A change in tactics and a step up in distance, and Umm Qarn’s TM Thunder Struck was back as a winner at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
In The Late Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani – Qatar National Day Trophy, yesterday’s 2000m feature, jockey Jean Baptiste Hamel had the Alban de Mieulle-trained seven-year-old stay at the back early on even as Djelamer, also trained by the Frenchman, set the pace up front.
On the home stretch, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Reda, ridden by Theo Bachelot for Julian Smart, took the lead but was soon joined by TM Thunder Struck, who went slightly ahead a furlong out and then held on for a half-a-length victory, sending De Mieulle and company into a boisterous celebration.
“We were a little disappointed last couple of races after he didn’t win,” De Mieulle told Gulf Times after the race yesterday. “He has proven that he is a nice horse. But with age, he is going to be eight years old soon, and he has raced a lot, you never know. We were not sure but I am very pleased about the win.
“We changed the tactic, came from behind, and he proved that he is still good for 2000m. We know he had a good turn of foot, and that came in handy. As long as you keep winning big races like these, it’s all good.”
Smart and Bachelot won the penultimate race of the day, a Local Purebred Arabian Conditions event over seven furlongs with Sheikh Mohamed’s She’ris.
She’ris stayed behind early leader AJS Anfowan on the rails. On the final straight, Harry Bentley moved Jassim Mohamed Ghazali-trained Rassan up ahead on the outside, with AJS Intifadah in pursuit. Half a furlong out, Bachelot hit the button and She’ris was off, going up on the inside and edging out Rassan for a fine win.
Mubarak al-Khayareen-trained Sir Guy Porteous made it two-in-a-row this season when Harry Bentley guided the six-year-old to a fine win in the mile-long Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75-95.
The gelding beat Stefano Ibido’s ward, War Order, in the final few metres for a win, while Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani-schooled More Than A Dream too walked into the winners’ enclosure with a third place finish.
Ahmed Kobeissi-saddled Notalot continued with his impressive season when the Dr Fahad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah and Son-owned three-year-old registered his second victory this season yesterday.
Notalot had finished a creditable third last time round over a mile, but had opened the new season with a victory over the same course and distance as yesterday’s Thoroughbred Plate event for three-year-olds.
Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari’s Scudding was in early lead but could do little as Tomas Lukasek-ridden Notalot went past in the final 100m. JP Guillambert’s mount, Scudding, however, held on well for third ahead of Jassim Mohamed Ghazali-trained Vona.
In a thrilling finish, Al Murqab Stud’s Trading Profit picked up his first win in over three and a half years when, with Marvin Suerland, astride, the six-year-old edged out Mubarak bin Saeed al-Jafai al-Naimi’s Binzart at the post for the Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75-95.
Jean Baptiste Hamel had Rock Up take the early lead in the five furlong sprint but soon the seven-year-old weakened as Tomas Lukasek moved his mount Top Face up ahead.
In the final furlong, Zuhair Mohsen-saddled Trading Profit and Majed Seifeddine-schooled Binzart made a move on the outside, and eventually Trading Profit had just about managed to win by a short head, while Top Face held on for third for trainer Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani.
Ibrahim al-Malki’s Khataaf stayed unbeaten in Qatar with a terrific turn of foot in the final 300m of the Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70-90, to lead a one-two for the trainer.
Saleem Golam waited for the perfect moment before letting his three-year-old ride surge forward leaving early leader Perfect Storm, ridden by Eduardo Pedroza in the colours of Lulwa Al Saphinat Racing, behind in the final few metres.
Mohamed Jassim Ghazali-trained Carigrad settled for third under JP Guillambert.
Trainer Hossin Mohamed Ashour opened the day with two straight wins with Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Mouzdaher racing to a fine win on his Qatar debut under Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim, and Al Mirzem impressing with his second straight win around the QREC track.
While Al Mouzdaher won the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate event for four-year-olds, Nasser Abdulla al-Attiyah-owned Al Mirzem topped the Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 95 and below under Marvin Suerland.
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Al Mouzdaher (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Diese (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Deebaj (Theo Bachelot), 4. Djumana KB (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 1, ¾, HD. Time: 1:45.27. Owner: Al Shaqab Racing. Trainer: Hossin Mohamed Ashour.
Race 2: 1. Al Mirzem (Marvin Suerland), 2. Yatzakhan (Saleem Golam), 3. Zahwah (Theo Bachelot), 4. Bahia Du Barthas (Harry Bentley). Won by: 3 ¾, Nk, 1 ½. Time: 1:43.68. Owner: Nasser Abdulla al-Attiyah. Trainer: Hossin Mohamed Ashour.
Race 3: 1. Khataaf (Saleem Golam), 2. Perfect Storm (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Carigrad (JP Guillambert), 4. Djaouad (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 1, 1, 1 ½. Time: 2:03.16. Owner: Ibrahim al-Malki. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 4: 1. Trading Profit (Marvin Suerland), 2. Binzart (Darren Williams), 3. Top Face (Tomas Lukasek), 4. French Encore (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: Shd, ½, ¾. Time: 00:58.27. Owner: Al Murqab Stud. Trainer: Zuhair Mohsen.
Race 5: 1. Notalot (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Scudding (JP Guillambert), 3. Vona (Harry Bentley), 4. Burishoole Abbey (Pier Convertino). Won by: 1 ¼, Nk, Hd. Time: 1:22.91. Owner: Dr Fahad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah and son. Trainer: Ahmed Kobeissi.
Race 6: 1. Sir Guy Porteous (Harry Bentley), 2. War Order (Carlo Fiocchi), 3. More Than A Dream (Marc Lerner), 4. Moheet (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: ½, 2, ½. Time: 1:35.63. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Mubarak al-Khayareen.
Race 7: 1. She’ris (Theo Bachelot), 2. Rassan (Harry Bentley), 3. AJS Intifadah (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. AJS Anfowan (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: Hd, ¾, No. Time: 1:31.18. Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 8: 1. TM Thunder Struck (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. Reda (Theo Bachelot), 3. Mahess Du Soleil (Carlo Fiocchi), 4. Messine De Sinuhe (Harry Bentley). Won by: ½, 3 ½, 1. Time: 2:13.45. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Minister of Culture and Sports HE Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali (second from left), QREC chairman Issa al-Mohannadi (third from right), QREC general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi (second from right) and QREC Board member Khalid Mohamed al-Ali (right) with the winners of The Late Sheikh Jassim bin Mohamed Al Thani u2013 Qatar National Day Trophy after Umm Qarn’s TM Thunder Struck won the 2000m race at the QREC yesterday. At right, jockey Jean Baptiste Hamel (left) rides TM Thunder Struck to victory ahead of Reda, ridden by Theo Bachelot. PICTURES: Juhaim
