Saadi leads Midrass to Mesaieed Cup win, completes double

Jockey Soufiane Saadi registering a quick-fire double as Ghazwan Racing’s Midrass won the Mesaieed Cup yesterday.
At the Al Uqda Complex track, Saadi guided the seven-year-old to win the 1400m Handicap (65-85) for four-year+ Purebred Arabians by a length and a half to land the feature race of the day for trainer Hadi al-Ramzani.
Saadi was in the winner’s enclosure early with Khalid bin Ghanem al-Kuwari’s Thunder Cat in the penultimate race. Thunder Cat remained unbeaten in 2003 with a second victory in a row in the Handicap (0-90) for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. Zuhair Mohsen’s trainee was partnered by Saadi to a half-length win in the 1400m race.
Abdulaziz Jassim al-Boenain, Al Uqda Complex Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
Earlier, Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani’s homebred Hallab came out on top in the 1,200m Conditions for four-year+ Local Thoroughbreds, as jockey Alberto Sanna, with a fantastic ride, guided the Mohamed Khaled Elahmed-trained four-year-old to pip Al Gamamah by a head.
Jockey Marco Casamento completed a double on the day as he rode the Triple Two Racing-owned Ikef De Bozouls to win the 2,100m Handicap (0-85) for four-year-old+ Purebred Arabians by a length for trainer Mohamed Ghazali.
Mohamed Abdulhadi al-Hajri’s King Of Ice claimed the 1400m Handicap (55-75) for four-year-old+ Thoroughbreds by three quarters of a length for trainer Dr Fahad Salman al-Hajri as the four-year-old broke his maiden tag with Ronan Thomas in the saddle.
The 1400m Maiden for four-to-six year-old Purebred Arabians saw Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred four-year-old Muna take the spoils by three and a half lengths for trainer Eric Lemartinel in an impressive performance under jockey Faleh Bughanaim.
Earlier, Sheikh Mohamed bin Salman al-Thani’s Observing kicked off the Mesaieed Cup Day making a winning Qatar debut in the 2,100m Maiden for four-Six- year-old Thoroughbreds. Ridden by Marco Casamento for trainer Jassim Ghazali, the four-year-old made it past the post comfortably, winning by two lengths and a half.

Results
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - Mesaieed Cup - Purebred Arabian Handicap 65-85
Midrass, Hadi al-Ramzani, Soufiane Saadi
2 - Thoroughbred Handicap 0-90 (3yo only) (Class 3)
Thunder Cat, Zuhair Mohsen, Soufiane Saadi
3 - Local Thoroughbred Conditions
Hallab, Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, Alberto Sanna
4 - Purebred Arabian Handicap 0-85
Ikef De Bozouls, Mohamed Ghazali, Marco Casamento
5 -Thoroughbred Handicap 55-75 (Class 5)
King Of Ice, Dr. Fahad Salman F S Al Hajri, Ronan Thomas
6 - Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate
Muna, Eric Lemartinel, Faleh Bughanaim
7 - Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6)
Observing, Jassim Ghazali, Casamento