Trainer Jassim al-Ghazali (left) receives a trophy from Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) chairman Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani after Mujahidah won the Fegentri Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Cup at QREC yesterday. Right: The Blue Eye owner Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari receives a trophy from QREC general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi after the Dubawi colt won the Class 1 Qatar Derby Trial for three-year-old Thoroughbreds yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim


By Mikhil Bhat/Doha
 

Jassim al-Ghazali picked up four victories including three in the Qatar Derby Trials events at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
Al-Ghazali trained Ain Jalout edged out Amer colt Gazwan by the tiniest of margins to pick up victory in the Derby Trial event for four-year-old Purebred Arabians to end the day on a high.
Julian Smart-trained Gazwan, ridden by Richard Mullen in the colours HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday, had last raced on the Arc day at the iconic Longchamp racetrack in Paris, finishing second behind Al Mourtajez in the Qatar Arabian World Cup.
Mullen, who had two victories going into the final race of the card yesterday, kept his ride on the inside behind Ain Jalout coming out of gate two even as Umm Qarn’s Amid and then Hassan al-Matwi’s Mindza took the lead in the 1850m QAR 150,000 race.
In the final two furlongs, Marvin Suerland found a gap between Mindza and Amid, and gunned for the post astride Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Ain Jalout, while the grey son of Amer found his way blocked.
When Gazwan and Mullen did break free, a furlong from the post, Ain Jalout was already galloping. Gazwan’s amazing turn of foot meant that the gap kept reducing but Ain Jalout just held on for a memorable win.
“I am so happy with the performances of my horses. I know my horse and they are good for the big races. To win against Gazwan, who finished second on the Arc day is a big thing,” al-Ghazali told Gulf Times.
“The two other Derby Trials wins mean these are good preparations for the Derby. I am just hoping for the best.”
Dubawi colt The Blue Eye and Lieutenant Kaffee raced to a one-two finish for owner al-Kuwari and al-Ghazali in the all-colt Class 1 Qatar Derby Trial race for Thoroughbreds.
Mullen’s ride The Blue Eye pulled away comfortably in the final two furlongs to finish with a three-length victory.
Ahmed Kobeissi-trained duo Canndal and Fort Moville finished third and fourth respectively as al-Ghazali maintained his grip on the event for the third straight year, having won with Roman Legend and Oasis Cannes in the last two years.
In the Derby Trial event for three-year-old local thoroughbreds, Mishal bin Ali al-Attiyah’s Raad Al Zaeem led from practically the entire race to pick up a victory ahead of an advancing Marjan from the Umm Qarn stables and Abrar, who had already picked up two victories in as many races this season.
Al-Ghazali’s charge, ridden by Tadgh O’Shea, moved into the lead as the action in the eight furlong event got on to the back straight, with Mahbooba alongside and Bunoa Sera Al Naif right behind.
On to the last two furlongs, Jean Baptiste Hamel and Adrie de Vries got their rides, Marjan and Abrar respectively, going but Raad Al Zaeem held on.
Al-Ghazali’s strangehold on the Derby Trials was broken by Mohannad al-Yaqout.
Al Jeryan Stud’s Almuheet picked up his first victory after Darren Williams got the three-year-old colt to squeeze between Spiralle and the rails on the way to a victory in the seven furlong Derby Trial for Purebred Arabians. Spiralle, one of only two fillies in the nine-horse event, finished second ahead of Civaldi De Montegut.
Almuheet’s trainer al-Yaqout was fist-pumping after the victory. “When I saw the race card, I had a moment of doubt given the big names. But now that we have won, it is an amazing feeling to have beaten all these big names,” he said.
In the Class 2 Thoroughbred Conditions event, Qatar Light produced a scorching turn of foot along with Court Life to produce a thriller, which was eventually won by the former with Debbie Mountain-trained Chilworth Icon separating the two Majed Seifeddine-schooled horses.
Italian jockey Pier Convertino kept Mubarak Saeed Aljafali al-Naimi’s Qatar Light stayed behind the pack along with Court Life, owned by Abdulla Mubarak Aljafali al-Naimi and ridden by Jean Baptiste Hamel, even as Botanic Garden from the stables of Mohammed Jassim Ghazali took early lead in the 1100m event.
As the action took the turn on to the home straight, senior al-Ghazali’s charge Collect Art, with Stephan Ladjadj at the helm, quickened the pace but the two Seifeddine horses along with Chilworth Icon just took off.
Court Life kept reducing the gap on the outside but Qatar Light held on and Hassan Ali Abdulmalik’s gelding edged out Court Life on the inside for the second place.
Amer filly Najda, ridden by Richard Mullen in the colours of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, picked up her first victory when she edged out Tadgh O’Shea’s ride La Musawama for a victory in the Local Purebred Arabian race.
Al-Ghazali-schooled La Musawama had beaten Julian Smart’s filly in the seven furlong Oaks Trial race last month but this time it was not to be. Najda’s stablemate Hagwa finished third on her second career run.
In the first race of the evening, Fegentri Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Cup, Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Mujahidah picked up a victory in her second race, ahead of Rawaa, owned by Sheikh Mohamed, and Nasser Abdullah Khalifa al-Attiyah’s Al Mundher. Spanish jockey Gonzalo Pineda Carmena picked up the win in the Fegentri championship finishing 12 points ahead of Frenchman Gonzague Cottreau. Carmena, who rode sixth-placed Ameer Al Shajaa yesterday, finished at 170 points, while Cottreau collected four points for his fifth place finish with Umm Qarn’s Nada to take his tally to 168.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Mujahidah (Antonio Ferramosca), 2. Rawaa (Patrick Deno), 3. Al Mundher (Philip Sonsteby), 4. Fhoud Al Shajaa (Andreas Dalbark). Won by: 0.5, 2, 5. Time: 1:48.02. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim al-Ghazali.
Race 2: 1. Najda (Richard Mullen), 2. La Musawama (Tadgh O’Shea), 3. Hagwa (Marco Monteriso), 4. Al Mansab (Marvin Suerland). Won by: 0.75, 1, 2.5. Time: 1:48.10. Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 3: 1. Qatar Light (Pier Convertino), 2. Chilworth Icon (Darren Williams), 3. Court Life (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Collect Art (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: Hd, Shd, 0.5. Time: 1:05.80. Owner: Mubarak Saeed Aljafali al-Naimi. Trainer: Majed Seifeddine.
Race 4: 1. Raad Al Zaeem (Tadgh O’Shea), 2. Marjan (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Abrar (Adrie de Vries), 4. Mahbooba (Gerald Avranche). Won by: Hd, 0.75, 1.5. Time: 1:42.15. Owner: Mishal bin Ali al-Attiyah. Trainer: Jassim al-Ghazali.
Race 5: 1. The Blue Eye (Richard Mullen), 2. Lieutenant Kaffee (Gerald Avranche), 3. Canndal (Adrie de Vries), 4. Fort Moville (jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 3, 0.75, Nk. Time: 1:54.79. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim al-Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Almuheet (Darren Williams), 2. Spiralle (Richard Mullen), 3. Civaldi de Montegut (Marvin Suerland), 4. Zaeem (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 1.75, Nk, 2. Time: 1:32.92. Owner: Al Jeryan Stud. Trainer: Mohannad al-Yaqout
Race 7: 1. Ain Jalout (Marvin Suerland), 2. Gazwan (Richard Mullen), 3. Mindza (Adrie de Vries), 4. Gidwa (Marco Monteriso). Won by: Shd, 0.75, 1.75. Time: 2:06.95. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim al-Ghazali