For the fourth race meeting out of five so far this season, champion trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali saddled a winner in the feature race of the evening, with champion jockey Harry Bentley riding Festive to a fine win in the Qatar Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) Al Rayyan Park yesterday.
In the 1700m Thoroughbred Conditions event for fillies and mares, Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Festive, third in the second feature of the season, did well with the Englishman in the saddle to lead a frame sweep for the Ghazalis. Pier Convertino rode Hillside Dream to second and Soufiane Saadi helmed Regality to fourth, even as Anas al-Seyabi guided Mualah, trained by Ghazali’s son, Mohamed, to third place.
A year after shedding his maiden status, Jassim bin Ali al-Attiyah’s Aneeq was back in the winner’s circle when the five-year-old ward of Ahmed Kobeissi topped the Arabian handicap race for horses rated 70 and below yesterday.
The bay son of Majd Al Arab had Ryan Curatolo astride for the second straight time, and the latter gave a fantastic ride as the mount too responded well coming on to the home straight for a blitzy run, winning by a dominant eight lengths.
Another horse that took a year to register his second victory was Ibrahim al-Malki-trained Admiral, who raced to a breezy victory under Eduardo Pedroza in the colours of Sheikh Khalid bin Jassim bin Thani al-Thani yesterday.
The colt won by a comfortable four-and-a-half lengths over stablemate Mister Mahjoob, who finished runner up under Ivan Rossi, ahead of Anas al-Seyabi-ridden Hashtag Al Galayel, completing a top three sweep for al-Malki.
Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani-trained Sarat Abha and Salem Fadgam al-Hajri’s Volage were among the Thoroughbreds who registered their first career victories earlier in the evening yesterday.
While Sarat Abha, helmed by Carlos Henrique in the colours of Al Jeryan Stud, was dominant in his almost six-length victory, young and talented Qatari apprentice rider Rashid Ali al-Marri was astride Volage as they held off a duo saddled by champion trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali at the post for a scintillating victory.
Mohamed Jassim Ghazali-trained Faadi and Hossin Mohamed Ashour-schooled Kahila Texas were among the Arabians to register their maiden victories yesterday. While JP Guillambert helmed Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Faadi to a fantastic eight-length victory in a six-furlong sprint, Gary Sanchez was the second apprentice rider on the day to guide a winner when he rode Hossin Mohamed Ashour-trained Kahila Texas to a close win in a 1,700m maiden race for fillies.
The owner-trainer-jockey trio of al-Kuwari, younger Ghazali and Guillambert also topped the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate. Dubawi colt Vedevani was well held on his last outing a week ago, but bounced back with a victory on dirt over 1,900m, conditions he seems to favour having won over the course and distance in March this year too.
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Sarat Abha (Carlos Henrique), 2. Al Khor Surprise (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. That Al Sawary (Saleh Salem al-Marri), 4. Al Qamar (Harry Bentley). Won by: 5¾, 5¾, 1¼. Time: 1:14.97. Owner: Al Jeryan Stud. Trainer: Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani.
Race 2: 1. Volage (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 2. Don Logan (JP Guillambert), 3. Hard Forest (Harry Bentley), 4. Dark Endeavour (Ryan Curatolo). Won by: ½, 3, No. Time: 1:15.44. Owner: Salem Fadgam al-Hajri & Sons. Trainer: Salem Fadgham al-Hajri
Race 3: 1. Faadi (JP Guillambert), 2. Al Mahyoub (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Ahzaab (Marco Casamento), 4. Maladh (Soufiane Saadi). Won by: 8¼, 1¼, 1¾. Time: 1:22.80. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 4: 1. Kahila Texas (Gary Sanchez), 2. Diyala (Harry Bentley), 3. Firdous (Marco Casamento), 4. Froufrou Al Maury (JP Guillambert). Won by: ½, 5¾, 7¾. Time: 2:06.83. Owner: Rashid Fahad Omair al-Jaber al-Nuaimi. Trainer: Hossin Mohamed Ashour.
Race 5: 1. Vedevani (JP Guillambert), 2. Almakfee (Luca Maniezzi), 3. Suprematism (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Reem Seattle (Rashid Ali al-Marri). Won by: 1, 7¾, 3¾. Time: 2:05.15. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Aneeq (Ryan Curatolo), 2. Full Risk De Lassos (Marco Casamento), 3. Saa’d (Soufiane Saadi), 4. Seddik (JP Guillambert). Won by: 8, Hd, 2¼. Time: 2:02.49. Owner: Jassim bin Ali al-Attiyah. Trainer: Ahmed Kobeissi.
Race 7: 1. Admiral (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Mister Mahjoob (Ivan Rossi), 3. Hashtag Al Galayel (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Al Huwailah (JP Guillambert). Won by: 4½, 2, 1¾. Time: 1:53.35. Owner: Sheikh Khalid bin Jassim bin Thani al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 8: 1. Festive (Harry Bentley), 2. Hillside Dream (Pier Convertino), 3. Mualah (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Regality (Soufiane Saadi). Won by: 1¾, 3½, 4¾. Time: 1:51.42. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali (sixth from right) poses with Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Festive, with Harry Bentley (third from left) astride, and Shaheen bin Khalid Shaheen al-Ghanim’s Hillside Dream, with Pier Convertino (fourth from right) in the saddle, after they finished first and second in the Qatar Cup at Al Rayyan Park respectively. PICTURES: Juhaim
