Al Wajba Cup win perfect remedy for spirited Hakeem

‘I am just glad. It was a lovely little race, five horses. It was always going to be an easy race whatever he did’

A determined run from Hakeem ensured a win for the HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned horse in the Al Wajba Cup, a 1200m race for two-year-old Thoroughbreds, at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
Julian Smart’s ward went into the lead under jockey Richard Mullen’s ride and even held off a late challenge by Ibrahim al-Malki-schooled duo — Perfect Storm and Moi Moi Moi — to land a win on his Qatar debut.
Hakeem, earlier with Richard Hannon Jr in the United Kingdom, started his career well earlier this year, finishing second on debut in Newmarket, and then winning an easy maiden in Nottingham.
“He then ran in a listed race in Ireland. So I think he went up a bit too quickly, and I think his last race was a Group 2, and he wasn’t ready for that at all,” Smart told Gulf Times.
“He was gelded after that, and he didn’t take it very well. He is still recovering. He was in a very poor condition, and to be honest, he still is in quite poor condition. So I am quite happy with that (the result) because I know there is more to come.
“His coat is very dull; his top line is not finished. So we have got quite a lot of work left to do.”
Talking about his ward’s performance in yesterday’s race, Smart said, “I am just glad. It was a lovely little race, five horses. It was always going to be an easy race whatever he did. But he showed guts, fight, and the jockey said he showed a lot of speed as well.”
With three weeks to go for the Qatar International Derby, Smart was hopeful of his horses.
“I am just glad Sheikh Mohamed has given us some Thoroughbreds. We have got a few Thoroughbreds for the Derby, that’s brilliant. We have got some nice Arabians.
“I am very much looking forward to the three-year-old Derby. I have Shabih Alreeh and Ebraz. So yeah, it’s going to be a good meeting with the international horses as well,” Smart
said.
Both Shabih Alreeh and Ebraz were winners on their respective debuts this season.
In the penultimate race of the day, Al Shahania Stud had another winner in Rasi, who won the Purebred Arabians event over a mile.
The win was jockey Tadgh O’Shea’s second on the day, having earlier guided Bronze Maquette to victory.
Rasi, saddled by Jassim Ghazali, beat Carab, trained by Ghazali’s son Mohamed, at the post while Zameer completed the
podium.
O’Shea’s first win was Mohamed Hussain-trained Bronze Maquette, winner of a Class 2 contest for the ladies in February. Yesterday, the four-year-old held off against al-Malki-trained Fadak, ridden by Saleem Golam, to land the longest race of the card at 1850m.
Mohamed Jassim Ghazali topped the Local Purebed Arabian Plate with Injaaz Stud’s Al Marboush leading a one-two ahead of Al Murabitoon, owned by Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari, while al-Malki’s Mowhoubat Al Zaidy, owned by Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, was third.
Mohamed Riyaz too notched up a one-two when Charme Secret, ridden by Xavier Ziani, edged out Black Treacle, with Stephan Ladjadj astride, to win the Thoroughbred Classified Stakes for horses rated 70 & below.
Alban de Mieulle’s only win of the day was with Marjan, who landed the Local Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 85 & below.
Ridden by Jean Baptiste Hamel in the Umm Qarn colours, Marjan beat second-placed Muraqabah and third-placed Al Moheeb for the victory.
Earlier in the day, Kayaan, trained by M Khalid al-Hamed, and Al Aasi, schooled by Hussein Aashoor, shed their maiden status, winning the Local Thoroughbred and the Local Purebred Arabian maiden plate events respectively.
 
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Kayaan (Darren Williams), 2. Al Kayda (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Hamamah (Gaetan Faucon), 4. Thaad (Tadgh O’Shea). Won by: 6, 1 3/4, 1/2. Owner: Subaiya Awad Ibrahim. Trainer: M Khalid al-Hamed.
Race 2: 1. Al Aasi (Marvin Suerland), 2. Al Eshrah (Alberto Sanna), 3. Majidah (Gaetan Faucon), 4. Semwo (Adnan Hawa). Won by: Shd, 1/2, 1 1/4. Owner: Al Shaqab Racing. Trainer: Hussein Aashoor.
Race 3: 1. Charme Secret (Xavier Ziani), 2. Black Treacle (Stephan Ladjadj), 3. Could Be (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Azzam (Alberto Sanna). Won by: Shd, 1/2, Shd. Owner: Salem Fadgam al-Hajri & Sons. Trainer: Mohamed Riyaz.
Race 4: 1. Marjan (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. Muraqabah (Tadgh O’Shea), 3. Al Moheeb (Richard Mullen), 4. Al Mansoor (Xavier Ziani). Won by: 1 1/4, 1/2, 1/2. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.

Race 5: 1. Al Marboush (Gerald Avranche), 2. Al Murabitoon (JP Guillambert), 3. Mowhoubat Al Zaidy (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Raedah (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 2, 1/2, 2. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Bronze Maquette (Tadgh O’Shea), 2. Fadak (Saleem Golam), 3. Abeer (Gerald Avranche), 4. Headline News (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 1/2, 1, Hd. Owner: Hamad Adel al-Muslimani. Trainer: Mohamed Hussain.
Race 7: 1. Rasi (Tadgh O’Shea), 2. Carab (Marco Monteriso), 3. Zameer (Jimmy Quinn), 4. Rodin (Xavier Ziani). Won by: Hd, 1/2, Shd. Owner: Al Shahania Stud. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 8: 1. Hakeem (Richard Mullen), 2. Perfect Storm (Saleem Golam), 3. Moi Moi Moi (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Maranello (Alberto Sanna). Won by: Shd, 1, 9. Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.