Meqdam Al Zaidy won a thriller when he edged out Aaley Al Magam by the narrowest of margins in the HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
The feature race of the day, a 2,000m run, was a big step up in distance for Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani-owned Meqdam Al Zaidy, but the seven-year-old, ridden by Saleem Golam, did well to edge out Aaley Al Magam, ridden by Alberto Sanna in the silks of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, at the post.
“Everybody said he was the favourite but for me, the way I looked it was that this was the first time he was running 2,000m,” trainer Ibrahim al-Malki told Gulf Times after the win.
“This changes a lot of things. The plan for him for the future will be different from what I had earlier set for him. He has proved that he can do the 2,000m without any problems, and that means that we have to look forward to more of the big races for him.
“I was running him over 1,600m before this and he was doing very well over that distance; he has always given me something extra every time.”
Umm Qarn’s Damas finished third under Jean Baptiste Hamel’s ride. Hamel was at the helm of Roman Legend, who registered a victory in the Thoroughbred Conditions event. The win in the mile-long race, was the first for Jassim Ghazali’s ward since two consecutive wins in April-May 2015.
Harry Bentley guided Itorio, trained by Ghazali’s son, Mohamed, to the second spot, while Moheet finished third under Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim, making it an all Ghazali podium.
Mohamed’s only winner of the day was one of Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari’s latest imports from the UK, Altarsheed. The four-year-old had missed out on a victory narrowly in his last outing last week, but made no mistake yesterday, as Bentley rode the gelding to a narrow win over Zuhair Mohsen-trained Bluebeard.
Deborah Mountain-schooled Sunley Pride was third under Xavier Ziani.
The highlight of the day was a victory ride by Qatari lady jockey Khadija Abduwahed, who rode Haddaj Dukhan to victory in one of the many close finishes of the day. Mansoor al-Shahwani’s horse won the mile-long Purebred Arabian Handicap event, edging out Umm Qarn’s Al Sahra and HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Fer’Ha.
The victory was Khadija’s first this season.
“I am so very happy. My horse Haddaj Dukhan is a good horse but he had to fight for space with the other horses. And I was probably not so confident going into the race because I felt the pressure. He is a good horse and if the result wasn’t good, it would be on me. So I did feel the pressure and I shared my concern with the owner and the trainer too, but they encouraged me. After the race, with every one clapping, it was unreal,” the 23-year-old told Gulf Times.
The win, eighth for the jockey, should give Khadija, who made a comeback earlier this season after an injury-forced three-year break, confidence going into the future races.
“Next week, there is a Qatari race and the steward will be assigning riders to the horses, and I hope I get a good horse and I am able to guide another winner.”
Al Mazrooah made good use of a Gate 1 start, when Gerald Avranche guided the mare to a fine win in the Local Thoroughbred Plate event for four-year-olds and older horses. The 1,000m sprint saw Mohamed Hussain’s ward take the lead off the gates, and on the home stretch pulled away, leaving Ghazali’s Muraqabah to jostle with Mountain’s Zuzi for the second spot. Bentley guided Muraqabah to the second spot, while Zuzi, helmed by Bughanaim, finished third.
In the first race of the day, Alberto Sanna-ridden What A Surprise edged out Hadi al-Ramzani-trained Incandescent for a victory in the Thoroughbred Plate event for three-year-olds. Incandescent was fresh off a victory on dirt last week, but had to settle for the runner-up spot, ahead of Mountain-trained Catch A Wave, ridden by Bughanaim.
In the two maiden races on the day, Dubawi Flame, ridden by Avranche, and My First General, helmed by Gaetan Faucon, shed their maiden status. While al-Ramzani’s Dubawi Flame won the Class 6 Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event, Alban de Mieulle-trained My First General picked up a victory in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate event.
 
RESULTS
Race 1:
1. What A Surprise (Alberto Sanna), 2. Incandescent (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Catch A Wave (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Moi Moi Moi (Saleem Golam). Won by: Nk, 1 ¼, Hd. Time: 1:24.88. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 2: 1. Dubawi Flame (Gerald Avranche), 2. Top Face (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Moueenn (Saleem Golam), 4. Technicolour (Marco Monteriso). Won by: 3, Nk, 1. Time: 1:55.21. Owner: Al Jeryan Stud. Trainer: Hussein al-Ramzani.
Race 3: 1. My First General (Gaetan Faucon), 2. Mohssn (Marco Monteriso), 3. Al Mirzem (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Al Malhouf (JP Guillambert). Won by: 1, ¾, 2 ½. Time: 2:07.16. Owner: Patrice Nicolet. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 4: 1. Al Mazrooah (Gerald Avranche), 2. Muraqabah (Harry Bentley), 3. Zuzi (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Tanja Bu Thaila (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 1 ½, Nk, 1 ½. Time: 1:01.22. Owner: Dr Mohamed Rashid al-Ardhi al-Marri.
Race 5: 1. Haddaj Dukhan (Khadija Abdulwahed), 2. Al Sahra (Gaetan Faucon), 3. Fer’Ha (Marco Monteriso), 4. Kasser (Harry Bentley). Won by: Shd, 2, 1/3. Time: 1:46.41. Owner: Mansoor Misfer al-Shahwani. Trainer: Mansoor al-Shahwani.
Race 6: 1. Altarsheed (Harry Bentley), 2. Bluebeard (Gerald Avranche), 3. Sunley Pride (Xavier Ziani), 4. Adwan (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: Head, 2 ½, ¾. Time: 1:55.13. Owner: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 7: 1. Roman Legend (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. Itorio (Harry Bentley), 3. Moheet (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Risk Adjusted (Gaetan Faucon). Won by: 1 1/4, 1, Hd. Time: 1:36.21. Owner: Mansoor Ibrahim al-Mahmood. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 8: 1. Meqdam Al Zaidy (Saleem Golam), 2. Aaley Al Magam (Alberto Sanna), 3. Damas (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. AJS Al Rayyan (Harry Bentley). Won by: Hd, 1 1/4, 3/4. Time: 2:16.67. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.