Golam guides Sraab to commanding Dibal Cup win

‘A smaller field helps her because she needs a long and an interrupted run. So the smaller the field, there is less messing about’

Sraab took the phrase ‘ladies first’ quite literally, when the mare demolished her all-male opposition to win the Al Dibal Cup (Local Thoroughbreds) on sand at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
Trained by Ahmed Kobeissi, this was the seven-year-old’s second straight victory this season, while she finished second in her campaign opener two weeks ago.
Yesterday, ridden by Saleem Golam, for the sixth time in a victory, Sraab finished six lengths ahead of Hamad al-Jehani-schooled Moaddie, while half-brother Footprintinthesand completed the podium.
“She is a nice filly. Last year, she did nothing wrong but people didn’t really notice her. But she did well on her return this season. We have taken good care of her and she performed very good, thanks to God. I am happy,” Kobeissi told Gulf Times after the win.
Asked if there has been any change in the mare’s training regime, he said, “Nothing has really changed, but we did plan for these three races that came in quick succession. So she might have a little bit of a break now and then resume a bit later. She has always performed very well against such a formidable opposition, like Moaddie.”
Jockey Golam has won six times with the mare. He said, “She has been running in Qatar for quite a long time. Ahmed has done very well with her. She has won 12 races till now. In the local Thoroughbred division, she is very good.”
Talking about the victory, Golam said, “Ahmed also had the other horse Footprintinthesand, who is a good horse in his own right, but I think Sraab is just a little better. A smaller field helps her because she needs a long and an interrupted run. So the smaller the field, there is less messing about.”
The victory was Golam’s second on the day, having guided Sylvia Pankhurst to victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 56-70.
The Ibrahim al-Malki-trained mare finished two and a half lengths ahead of Cueca, ridden by Faleh Bughanaim, while Lantern’s First finished third under Adnan Hawa’s ride.
TM Majid Texas continued with his brilliant momentum, landing his second victory yesterday from three races this season. Hamad al-Marri’s colt had shed his maiden status in his campaign opener a month ago, before finishing runner-up a week ago.
In the Purebred Arabian Sprint Cup, TM Majid Texas narrowly edged out another in-form horse Suhail Al Uraiq, ridden by Eduardo Pedroza for trainer al-Malki, while JP Guillambert guided Kasser to a third-place finish.
Last week, Drillmaster had found the run under Xavier Ziani that gave the colt his first win in Qatar.
The Deborah Mountain-trained three-year-old had beaten Perigee on his Qatar debut by a little under two lengths.
Yesterday, in the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 85 and below, that changed. While Stephan Ladjadj did have Drillmaster take the lead early on, the duo could do little when Jassim Ghazali-trained Perigee, ridden by Harry Bentley, surged forward along with Mutadhamen, also saddled by the Champion Trainer.
At the post, it was Perigee, who made the switch from the UK to Qatar earlier this year, who edged out Mishal bin Ali al-Attiyah-owned rival for a thrilling victory.
Hamad al-Jehani-saddled Tarrafal finished third.
Generalship may have changed hands with Jassim Ghazali taking the colt’s training reins from John Gosden after Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari bought the three-year-old for 120,000 guineas earlier this year, but the colt has not lost his form, winning on his Qatar debut yesterday.
Ridden by Harry Bentley in the Thoroughbred Plate event for horses rated 71-85, he followed the early leaders, including Al Shaqab Racing’s Bnedel, in the 1800m race. As the pace quickened coming on to the final straight, Marvin Suerland couldn’t get Bnedel going even as Generalship attacked, eventually registering his second straight victory on sand.
Sunley Pride, trained by Deborah Mountain, completed the top three.
Trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Jean Baptiste Hamel got together to have two Umm Qarn horses shed their maiden status, with Amal winning the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate and Magie D’Eau picking up the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Amal (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. Saab Al Manal (Harry Bentley), 3. Al Yem (JP Guillambert), 4. Aws (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 5, 1 ½, ¾. Time: 1:19.23. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 2: 1. Magie D’Eau (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. Aziznefs (Harry Bentley), 3. Secret Angel (Pier Convertino), 4. Jefool Al Jazeera (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 2 1/2, 4, 9. Time: 2:08.21. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 3: 1. Generalship (Harry Bentley), 2. Bnedel (Marvin Suerland), 3. Sunley Pride (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Makinson Lane (Yanis Aouabed). Won by: 2 1/2, 1 1/2, 1. Time: 1:54.50. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 4: 1. Sylvia Pankhurst (Saleem Golam), 2. Cueca (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Lantern’s First (Adnan Hawa), 4. Arriana (Marco Monteriso). Won by: 2 ½, 1 ¾, Nk. Time: 1:11.41. Owner: Saeed Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 5: 1. Perigee (Harry Bentley), 2. Mutadhamen (JP Guillambert), 3. Tarrafal (Yanis Aouabed), 4. Drillmaster (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: ½, 3, ½. Time: 1:53.40. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. TM Majid Texas (Stephan Ladjadj), 2. Suhail Al Uraiq (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Kasser (JP Guillambert), 4. Mujahidah (Pier Convertino). Won by: Hd, 1 ¾, ¾. Time: 1:19.54. Owner: Hamad Ateeq Mohamed al-Marri. Trainer: Hamad al-Marri.
Race 7: 1 Sraab (Saleem Golam), 2. Moaddie (Yanis Aouabed), 3. Footprintinthesand (Pier Convertino), 4. Absher (Marco Monteriso). Won by: 6, 5, 11. Time: 2:02.31. Owner: Mohamed Kazim al-Ansari & Sons. Trainer: Ahmed Kobeissi.