On Day One of the 2018 edition of Qatar’s most prestigious racing festival, the trainer, who works with His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani and his Al Shahania Stud, changed that record with Reda racing to a victory in the 2000m Al Zubara Trophy, the first feature of the three-day extravaganza, yesterday.
At the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, Reda, who had finished behind Alban de Mieulle-trained TM Thunder Struck over the course and distance in December, was helmed to a fine victory by jockey Theo Bachelot, beating Umm Qarn duo — Olivier Peslier-ridden Majeed and Jean Baptiste Hamel-helmed Damas — for his fifth career win.
The victory was second on the day for Bachelot, who had earlier guided Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani’s Izghawa to a close win over Zuhair Mohsen-trained Broadway Icon, ridden by Marvin Suerland, in the six-furlong Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap event.
The win was second straight over the distance for Ibrahim al-Malki’s ward, having won on dirt earlier this month.
Two other jockeys who registered a double on the day were Tomas Lukasek and JP Guillambert.
First up was Haddaj Dukhan, whose winless run of eight outings this season, finally came to an end and how. Mansoor Mesfer al-Hajri’s six-year-old horse had seven top-three finishes, including six runner-up results, coming into yesterday’s Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 85 and below.
Yesterday, Lukasek had the horse take the advantage coming on the home straight in the miler, before Vaclav Janacek brought his mount, Ahmed Kobeissi-trained Khor Al Adaid, threateningly close in the final few metres before running out of track and settling for second.
Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani-trained Al Rayyan was the second winner for Lukasek, beating Mohamed Riyaz-saddled Burrishoole Abbey by a neck at the line to win the Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75-95.
Riyaz, however, snatched one in the penultimate race of the day beating an al-Ramzani ward. Receding Waves, ridden by Guillambert in the colours of Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari, beat Lukasek-ridden Poet’s Song to win the six-furlong Class 2 Thoroughbreds event.
Guillambert had earlier helmed Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani’s Rich History to a win in Class 4 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 85 and below.
Peslier too registered a victory when in the second race of the day, a Local Thoroughbred Handicap event, he helmed Mohamed Khaled Elahmed-saddled Sarmad Bu Thaila to a fantastic victory that saw the four-year-old gelding take the advantage early on in the 2000m race and staying on to go first past the post.
Earlier in the day, Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Mouzdaher registered his second victory this season, topping the card-opening Purebred Arabian Novice Plate event under Faleh Bughanaim’s ride.
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Al Mouzdaher (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Anwaar (JP Guillambert), 3. Diese (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Melk (Harry Bentley). Won by: 2 ¼, 5 ½, 3 ¼. Time: 1:32.29. Owner: Al Shaqab Racing. Trainer: Hossin Mohamed Ashour.
Race 2: 1. Sarmad Bu Thaila (Olivier Peslier), 2. Al Jamaaheer (Harry Bentley), 3. Abu Samrah (JP Guillambert), 4. Montaser (Adnan Hawa). Won by: 1 ½, 1 ¾, 1 ½. Time: 2:07.80. Owner: Subaiya Awad Ibrahim. Trainer: Mohamed Khaled Elahmed.
Race 3: 1. Haddaj Dukhan (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Khor Al Adaid (Vaclav Janacek), 3. Al Eshrah (Marc Lerner), 4. Al Malhoufa (Harry Bentley). Won by: Shd, 1 ¼, ¾. Time: 1:48.17. Owner: Mansoor Mesfer al-Hajri. Trainer: Mansoor Mesfer al-Hajri.
Race 4: 1. Rich History (JP Guillambert), 2. Alizoom (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. More Than A Dream (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Musical Terms (Harry Bentley). Won by: ¾, ¾, Shd. Time: 2:05.73. Owner: Hamad Ahmed Hassan al-Malki al-Jehani. Trainer: Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani.
Race 5: 1. Izghawa (Theo Bachelot), 2. Broadway Icon (Marvin Suerland), 3. Catch A Wave (Pier Convertino), 4. Hillside Dream (JP Guillambert). Won by: ½, 2 ¼, Nk. Time: 1:11.91. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 6: 1. Al Rayyan (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Burrishoole Abbey (Harry Bentley), 3. Ard San Aer (Vaclav Janacek), 4. Bluebeard (Gerald Avranche). Won by: Nk, Shd, Shd. Time: 1:37.78. Owner: Saeed bin Mubarak Saeed al-Jafali al-Naimi. Trainer: Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani.
Race 7: 1. Receding Waves (JP Guillambert), 2. Poet’s Song (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Black Beach (Gerald Avranche), 4. French Encore (PIer Convertino). Won by: 1 ¼, Shd, 3. Time: 1:09.25. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Riyaz Ibrahim Kasim.
Race 8: 1. Reda (Theo Bachelot), 2. Majeed (Olivier Peslier), 3. Damas (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. She’ris (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: 1 ¼, 1, 2 ¾. Time: 2:15.77. Owner: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.