Khalid Mohammed al-Harami-owned Sun Amer showed grit and determination to claim the Muaither Cup at the Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
The six-year-old grey horse overcame the widest draw in the process to win the Purebred Arabian Handicap over 1700m race. The grey horse was settled towards the rear before making smooth, steady progress, then hitting top gear in the home straight. Under Soufiane Saadi, he edged out the brave Salwa in a fierce battle to snatch victory by a head for owner Khalid Mohammed al-Harami and trainer Bader al-Balushi. Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of QREC Racing Operations Section, crowned the winners.
In the card opener, Thunder Valley returned to winning ways with a determined late effort in the Thoroughbred Handicap (45–65) for three-year-old+ over 2500m, Class 6, edging clear by one and a quarter lengths in a field of 12 runners. The six-year-old chestnut gelding, owned by Maryam Abdulrahman al-Jaber, trained by Hadi al-Ramzani and ridden by Arnaud de Lepine, scored for the second time from four starts this season with a performance full of resolve.
Nahar also showed determination and patience to open his account in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for 3-7-year-olds over 1200m, Class 6, prevailing by a neck in a contest featuring eight runners. The five-year-old bay gelding, owned by Al Hajaj Farm, trained by Hamad al-Jehani and ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot, built on a runner-up effort last time out to shed his maiden status at the 10th start of his career.
Earlier, Kafalat produced a dominant performance to land the Purebred Arabian Handicap (55–75) for three-year-old+ over 1900m, Class 5, asserting his authority by four lengths in a competitive field of 14 runners. Carrying the highest weight, the four-year-old grey colt confirmed his progressive profile with a second straight victory, racing in the colours of Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, prepared by Ahmed Kobeissi and partnered by Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik.
Za’eer Al Shahania capped the meeting with a commanding performance in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (75–95) for four-year-old+ over 1900m, Class 3, drawing clear by three and three-quarter lengths from nine runners. The four-year-old grey colt, representing and prepared by Osama Omer al-Dafea and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, continued his consistent campaign with a third win of the season to go with two placed efforts.
RESULTS
27th Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Muaither Cup
WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - Muaither Cup - Purebred Arabian Handicap 80-100 (Class 2)
Sun Amer, Bader al-Balushi, Soufiane Saadi
2 - Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-65)
Suheal Qatar, Abdulaziz Hamad al-Marri, Saleh Salem al-Marri
3 - Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (75-95)
Za'eer Al Shahania, Eng. Osama Omer al-Dafea, Faleh Bughenaim
4 - Purebred Arabian Handicap (55-75)
Kafalat, Ahmed Kobeissi, Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik
5 - Thoroughbred Handicap 0-75, 3YO+, 1900m
Loaded Gun, Jassim al-Ghazali, Saleh Salem al-Marri
6 - Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Plate
Fathi, Fahad Rashid al-Khayarin, Saleh Salem al-Marri
7 - Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate
Nahar, Hamad al-Jehani, Pierre Charles Boudot
8 - Thoroughbred Handicap (45-65)
Thunder Valley, Hadi al-Ramzani, Arnaud De Lepine