Champion trainer Jassim Ghazali began his campaign in the new season with a bang, saddling four winners in yesterday’s eight-race card, including Injaaz Stud’s Ningara, in the Qatari Diar Cup (Listed) at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
Ghazali got together with Champion Jockey Harry Bentley to pick up three wins, including two for Leading Owner Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari.
Ningara, who had last won in February 2015, edged out Ahmed Kobeissi’s Fort Moville, while HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned Fundamental was third on his Qatar debut for trainer Julian Smart.
In the penultimate race of the day, Bentley, in the silks of Mishal bin Ali al-Attiyah, guided Ghazali-schooled Al Hareth to the five-year-old’s third straight victory. Kobeissi’s charges Sraab and Footprintinthesand completed the top three.
In one of the closest races of the day, Felix Leiter made a winning debut in Qatar for Ghazali, holding on well against a fast-approaching Skate in the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 86-100.
Guillambert held his inside line on Felix Leiter off Gate 1, while Ibrahim al-Malki’s Crafted made good use of a quick start from Gate 11 to take the lead early on with Chilworth Icon on his heels.
On to the final straight, everyone picked up pace almost at the same time, and Felix Leiter moved ahead on the inside. While Crafted got caught in traffic, Skate, under Alberto Sanna, surged on the outside and kept closing the gap on Felix Leiter, but ran out of track, and had to settle for second. Deborah Mountain’s Chilworth Icon was third under Pier Convertino.
Ghazali’s first winner of the day was Shadow Game, ridden beautifully by Bentley to victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap event, a Class 5 run over 2000m for horses rated 61-75. The win was Shadow Game’s third overall, but first in Qatar.
Gaetan Faucon rode Succeed and Excel to second place, ahead of Makinson Lane, helmed by Yanis Aouabed.
HH The Emir’s Sword and Qatar Derby winner Gazwan gave trainer Julian Smart and jockey Richard Mullen their first win of the season, when the Amer colt won the Purebred Arabian Conditions event yesterday.
The win, Gazwan’s first since HH The Emir’s Sword, was a close one, with Jassim Ghazali’s Al Majh’Hoor, who had finished a disappointing 11th in the big February 2016 race but had picked up a win in April after that, was second. Ghazali’s other ward in the in 2000m race – Bahia Du Barthas – was a distant third under JP Guillambert.
Majed Seifeddine’s ward Bayriq went one better than his last week’s showing to win the Purebred Arabian Plate for horses rated 60-100.
Italian jockey Convertino was at the helm of the gelding, guiding the five-year-old to a one-length win over last year’s Qatar Derby Trial winner Almuheet, while Julian Smart-trained Hagwa rounded up the top three in the 1400m run.
Earlier in the day, Bunoa Sera Al Naif and Gold Trade picked up their first career wins for trainer Yousef Bentaher and Ibrahim al-Malki respectively. While Marvin Suerland rode Bunoa Sera Al Naif in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event to a narrow win over Qhudoua, Eduardo Pedroza was astride winner Gold Trade in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Bunoa Sera Al Naif (Marvin Suerland), 2. Qhudoua (Richard Mullen), 3. Zurich Bu Thaila (Alberto Sanna), 4. Kayaan (Pier Convertino). Won by: Hd, 1 3/4, Nk. Time: 1:28.04. Owner: Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser al-Ahmed al-Thani. Trainer: Yousef Bentaher.
Race 2: 1. Gold Trade (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Almasah (Gaetan Faucon), 3. Al Hazam (Alberto Sanna), 4. Kraftwork (Richard Mullen). Won by: 2, 1, Shd. Time: 1:11.43. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 3: 1. Shadow Game (Harry Bentley), 2. Succeed and Excel (Gaetan Faucon), 3. Makinson Lane (Yanis Aouabed), 4. Dardawan (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: 1/2, 1 1/2, Nk. Time: 2:02.90. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 4: 1. Bayriq (Pier Convertino), 2. Almuheet (Harry Bentley), 3. Hagwa (Richard Mullen), 4. Chanson Du Soleil (Gerald Avranche). Won by: 1, 1 1/4, 1 1/2. Time: 1:30.72. Owner: Mubarak bin Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi. Trainer: Majed Seifeddine.
Race 5: 1. Felix Leiter (JP Guillambert), 2. Skate (Alberto Sanna), 3. Chilworth Icon (Pier Convertino), 4. Excuse To Linger (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: Nk, Nk, Nk. Time: 1:35.20. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Gazwan (Richard Mullen), 2. Al Majh’Hoor (Harry Bentley), 3. Bahia Du Barthas (JP Guillambert), 4. Saab (Saleem Golam). Won by: 3/4, 9, 11. Time: 2:22.33. Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 7: 1. Al Hareth (Harry Bentley), 2. Sraab (Saleem Golam), 3. Footprintinthesand (Darren Williams), 4. Batter (Pier Convertino). Won by: Hd, 1 3/4, 3/4. Time: 1:36.65. Owner: Mishal bin Ali al-Attiyah, Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 8: 1. Ningara (Harry Bentley), 2. Fort Moville (Marvin Suerland), 3. Fundamental (Richard Mullen), 4. Duke of Dundee (Gaetan Faucon). Won by: Nk, 1/2, Nk. Time: 2:28.60. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.

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