Bentley rides My Sharona to sprint feature victory

Trainer-jockey combine of Ibrahim al-Malki and Saleem Golam post a double, so did Jassim Ghazali and Bentley

Injaaz Stud’s My Sharona sprinted to a thrilling Umm Al Houl Cup victory at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday, as the combine of trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali and jockey Harry Bentley posted a double.
In the Thoroughbreds conditions race, yesterday’s 1200m feature, Bentley had the eight-year-old mare go on the outside on the home straight even as Mubarak al-Khayarin-saddled Astley Hall tried holding on to his advantage under JP Guillambert.
At the post, My Sharona had picked up a thrilling victory by a head, while Ibrahim al-Malki’s Victory Laurel completed the top three.
Earlier, Bentley guided Ghazali-trained Hydroxide to his first career win in the Class 6 Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event.
The other trainer-jockey combine to post double was Ibrahim al-Malki and Saleem Golam.
Shaka Zulu led a one-two for al-Malki in the Class 4 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75-95.
Golam had the four-year-old gelding move into the lead off Gate 2 early in the 1100m run. At the business end of the race, another al-Malki ward, Apicus, came close under Eduardo Pedroza, but only managed a runner-up finish, staying narrowly ahead of Jassim Ghazali’s Hope Cove.
Khataaf logged his second straight win for al-Malki, staying unbeaten in Qatar, topping the Class 4 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 80 and below.
Golam had the gelding stay close to early leader Succeed and Excel, before surging forward on the final straight for a four-length victory.
Harry Bentley was astride Yaarmen, who managed a third, finishing narrowly behind Gerald Avranche’s mount Succeed and Excel.
Majed Seifeddine-saddled Cannon did well to step up in distance, topping the 1700m Local Thoroughbred Handicap event yesterday, having finished fourth over six furlongs a fortnight ago.
Yesterday, Darren Williams helmed the four-year-old colt to a fine win over Mubarak al-Khayarin-trained Al Jamaaheer, while trainer Mohamed Hussain managed his third top three result of the day when Jakom made it to third under Jean Baptiste Hamel.
In the Class 5 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75 and below, JP Guillambert guided Sea Here to a pillar to post victory over six furlongs. Saddled by Mohamed Riyaz, Sea Here stayed on the rails and into a narrow advantage over the rest of the field before increasing the gap in the final two furlongs for a comfortable finish.
Golam-helmed Disco Inferno beat Avranche and his ride Shaqran, who had done a good job tracking Sea Here early
on, by half a length in the final 50m.
Earlier in the day, Marc Lerner rode Alanoud to victory in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate event for three-year-olds.
Hussain-trained Risk Adjusted registered his first victory in Qatar when Avranche rode
the four-year-old colt to a comfortable win in the Class 6 Thoroughbred Novice Plate event for maidens and one-time winners.
 
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Alanoud (Marc Lerner), 2. Bint Alfahal (Almotasem al-Balushi), 3. Razad (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Di Na Py (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 3 1/2, 2 1/2, 1 1/2. Owner: Ahmed Hassan al-Malki al-Jehani. Trainer: Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani.
Race 2: 1. Hydroxide (Harry Bentley), 2. Enthar (Saleem Golam), 3. Off He Goes (Carlo Fiocchi), 4. Alhathrah (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 2 1/4, 5, 3 1/2. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 3: 1. Risk Adjusted (Gerald Avranche), 2. Top Face (Carlo Fiocchi), 3. China Club (Marc Lerner), 4. Beach Samba (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: 2 3/4, 1 1/4, 2. Owner: Dhafi Rashid al-Marri. Trainer: Mohamed Hussain.
Race 4: 1. Sea Here (JP Guillambert), 2. Disco Inferno (Saleem Golam), 3. Shaqran (Gerald Avranche), 4. Dancing Zafeen (Pier Convertino). Won by: 4 1/2, 1/2, Hd. Owner: Al Ghazali Stud. Trainer: Mohamed Riyaz.
Race 5: 1. Khataaf (Saleem Golam), 2. Succeed and Excel (Gerald Avranche), 3. Yaarmen (Harry Bentley), 4. Technicolour (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 4, Nk, Hd. Owner: Ibrahim al-Malki. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 6: 1. Cannon (Darren Williams), 2. Al Jamaaheer (Harry Bentley), 3. Jakom (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Hadeer (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 1 1/4, Shd, 4. Owner: Mubarak bin Saeed al-Jafali al-Naimi. Trainer: Majed Seifeddine.
Race 7: 1. Shaka Zulu (Saleem Golam), 2. Apicus (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Hope Cove (Pier Convertino), 4. Receding Waves (Almotasem al-Balushi). Won by: Hd, Hd, Hd. Owner: Ibrahim al-Malki. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 8: 1. My Sharona (Harry Bentley), 2. Astley Hall (JP Guillambert), 3. Victory Laurel (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Lupie (Pier Convertino). Won by: Hd, 4, 1 1/4. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.