The two combined well to top the Al Shaqab Cup, yesterday’s feature on dirt, in a thrilling finish that saw the Jassim Mohamed Ghazali’s ward edge out His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Aaley Al Magam by smallest of margins at the line.
In the 2000m race for Local Purebred Arabians, Rassan tracked early leaders Al Marboush of Injaaz Stud and AJS Wathanan of Al Jeryan Stud.
Julian Smart-saddled Aaley Al Magam upped the pace coming off the final bend under Theo Bachelot, and was soon joined by Rassan, with Umm Qarn’s Damas in pursuit. A furlong out, Rassan gained a slight advantage and held on at the post for his 12th career victory.
Rassan had lost out to the AJS Al Rayyan, who finished fourth yesterday, and Aaley Al Magam when they had faced off in December, but did well to register a memorable win.
The win was Ghazali’s second on the day, having earlier won with Injaaz Stud’s Midaawi. Ghazali’s son, Mohamed, too had a winner — Moamar — also from Injaaz Stud.
Moamar, with Bentley astride, made it two-in-two, following up his 2000m turf handicap victory from two weeks ago, with yet another victory, this time beating Mohamed Nasser Abdulaziz al-Attiyah-owned Dheban by three quarters of a length in the 1900m Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75 and below. Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim guided Mountain’s Alizoom to third place in the race.
Bentley’s second win of the day was astride Midaawi, who beat Said Khamis al-Mutani-schooled Rock Up by a length, while Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani’s Poet’s Song completed the top three in the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 85 and below.
Al-Ramzani then had a winner in the penultimate race of the day with Waeed topping the six-furlong Local Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70-90.
Vaclav Janacek helmed the six-year-old gelding to a comfortable two length victory over Alban de Mieulle-saddled Mutawassal, while Bentley was once again in the frame, this time aboard Mohamed Rashid al-Kuwari-trained Akram.
Deborah Mountain-saddled Black Orange may have played difficult to mount for Carlo Fiocchi but it did prove to be a willing partner on the home straight for a win in the Class 5 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75 and below.
Fiocchi and his partner finished two and a half lengths ahead of Injaaz Stud’s Town Crier in the six-furlong sprint, while Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani’s China Club made it to the top three under Marc Lerner.
Earlier in the day, trainer Julian Smart and jockey Theo Bachelot combined well as two of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s horses — Stelah and Woodkid — shed their maiden status.
Stelah registered a smashing victory in the first race of the day, Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate event for four-year-olds, while Woodkid edged out Rich History to top the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event.
Zakhir Stud’s Dijlah Zakhir too registered her first career victory winning the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate event for fillies and mares.
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Stelah (Theo Bachelot), 2. Maraam (Stephan Ladjadj), 3. Jethjath (JP Guillambert), 4. Baltic De Saularie (Marc Lerner). Won by 7 ¼, Nk, 2. Time: 2:01.30. Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 2: 1. Dijlah Zakhir (Marc Lerner), 2. Deebaj (Theo Bachelot), 3. Hareemah (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Haleda (Carlo Fiocchi). Won by: 2 ¾, 1 ¼, ½. Time: 2:01.67. Owner: Zakhir Stud. Trainer: Mohamed Salama Salim Ashour.
Race 3: 1. Woodkid (Theo Bachelot), 2. Rich History (Marc Lerner), 3. Al Mikdam (Marvin Suerland), 4. Cristofano Allori (Darren Williams). Won by: Nk, 8, 6. Time: 1:49.90. Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 4: 1. Black Orange (Carlo Fiocchi), 2. Town Crier (Harry Bentley), 3. China Club (Marc Lerner), 4. Lawless Louis (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 2 ½, ¼, Shd. Time: 1:13.32. Owner: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik. Trainer: Deborah Mountain.
Race 5: 1. Moamar (Harry Bentley), 2. Dheban (Marvin Suerland), 3. Alizoom (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Truancy (Khadija Abdulwahed). Won by: ¾, 4 ½, 1 ¾. Time: 2:04.60. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Midaawi (Harry Bentley), 2. Rock Up (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Poet’s Song (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Saakhen (JP Guillambert). Won by: 1, ½, 4. Time: 1:30.74. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 7: 1. Waeed (Vaclav Janacek), 2. Mutawassal (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Akram (Harry Bentley), 4. Cannon (Gerald Avranche). Won by: 2, ½, 1. Time: 1:13.43. Owner: Rashid bin Mubarak al-Jafali al-Naimi. Trainer: Hadi Nasser Rashid al-Ramzani.
Race 8: 1. Rassan (Harry Bentley), 2. Aaley Al Magam (Theo Bachelot), 3. Damas (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. AJS Al Rayyan (Gerald Avranche). Won by: Shd, 3 ½, 3 ¼. Time: 2:22.43. Owner: Jassim bin Ali al-Attiyah. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
