QREC deputy general manager Tariq Abdulhameed al-Sidiqie (third from right) is seen with the winners of the Al Musheireb Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim
By Chris Hoover/Doha
Al Atique (Amer-Somra) saddled by Julian Smart posted a thrilling victory in the Al Musheireb Cup, a Pure Arabian Conditions race, which featured the nine-event card at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Sporting the colours of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani, Al Atique galloped on resolutely in the stretch to come from the fifth-sixth position and pass all the top contenders in full flight and win while warding off the spirited challenge of stable mate Al Bashtoon. Jockey Alberto Sanna rode a well judged race on the winner.
La Hoor led them into the straight, while Abhar, Thawai and Mekhbatt started to work their way up to challenge the leader.
At the distance post, it looked anybody’s race as the trio were fiercely grappling for top honours. Al Atique started to accelerate and joined the bunch. He had a good momentum going and he easily galloped past them all to win by half a length from a fast finishing Al Bashtoon.
Jassim al-Ghazali trained Abeer (Marco Monteriso up) put in a terrific stretch run to demolish the hopes of her rivals to clinch the Al Ghariya Cup, a Thoroughbred Conditions race for Fillies and Mares.
Clean Blow shot into the lead and was closely followed by My Sharona. The duo continued to call the shots as the field entered the business end of the race. In the final furlong, Momalorka swooped down on the front runners and charged towards the winning post. At this point Abeer was alerted to the task on hand.
The Ghazalli put in a blazing gallop to score gallantly and stamp her superiority. Momalorka was second ahead of a fast finishing Botanica,
Super display of speed
Mishal bin Ali al-Attiya owned Al Hareth, trained by Jassim al-Ghazali, plundered his rivals with a tremendous turn of foot and completely outclassed them all with a super display of speed to win the Umm Bab Cup, a local Thoroughbred race for three-year-olds. Jockey Declan Cannon took the Ghazali trainee to the front and made every post a winning one as he cantered home to an emphatic victory.
Talla, winless from four starts finally earned her maiden win in a striking manner in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. After racing a handy third until the homestretch, Talla quickened well in the final furlong and went past the front runners to win quite comfortably. Jockey Yanis Aouabed was astride the winner.
Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari owned Morning Post opened his account in style, winning the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate, thus enjoying the sweet taste of victory in his seventh attempt. Jockey Aouabed settled him behind leader Northern Water who galloped at a quick pace. Lady Chantilly was a close third and Gold Top was not too far behind.
Ghazali saddled Fast was the fastest of them while running away with the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 65 to 85. Settling in the third place, Fast with Guillambert in the saddle, produced a resounding gallop in the final furlong to skip away from the pack and win in fine fashion. Hi Holy came through the rails but found the winner too good on the day.
Northern Water kicked on in the straight, but was soon challenged by Morning Post.
Lady Chantilly too was right behind these two but Northern Water simply could not quicken. Morning Post and Lady Chantilly fought it out among themselves and in the dying moments, the former seized the upper hand and stretched ahead to post his maiden victory.
Julian Smart saddled Harrir, ably ridden by Marco Monteriso, could not have timed his run better and managed to dampen the winning aspirations of stablemate Al Majh’hoor, who until the last stride looked menacing.
After racing in mid bunch till the home turn, Al Majh’hoor quickly took charge of the proceedings, while Harrir was alighted to the task on hand in the final 100 metres and came with giant strides to challenge the front runner.
The duo fought out the issue stride for stride in the final 50 metres. However, Harrir got stronger at the finish to win the Pure Arabian Graduation Plate by a head.
In the day’s other action, Abdulreda Abbas trained Nile Knight notched his maiden victory, doing well to beat Rising Dawn close home in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 55 to 75.
Zohair Moghsen schooled Archers Prize (Marvin Suerland up) recorded his second career win while clinching the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate in a thrilling finish over Free Spin.
Results
1st race: Talla (Yanis Aouabed) 1, Venus 2, Gaza VI 3, Al Naif Man O’War 4. Won by: 1 ¼, ¾, Nk. Time: 1:13.93. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Mishal bin Ali al-Attiya
2nd race: Morning Post (Yanis Aouabed) 1, Lady Chantilly 2, Gold Top 3, Marzog 4. Won by: ½, Shd, ½. Time: 1:34.97. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari
3rd race: Harrir (Marco Monteriso) 1, Al Majh’hoor 2, AJS AlFateh 3, Hassiba 4. Won by: Hd, 4, 3. Time: 1:43.74. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
4th race: Archers Prize (Marvin Suerland) 1, Free Spin 2, Lightning Launch 3, Zarkiyr 4. Won by: Shd, ¾, 1. Time: 1:34.97. Trained by: Zohair Moghsen. Owned by: Khalfan Mohammed Ali Sheban al-Suwaidi
5th race: Nile Knight (Marco Monteriso) 1, Rising Dawn 2, Statesmanship 3, Substantiate 4. Won by: 1 ¼, Nk, 1. Time: 2:03.00. Trained by: Abdulreda Abbas. Owned by: Rashid Mohammed Alathba
6th race: Fast (JP Guillambert) 1, Hi Holy 2, Blackdown Fair 3, Marcus Augustus 4. Won by: 1 ¾, ½, Hd. Time: 1:22.41. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari
7th race: Al Hareth (Declan Cannon) 1, Footprintinthesand 2, Al Mayeda 3, Katara IV 4. Won by: 6, 2 ½, Distance. Time: 1:11.27. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Mishal bin Ali al-Attiya
8th race: Abeer (Marco Monteriso) 1, Momalorka 2, Botanica 3, Mojave Desert 4. Won by: Shd, Nk, Hd. Time: 1:21.51. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Abdullah Mohammed Al Kuwari Sons
9th race: Al Atique (Alberto Sanna) 1, Al Bashtoon 2, Thawi 3, Mekhbatt 4. Won by: ½, 1 ½, 1 ½. Time: 2:11.93. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
1 . Former QREC general manager Saeed al-Kuwari (right) presents the Al Ghariya Cup to trainer Jassim al-Ghazali after his ward Abeer won the event at the QREC yesterday.
2 . Trainer Jassim al-Ghazali leads in Al Hareth (Declan Cannon up) after a victorious outing in the Umm Bab Cup at the QREC yesterday.
