Naseeb Zakhir lands Zekreet Cup
Naseeb Zakhir confirmed his rising form with a commanding performance to capture the feature Zekreet Cup, a Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (75–95) for four-year-old+ over 1200m, winning by four and a half lengths.Owned and trained by Osama Omer al-Dafea and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, the four-year-old grey colt recorded his second win from four starts this season, following two runner-up finishes.Breaking sharply from barrier six in the seven-runner field, Naseeb Zakhir was prominent from the outset, briefly leading before settling just off the pace behind early leader Azzam FBR. **media[394799]** Flanked through the middle stages by Al Wasmi and Khaled Al Shahania, he traveled purposefully before unleashing a decisive turn of foot in the straight, quickly asserting superiority. Al Wasmi, representing Al Wasmiyah Farm, finished second, while Khaled Al Shahania held on for third.Earlier, Aljalta delivered a breath-taking performance to open his account in the card opener, a Thoroughbred Handicap (0–60) for three-year-old+ over 1900m, Class 6, contested by 14 runners. The three-year-old bay colt, owned by Khalid Rashid al-Mohannadi, trained by Rashid al-Jehani and ridden by Alberto Sanna, dismantled the field with a staggering 20-length victory.Settled neatly in third after the break, Aljalta tracked the early pace set by Villain’s Voice, who was closely attended by Allegorical as the pair edged a couple of lengths clear of the rest. Aljalta travelled comfortably in behind, biding his time through the middle stages as he began to close on the leaders. Approaching the home turn, Sanna asked his mount to quicken and the response was immediate and devastating.Turning for home, Aljalta raced against his own shadow, unleashing a devastating turn of foot that carried him clear with every stride. He swept past the leaders with ease and quickly put the race beyond doubt, drawing further clear with every stride to leave his rivals battling only for the minor placings. Little Lips, racing for Mohammed bin Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiyah, trained by Jassim al-Ghazali and partnered by Marco Casamento, finished best of the rest to take second. Time Traveller, representing The Pearl Racing, trained by Mohammed al-Ghazali and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, stayed on strongly from midfield to claim third, a length behind the runner-up.