Grace Secret claimed the Asherij Cup for three-year-old+ Local Purebred Arabian fillies and mares at the Al Rayyan racecourse Wednesday.
The three-year-old bay filly recorded an impressive 3½-length victory on her seasonal debut to notch her second career win in just her third start, showing plenty more to give for owner Umm Al Shukhut Farm and trainer Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed.
She was partnered by jockey Alberto Sanna, who completed a double on the day, winning both the first and final races of the day. Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners. Sanna won the card opener – Thoroughbred Handicap (0-60) – with Injaaz Stud-owned and Jihad El Ahmad-trained Estithmar.
Jockey Soufiane Saadi also completed a double on the day as he guided Naseeb Zakhir, in the colours of Osama Omer al-Dafea, to victory in the Local Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate for three-year-old+. Saadi was in the winners’ enclosure in the fifth race of the day when he rode Faleh Suwayed al-Ajami’s Studio City to the Thoroughbred Handicap (60-80) for the three-year-old+.
RESULTS
3rd Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Asherij Cup
WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - Asherij Cup - Local Purebred Arabian Handicap
Grace Secret, Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, Alberto Sanna
2 - Local Purebred Arabian Graduation PlateNaseeb Zakhir, Eng Osama Omer al-Dafea, Soufiane Saadi
3 - Thoroughbred Handicap (60-80)
Studio City, Mohammed al Ghazali, Soufiane Saadi
4: Local Thoroughbred Handicap (35-60)Horse: Saida, Hamad al-Jehani, Saleh Faraj al-Otaibi
5 - Purebred Arabian Maiden PlateAzzam FBR, Fahad Rashid al-Khayarin al-Hajri, Abdulla Rashid al-Hajri
6: Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, 3-7YOs
Morello Man, Hamad al-Jehani, Szczepan Mazur
7 -Thoroughbred Handicap (0-60)
Estithmar, Jihad El Ahmad, Alberto Sanna
Jockey Alberto Sanna guided Grace Secret to victory Wednesday
Connections of Grace Secret celebrate after the bay filly won the Asherij Cup at the QREC’s Al Rayyan Racecourse Wednesday. PICTURES: Juhaim