Owner Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari has two winners, including The Blue Eye

The Blue Eye, the 2016 HH The Emir’s Trophy winner, and Footprintinthesand emerged winners in the two cup races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
While The Blue Eye, owned by Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari and trained by champion trainer Jassim Ghazali, topped the listed Al Safliya Cup for Class 1 Thoroughbreds, Ahmed Kobeissi-trained Footprintinthesand avenged his loss to Alban de Mieulle’s charge, Marjan, from two weeks ago with a win in the Al Wukair Cup for local Thoroughbreds.
In the final race of the card, Hadi al-Ramzani trained Goldenfield stayed ahead for majority of the 2400m race, before the 12-strong field picked up pace. Champion jockey Harry Bentley had The Blue Eye in the front a furlong out, and stayed on even as Julian Smart’s Otwo, ridden by Carlo Fiocchi in the colours of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, edged out Goldenfield for the second spot.
In the penultimate race of the day, Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim did well to guide Footprintinthesand to the six-year-old’s eighth career win, even as Umm Qarn’s Marjan was second ahead of Kobeissi’s other charge in the race, Sraab.
Fiocchi registered his first victory in Qatar this season, with a comfortable win astride Abdulahadi Mana al-Hajri’s Skate in the Class 2 Thoroughbred Conditions event yesterday.
Stefano Ibido-trained Skate had last won in November 2015, but did well yesterday to stay clear of the traffic in the home stretch, finishing just under three lengths ahead of Khalid al-Naimi’s Parkes and Ride, ridden by Gerald Avranche, while Majed Seifeddine-saddled Al Mohalhal made it to the frame under Darren Williams.
Al-Kuwari-owned Carab won a thrilling duel with Injaaz Stud’s Messine de Sinuhe by a head to win the Purebred Arabian Conditions event yesterday.
The mile and two furlong race saw Umm Qarn’s Gadab lead the pack but two furlongs out, Carab, trained by Mohamed Jassim Ghazali, and Messine De Sinuhe, schooled by Ghazali Sr, Jassim, picked up pace almost simultaneously, having tracked the leader early on.
Pier Convertino managed to keep Carab marginally ahead, as Harry Bentley had to settle for second, while Fiocchi completed the top three with Julian Smart’s Najda.
Qassy raced to his first win for trainer Mohamed Hussain when the seven-year-old narrowly won the Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 90 & below.
In the seven-furlong run, Marc Lerner guided the Al Thumama Stud horse to a quarter of a length victory over Al Shahania Stud’s Zahwah, ridden by Carlo Fiocchi, while De Mieulle-saddled Diese rounded up the top three.
Zuhair Mohsen’s ward Bluebeard made way through traffic in the home stretch to top the Class 4 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 80 & below. JP Guillambert had Elkhart take a narrow lead early on with Bluebeard a couple of rungs behind on the rails under Avranche.
Coming into the home stretch, the 16-horse field jostled for advantage. Ibrahim al-Malki-trained Neutron Bomb moved up on the outside under Saleem Golam, while Avranche looked for gaps. In the final furlong, Bluebeard found room and moved ahead, beating Neutron Bomb by one and a half lengths, while Elkhart held on for third.
In the first two races of the day, al-Malki-trained Khataaf and al-Ramzani-schooled Abha registered their first career wins.
 
RESULTS

Race 1: 1. Khataaf (Saleem Golam), 2. Al Mikdam (Marvin Suerland), 3. Acclaimed Dancer (Darren Williams), 4. Master Degree (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 3 1/4, 1 1/2, 2 1/2. Owner: Ibrahim al-Malki. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 2: 1. Abha (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Al Watan (Marvin Suerland), 3. Saar (Gerald Avranche), 4. Majwan (Jean Baptiste Hamel), Won by: 3/4, 2 1/4, 1/4. Owner: Al Jeryan Stud. Trainer: Hadi al-Ramzani.
Race 3: 1. Bluebeard (Gerald Avranche), 2. Neutron Bomb (Saleem Golam), 3. Elkhart (JP Guillambert), 4. Go Sakhee (Marvin Suerland). Won by: 1 1/2, Shd. 3/4. Owner: Al Murqab Stud. Trainer: Zuhair Mohsen.
Race 4: 1. Qassy (Marc Lerner), 2. Zahwah (Carlo Fiocchi), 3. Diese (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Mujahidah (Harry Bentley). Won by: 1/4, 2 1/4, 1/2. Owner: Al Thumama Stud. Trainer: Mohamed Hussain.
Race 5: 1. Carab (Pier Convertino), 2. Messine De Sinuhe (Harry Bentley), 3. Najda (Carlo Fiocchi), 4. Gadab (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: Hd, 4 3/4, Hd. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Skate (Carlo Fiocchi), 2. Parkes and Ride (Gerald Avranche), 3. Al Mohalhal (Darren Williams), 4. Moheet (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 2 3/4, 1, Hd. Owner: Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri. Trainer: Stefano Ibido.
Race 7: 1. Footprintinthesand (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Marjan (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Sraab (Saleem Golam), 4. Mosayter (Pier Convertino). Won by: 2 1/2, 1/2, 1. Owner: Mohamed Kazim al-Ansari & Sons. Trainer: Ahmed Kobeissi.
Race 8: 1. The Blue Eye (Harry Bentley), 2. Otwo (Carlo Fiocchi), 3. Goldenfield (Alberto Sanna), 4. Ningara (Pier Convertino). Won by: 1 1/4, 3/4, 3/4. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.

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