Nasser Saeed al-Eida-owned Gold Fleece opened her seasonal record with a Group victory, winning the QA Gr3 Khor Al Adaid Cup at Al Uqda Racecourse on Thursday.Saddled by Jassim Ghazali, the nine-year-old daughter of Nathaniel was given a vigorous ride from Marco Casamento in the concluding stages of the 3,000m marathon race to edge out Hamaki and land her first black-type success by a short head at the line.Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi crowned the winners.Earlier, Wathnan Racing’s Julica stormed to victory in the Thoroughbred Pearl (Fillies & Mares), securing a treble for trainer Hamad Al Jehani and double for jockey Theo Bachelot. The race was a qualifier for Shalfa race, scheduled during the prestigious HH The Amir Sword Festival at Al Rayyan Racecourse next month.Meanwhile, the trainer-jockey duo of al-Jehani and Bachelot celebrated their second victory when Ajlaan emerged winner in the Silver Sword Trial. Al-Jehani registered his first title of the day when Dandy Arabian claimed the Thoroughbred Novice Plate triumph under jockey Abdulla Rashid al-Hajri. In other races, Ray’q, ridden Lukas Delozier, landed the Local Purebred Arabian Conditions (Class 2) title while Ghanem reigned supreme in the Purebred Arabian Handicap 70-90 with Tomas Lukasek in the saddle.The Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85 (Class 4) saw Selous, piloted by Saleh Salem al-Marri, sealing a narrow win, while Alberto Sanna rode Rayyan Bu Thaila to win the opening Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate race.RESULTS22nd Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Khor Al Adaid CupWINNERS (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)1 - Khor Al Adaid Cup - Thoroughbred (Class 1 QA-Gr3)Gold Fleece, Jassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento2 - Thoroughbred Pearl (Fillies & Mares) (Class 2) Shalfa QualifierJulica, Hamad al-Jehani, Theo Bachelot3 - Silver Sword Trial - 4yo Purebred Arabian (Class 2) Restricted raceAjlaan, Hamad al-Jehani, Theo Bachelot4 - Local Purebred Arabian Conditions (Class 2)Ray’q, Rudy Andre Nerbonne, Lukas Delozier5 - Purebred Arabian Handicap 70-90 (Class 3)Ghanem, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Tomas Lukasek6 - Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85 (Class 4)Selous, Khalid Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, Saleh Salem al-Marri7 - Thoroughbred Novice Plate (Class 5)Dandy Arabian, Hamad al-Jehani, Abdulla Rashid al-Hajri8 - Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6)Rayyan Bu Thaila, Jihad El Ahmad, Alberto Sanna
January 16, 2025 | 11:57 PM