By Chris Hoover/Doha
Trainer Jassim al-Ghazali and jockey Harry Bentley dazzled with five winners each, which also included the victory in the Al Wakra Cup, which featured the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Having ridden four winners already, Bentley rode out confidently to pilot Sheikh Abdullah bin Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani owned Al Mizan (Vert Duzan-Nevasa De Cardonne) to a fluent victory in the mile race for Local Bred Pure Arabians which carried a purse of QR100,000.
Kaydoum guided the field into the straight with Al Mizan ready to pounce on the leader. The Ghazali trained Al Mizan quickly came alongside the front runner and soon Bentley gave him the go. Al Mizan was shifting gears and stretched out nicely to build a handy lead. With the others not gaining any ground, Al Mizan was home and dry with a furlong to go. Stable mates Thawi and Zahi ran on to take the second and third places respectively.
This was indeed an amazing performance by the Dubai based jockey who had earlier won six races in a card of eight event last season.
“It is an incredible achievement for myself and I am very happy to have won five races today. Trainer Ghazali has been a great supporter for me and I very much appreciate his backing and support. He has played a massive part in my success here in Doha. We had a nice draw and Al Mizan ran a great race. The horse in front went on a sensible gallop and I was able to quicken off the bend and everything went very smoothly,” a delighted Bentley told the Gulf Times.
Trainer Ghazali was elated with the success of Al Mizan, who beat some formidable contenders. “I am very lucky today. This has been a comeback for me and it is never easy to have five winners in a day. It was a very tough race in the feature. There were a couple of runners from Umm Qarn who are champions and Al Mizan did very well to beat them. I am very happy for Sheikh Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani and for Injaaz Stable
Speaking about the prospects of Al Mizan, Ghazali said. “Al Mizan was not fit last season and he has come back to form. This win was very impressive and we will definitely target him in forthcoming classics. If he stays in this condition, Al Mizan will definitely be a serious threat.”
Jockey Bentley started the winning sequence when he drove out Jelmood to an exciting win in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Inside the final furlong, Osama Omar al-Dhafa’s Al Naif Countfleet appeared to have gone into a decisive lead even as Ghazali trained Jelmood was taking time to accelerate but once he did, Jelmood came home with a big rush along the rails to get the verdict in the closing stages of the race. Al Dabor also put in an impressive performance to finish a close third.
The Chazali-Bentley combination went on to dominate the proceedings as the duo recorded a back to back treble through River Goddess, Lupie and Sandbetweenourtoes, who won their respective races in brilliant fashion.
Sporting the colours of Abdullah Mohammed Al Kuwari Sons, River Goddess broke through the maiden ranks with a brilliant stretch run which saw the Ghazali ward, overhaul Man Amongst Men and win the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate by nearly two lengths. The power packed ride by Bentley ensured the first victory for River Goddess.
Lupie was a runaway winner of the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate. After racing a handy second behind stable mate Akeed Misk, Bentley put Lupie into gear and the Ghazali trainee spedpast his rivals and won with plenty in hand. He seems to be in good form and will be a force to reckon with when saddled next.
Sandbetweenourtoes (Footstepinthesand-Callanish) was a comfortable winner of the Thoroughbred Conditions race, run over six furlongs. Bentley had Sandbetweenourtoes race up front until the home turn and when asked for an effort, the Ghazali trainee quickly stretched away to win by a widening margin of three lengths. Bazaruto was second ahead of Pay Freeze. The winner clocked a smart timing of one minute 11.22 seconds.
Julian Smart schooled Al Atique (Amer-Somra) made a winning first appearance this season with a dominating performance in the Pure Arabian Conditions race, run over 2,000 metres. After racing a handy second until the halfway mark, jockey Alberto Senna had Al Atique take over the running. Once the Amer progeny was shown the daylight, Al Atique surged ahead without muss and later stretched away to win by six lengths from a late finishing stable mate Al Bashtoon and Harir.
Al Busayir (W.J. Lee astride) trained by Majid Safedeen rose to the occasion in a splendid manner to clinch the Thoroughbred Conditions. Taking over the running soon after entering the homestretch, Al Busayir found a good rhythm going and looked completely in command. The Sfedeen trainee quickly amassed a winning lead and looked the winner long way from home and galloped on majestically to win by nearly two lengths from stable mate Goldenrod.
Alban de Mieulle saddled Aseel (Nizam-Saeedah) finally shed his maiden status with a fluent victory in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Having finished a notable fifth to Aden in the Guineas earlier, Aseel had the credentials to come good in this event. He did so in fine style as he came with a sustained run in the final furlong and went past Haraz Al Naif to win by nearly two lengths. Jockey Pier Convertino rode a well-judged race on the winner.
