Ushayqer claims Al Mamoura Cup after a thrilling victory

Jockey Alberto Sanna and Mohamed Abdulla al-Abdulmalik-owned Ushayqer teamed to win the Al Mamoura Cup after a thrilling victory in the feature at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Wednesday night.
The Mohamed Khaled Elahmed–trained gelding claimed quarter of a length victory over Dhergham Bu Thaila – ridden by Szczepan Mazur in the 1200m Conditions for three-year-old+ Local Thoroughbreds to claim the top prize.
Also during the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 47th race meeting, the Faisal Mohamed al-Naeimi-owned Chrome registered his second straight victory for trainer Hadi al-Ramzani.
The six-year-old gelding had won over 1900m last time out and had no issues to win again under Qais al-Busaidi over 1700m as he took the Handicap (75-95) for four-year-old+ Purebred Arabians by a length and a quarter.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalid bin Nasser al-Thani’s homebred Hazm al-Sulaimi and Al Naif Racing’s homebred Mekhdhim Al Naif could not be separated at the end of the 1200m Handicap (0-75) for four-year-old+ Local Purebred Arabians, registering a dead heat. The Gassim Ghazali-trained Hazm al-Sulaimi was ridden by Tadgh O'Shea while the Georgina Ward-trained Mekhdhim Al Naif had Alberto Sanna in the saddle.
Meanwhile, the 1700m Handicap (0-80) for three-year-old+ Thoroughbreds continued the trend of thrilling finishes with the Rashid Awajan al-Khayarin-owned Toromona, trained by Hamad al-Jehani and ridden by Hamad al-Jehani, edging out Smart Contender by a nose.
Al Thumama Racing’s Espirito broke his maiden tag for trainer Mohamed Hussain Afroz in the 1200m Handicap (0-80) for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. The bay gelding ran on well to win by two lengths under jockey Rashid Ali al-Saaq.
Earlier in the day, Injaaz Stud’s Nadiraha, on sixth career start, completed a double in an exciting finish to the 1700m Handicap (60-80) for four-year-old+ Local Thoroughbreds as she passed the post a head in front of Al Khor Surprise to give trainer Julian Smart and jockey Jefferson Smith a hard-fought winner. It was a three-horse battle as Mutamarrid was only a further nose behind in third.
In the meet opener, Dr. Fahad Salman al-Hajri was the first trainer on the board as Al Rakaben Stud’s Mukabr improved on his last three placed runs to gain success by two lengths and a quarter in the 1700m Arabian for four-six-year-0ld Purebred Arabian under jockey Mohamed Moussa, who rode his first winner in Qatar.

RESULTS
Al Mamoura Cup
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - Al Mamoura Cup - Local Thoroughbred Conditions
Ushayqer, Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, Alberto Sanna
2 - Purebred Arabian Handicap 75-95
Chrome, Hadi al-Ramzani, Qais al-Busaidi
3 - Thoroughbred Handicap 0-80 (Class 4) (Qatari Riders Only)
Toromona, Hamad al-Jehani, Salman Fahad al-Hajri
4 - Local Thoroughbred Handicap 60-80
Nadiraha, Julian Colin Smart, Jefferson Smith
5 - Thoroughbred Handicap 0-80 (three-year-old only) (Class 4)
Espirito, Mohamed Hussain Afroz, Rashid Ali al-Marri
6 - Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 0-75
Hazm al-Sulaimi, Gassim Ghazali, Tadgh O'Shea
7 - Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate
Mukabr (QA), Dr. Fahad Salman FS al-Hajri, Mohamed Moussa