Running his longest distance so far, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Otwo picked up his third victory in seven starts in the Late Yousef al-Romaihi Cup, the 3200m dirt feature.
Coming into the race, the Stefano Ibido’s five-year-old charge already had the 2800m Khor Al Adaid Cup (Gr3) to his name from January. The JP Guillambert-ridden gelding beat last year’s third placed Cameraman, ridden by Marc Lerner for Zuhair Mohsen Zuhair Maki, by two lengths at the line. Sheikh Faisal Bin Hamad Bin Jassim al-Thani’s What A Surprise  made it to third under Eduardo Pedroza’s ride.

THOROUGHBRED PLATE (3 Year Olds) (Class 2)
Eduardo Pedroza was astride a winner for the second time on the day when he helmed the Mohamed Hussain Afroz-saddled Poets Dream to his second victory this season. After having won over seven furlongs in February, the colt impressed many in the Al Biddah Mile later in the month with a fourth place finish. On Thursday, in the mile-long race, the Al Thumama Racing-owned 3-year-old picked up a close win, edging out the Rashid Mohammed al-Jehani-trained Es’hail, with Gerald Avranche in the saddle, by a head. Harry Bentley guided the Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi-schooled Anima Rock to a third-place finish.

THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 3) (75-95)
Al Murqab Stud’s Bluebeard went one better than his last outing to register his third victory this season. Gerald Avranche, who had guided the gelding to a C&D victory over 1850m in November 2017, helmed the 5-yaer-old to a thrilling victory over the Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim al-Malki-saddled Jewel House, who posted his best finish since arriving in Qatar from Britain earlier this season. Eduardo Pedroza was astride Jewel House, who beat the Julian Colin Smart-trained Al Shaman by a half a length for the runner-up spot.

LOCAL THOROUGH BRED HANDICAP (70-90)
Hadi Nasser Rashid al-Ramzani and Tomas Lukasek combined well for their second victory of the day with the Mohammed Bin Hamad Khalifa al-Attiyah-owned Abha continuing her upward momentum. The 4-year-old had finished third two weeks ago before following it up with a runner-up finish a week ago. On Thursday, the filly beat the Yousef Ben Taher Mehaoued-trained Montaser, with Jean Baptiste Hamel astride, by half a length in a close finish for the mile-long race. Gerald Avranche guided the Zuhair Mohsen Zuhair Maki-trained Saar to a third-place finish.

THOROUGHBRED
PLATE (3 Year Olds) (Class 3)
Tameem Sultan Ghanim al-Hodaifi al-Kuwari’s Beckton registered her second straight victory this month.
The filly, who had shed her maiden status over six furlongs on dirt, switched surfaces for the race on Thursday, and with Harry Bentley as her partner, did enough to keep her upward momentum going since her arrival in Qatar earlier this year.
The Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi-trained filly beat the Hadi Nasser Rashid al-Ramzani-trained Holy Shambles, helmed by Faleh Bughanaim, by half a length, while the Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim al-Malki-saddled Shobrom completed the top three under Eduardo Pedroza.

PUREBRED ARABIAN
HANDICAP (80 & below)
Marc Lerner guided the Mohammed Salama Salim Ashour-trained Al Eshrah to her second Handicap victory this season. After winning on dirt over six furlongs last month, the Zakhir Stud-owned 6-year-old was back in the winner’s enclosure, this time with a victory over seven furlongs.
In a comfortable victory, with two lengths and a quarter in hand, the mare beat Al Shahania Stud’s E’Zaaz, ridden by Gerald Avranche for Pierre Jehan Andre Deymonaz, for the victory. Mohammed Nasser al-Naimi’s Saab made it to third under Tomas Lukasek’s ride.
PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE (Div 2) (4-6yo)
After making it to the frame on four different occasions since debuting in Qatar in December 2017, Al Shaqab Racing’s Monfarid finally shed his maiden status on Thursday. Ridden by Qatari rider Faleh Bughanaim for trainer Hossin Mohammad Ashour in the mile-long race, the 4-year-old won with a comfortable two-length margin in hand at the line.  Rosauro R Ponce helmed the Ahmed Elbashir-saddled Fajr to a close second-place finish, that saw them edge out the Julian Colin Smart-trained Mohssn, with Tadgh O’Shea astride, by a short head at the post.

PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE (Div1) (4-6yo)
A step up in distance and a change of surface did the trick as the Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki-trained Abercrombie registered his first career win in the mile-long run on Thursday. After finishing fifth on his debut two weeks ago over six furlongs on dirt, the 4-year-old, ridden by Eduardo Pedroza in the colours of Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi, shed his maiden status with a fine one and a half length win over the Mohammed Hussain Afroz-trained Thamer, helmed by Faleh Bughanaim. The Alban Elie Marie de Mieulle-saddled Courgeon completed the top three under Jean Baptiste Hamel.

PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE (3 Year Olds)
In a race for debutants, al- Jeryan Stud’s AJS Jamra shed her maiden status on her first ever outing. Hadi Nasser Rashid al-Ramzani’s ward, ridden by Tomas Lukasek in the seven-furlong run, beat a packed field in spectacular fashion winning by four and a quarter lengths at the line.
Harry Bentley had Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi’s charge, Al Junood, split Al Jeryan Stud’s two horses, finishing second ahead of another Al Ramzani ward, AJS Rayah, with Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim astride.

LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN NOVICE PLATE (QATARI RIDERS ONLY)
Qatar’s Ali Khalid al-Mosallam helmed HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al- Thani’s Al Ghawja for the second time this season and went one better than their last outing together. 
In the 1850m race, Julian Colin Smart’s ward won in dominant fashion. The victory was the colt’s second this season. The Abdulaziz Hamad al-Marri-trained Zakhir Al Majd was second under Rashid Ali al-Marri, while Meteb Ali al-Marri helmed the Mohamed Hussain Afroz-schooled Fanann to third place.