdullah al-Jaber. Owned by: Jaber Sultan Abdullah al-Jaber
4th race: Jouharah (Marvin Suerland) 1, Jihad 2, Kaydoum 3, Maazouz 4. Won by: 2, 1, 2. Time: 1:45.80. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn
5th race: Botanica (Yanis Aouabed) 1, Trading Profit 2, Mister Ryan 3, Pay Freeze 4. Won by: ½, 3 ½, ½. Time: 1:09.40. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari
6th race: Sunley Pride (Evert Pheiffer) 1, Northern Water 2, Court Curlin 3, Rubbamaa 4. Won by: ½, ½, 1 ½. Time: 1:23.53. Trained by: Debbie Mountain. Owned by: Mohammed Hassan Ali Abdulmalik
7th race: Azma (Gary Carter) 1, Belhambar 2, City Zen 3, Tortoni 4. Won by: ½, 1 ¾, Hd. Time: 2:02.71. Trained by: Ibrahimm al-Malki. Owned by: Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri
8th race: General Duke’s (Darren Williams) 1, Mojave Desert 2, Oasis Cannes 3, Amico Mio 4. Won by: ¾, Nk, ½. Time: 1:35.10. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Saeed Mubarak Saeed Aljafali al-Naimi