Equinoxe, ridden by Soufiane Saadi, won the Al Hamla Cup, the feature event of the races at the Al Rayyan Racecourse on Thursday. It was Alban de Mieulle-trained four-year-old colt’s fifth win in nine career starts.
Equinoxe’s connections took home QR57,000 in prize money, with race worth QR100,000. QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi gave away the prizes. Guided by Marco Casamento, Sky Blue was second in the race, receiving QR22,000 while Faleh Bughanaim-helmed Al Shomos picked QR11,000 for third spot.
Also yesterday, Receding Waves looked in top form with jockey Saadi bagging his first trophy of the night.
The Injaaz Stud’s Ali al-Kubaisi-trained eight-year-old horse notched a 1¾-length win in Thoroughbred Handicap. The connection of the horse pocketed QR57,000 for winning the title.
In the Purebred Arabian Conditions (CLASS 2), Arguya, ridden by Casamento, reigned supreme claiming a 2¾-length win in the 1400m Class 2 run. It was second title of the night for Injaaz Stud, winning QR42,750.
In Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 4), Better Than Ever clinched victory, with Tomas Lukasek riding the Rashid bin Mubarak Aljafali al-Naimi’s horse to a 1½ win. Better Than Ever is trained by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed. Sharq Stud’s Di Oco Py sealed the Purebred Arabian Handicap victory. Meteb Ali Al Saaq rode the Owaida Salem al-Hajri-trained six-year-old horse horse to a 1½-length win in the 1400m run.
Meanwhile, HM Al Bourak was victorious in Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, Seddik won the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate while Cruella Dovil secured the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 5) title.
Earlier on Wednesday, the first race meeting of the season featured the Al Ghariya Cup – claimed by Unbutton of trainer Gassim Ghazali. Marci Casamento rode the 3-year-old bay filly to victory in the Thoroughbreds class (2) race on dirt. Bint Saffian, ridden by Alberto Sanna up came second, followed by Hillside Dream, Anas al-Seyabi up, in third.

Winners
(Read as: Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - Al Hamla Cup - Local Thoroughbred Conditions
Equinoxe, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi
2 - Purebred Arabian Conditions (CLASS 2)
Arguya, Mohamed Ghazali, Marco Casamento
3 - Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 3)
Receding Waves, Ali Yousuf al-Kubaisi, Soufiane Saadi
4 - Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 4)
Better Than Ever (IRE), Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, Tomas Lukasek
5 - Purebred Arabian Handicap
Di Oco Py (FR), Owaida Salem al-Hajri, Meteb Ali al-Marri*
6 - Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 5)
Cruella Dovil, Hamad al-Jehani, Lukas Delozier
7 - Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate
Seddik, Dr Fahad Salman F S al-Hajri, Qais al-Busaidi*
8 - Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate
HM Al Bourak, Hamad al-Jehani, Tomas Lukasek      
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