Ahmed Kobeissi-trained colt wins 2000m Al Khor Cup

Fort Moville snapped Courtofversailles’ unbeaten run when Ahmed Kobeissi-schooled colt won the Al Khor Cup, a Class 1 race for Thoroughbreds, at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
The 2000m race on turf saw Saleem Golam keep Fort Moville in the lead and never relinquish it, even as Courtofversailles made a last ditch effort to keep his undefeated run in Qatar intact.
Under Marvin Suerland, Courtofversailles kept closing in on the leader but fell short at the post.
Al Hareth won for the fourth consecutive race and second time this season, with Richard Mullen riding Jassim Ghazali-trained horse to victory in the Local Thoroughbred Open yesterday.
Owner Mishal bin Ali al-Attiyah had another contender in the race — Raad Al Zaeem — who set the pace in the 1400m run, while Al Hareth stayed at the back.
The five-horse field spread coming on to the home stretch, and as Raad Al Zaeem fell behind, Mullen had Al Hareth surge forward for a fine win.
The owner-trainer-jockey trio of Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, Ibrahim al-Malki and Eduardo Pedroza picked two wins on the day, with in-form Meqdam Al Zaidy winning for the first time this season. Earlier, What A Surprise shed his maiden status in the first race of the card.
Coming into the race, Meqdam Al Zaidy had never finished outside the top two, including four wins. That record stayed intact, with Pedroza putting in a fine along with his partner, with the duo finishing the seven-furlong Purebred Arabian Conditions event three lengths ahead of Bahia Du Barthas. Ghazali’s ward edged out Hassan al-Matwi’s Mindza for the second spot.
Receding Waves registered his second victory this season when Richard Mullen rode the Mohammed Jassim Ghazali-trained colt to a one and a half length win in the Thoroughbred Classified Stakes for three-year-old horses yesterday.
Mullen had his ride track early leader Shaka Zulu and then made his move 300m from the post. Shaka Zulu, helmed by Pedroza, fell behind, and was eventually edged by Risk Adjusted for the second spot.
The Smart One gave trainer Bustawi Ismail his second victory this season when Tadgh O’Shea guided the five-year-old horse to victory in the Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap event.
O’Shea kept The Smart One on the outside before beating what looked like a four-way battle for the victory. Even as Jassim bin Ali al-Attiyah-owned horse picked up the victory, Kobeissi’s seven-year-old gelding Alkazim’s brilliant turn of foot had the others bite dust at the post.
Alkazim edged out Littlemissblakeney for the second spot.
Earlier in the day, among the Thoroughbreds and Local Thoroughbreds, What A Surprise and Qhudoua shed their maiden status respectively, while Umm Qarn’s Sehab raced to his first career win in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. What A Surprise (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Thaelab (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Almasah (Gaetan Faucon), 4. Wailess (Tadgh O’Shea). Won by: 3/4, Shd, 1. Time: 1:12.10. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 2: 1. Qhudoua (Richard Mullen), 2. Jakom (Yanis Aouabed), 3. Muzyanah (Almotasem al-Balushi), 4. Gharam Lehshilyat (Gerald Avranche). Won by: 1, 2, 1/2. Time: 1:42.83. Owner: Al Ghazali Stud. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 3: 1. Sehab (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. My First General (Gaetan Faucon), 3. Tasslam (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Udai Al Wajba (JP Guillambert). Won by: 2, 3/4, 5. Time: 1:47.99. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 4: 1. The Smart One (Tadgh O’Shea), 2. Alkazim (Gaetan Faucon), 3. Littlemissblakeney (Saleem Golam), 4. Excuse To Linger (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: 1 1/2, Hd. Nk. Time: 1:11.24. Owner: Jassim bin Ali al-Attiyah. Trainer: Bustawi Ismail.
Race 5: 1. Receding Waves (Richard Mullen), 2. Risk Adjusted (Tadgh O’Shea), 3. Shaka Zulu (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Malik (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 1 1/2, 1 1/4, 1. Time: 1:10.96. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohammed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Meqdam Al Zaidy (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Bahia Du Barthas (Gerald Avranche), 3. Mindza (Marco Monteriso), 4. Ba’sil (Richard Mullen). Won by: 3, 1, 1/2. Time: 1:30.48. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 7: 1. Al Hareth (Ruchard Mullen), 2. Batter (Darren Williams), 3. Mutawassal (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Al Shaqab (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 1 1/2, Shd, Hd. Time: 1:26.74. Owner: Mishal bin Ali al-Attiyah. Trainer: Jassim Mohammed Ghazali.
Race 8: 1. Fort Moville (Saleem Golam), 2. Courtofversailles (Marvin Suerland), 3. Crescent (Xavier Ziani), 4. Migwar (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 1/2, 1 1/2, Shd. Time: 2:03.67. Owner: Mohamed Kazim al-Ansari & Sons. Trainer: Ahmed Kobeissi.