Wathnan Racing and trainer Alban de Mieulle dominated the His Excellency Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy Day by securing seven victories out of 10 races on the turf track of the QREC’s Al Rayyan Racecourse Saturday.
Al Jeryan Stud’s Aafoor retained the His Excellency Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, by winning the 2200m race for the four-year-old+ Thoroughbreds. The victory came under the guidance of jockey Soufiane Saadi, who rode his second winner on the day.
In the day’s feature and final race, Aafoor ensured the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle remained with Al Jeryan Stud for a second consecutive year, successfully defending his title in the Class 1 Thoroughbred feature for four-year-old+ over 2200m.
The seasoned campaigner delivered a determined and resolute performance, showing admirable courage in the closing stages as he surged to the front and held firm under sustained, collective pressure to prevail by a neck. Prepared once again by M.H.K. Al Attiyah and partnered by Szczepan Mazur, the victory also secured Aafoor’s second victory in just three starts this season, finishing runner-up on one of them as well, and qualification for the Shalfa race at the HH The Amir Sword Festival in February.
President of the Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani presented the Rifle to M.H.K Al Attiyah, who received it on behalf of the winning owner Al Jeryan Stud, in the presence of Rashid bin Nasser Sraiya al-Kaabi, QREC Vice Chairman, and Ahmed Amanullah al-Shaibani, QREC Deputy CEO.
In the penultimate race on the card, Lippo De Carrere extended Wathnan Racing and Alban de Mieulle combination's remarkable hold on the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy by landing the Group 3 Purebred Arabian feature for four-year-old+ over 2200m, ensuring the prestigious prize remained in the famous colours and with the master trainer for a fourth consecutive year, following three successive renewals won by the champion Abbes.
A winner of the four-year-old edition of this trophy last season, the five-year-old returned this year to add the senior Gr3 PA title, underlining the dominance of Wathnan Racing and trainer De Mieulle by securing a seventh success on the 10-race card, with the victory coming under the guidance of Saadi, who rode his second winner of the day.
Khaddah opened his winning account in memorable fashion by landing the H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for four-year-old Purebred Arabians over 1750m, Class 2, prevailing by a quarter of a length. The grey colt, drawn in barrier one, built on a sequence of three runner-up finishes earlier in his career and delivered at the fifth attempt, showing both patience and a sharp turn of foot when it mattered most. Carrying the colours of Wathnan Racing, he was trained by De Mieulle and partnered by James Doyle, with the success bringing up a sixth winner on the day for the owner-trainer combination and a fifth for the jockey. He, further, retained the trophy for the same trio for the second year in a row after they landed the same title through Lippo De Carrere last year.
His Excellency Meshaal bin Ali al-Attiyah, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Bosnia and Herzegovina, presented the HE. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy to Sheikh Abdullah bin Tamim al-Thani receiving the prize on behalf of Wathnan Racing, owners of Khaddah, winner of the eighth race on the card. English jockey James Doyle also left a mark as he rode five winners on the day.
Sheikh Joaan also honoured the Al Sabiq Championship winning riders, in the presence of Rashid bin Nasser Sraiya al-Kaabi, QREC Vice Chairman, and Ahmed Amanullah al-Shaibani, QREC Deputy CEO. The traditional contest was staged as part of His Excellency’s Rifle meeting. The first four places were secured, in order, by Mohammed Kamaan Saeed al-Hajri aboard Malzoom, Ali Mohammed Ali al-Otibi partnering Shere Khan, Mohammed Faisal Abdulhadi al-Marri guiding Mahjooba and Saud Rashid Mohammed Meteb al-Saaq riding Kahilan Al Sakab.
RESULTS
38th Al Rayyan Meeting – H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy Day
1 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, Thoroughbreds
Aafoor, M H K al-Attiyah, Szczepan Mazur
2 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Purebred Arabians, Gr3
Lippo De Carrere, Alban de Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi
3 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Purebred Arabians
Khaddah, Alban de Mieulle, James Doyle
4 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Purebred Arabians
Mac'zoom Al Shahania, Rudy Nerbonne, Lukas Delozier
5 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Thoroughbred Open Race
Dark Trooper, Alban de Mieulle, James Doyle
6 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Local Thoroughbreds
Equinoxe, Alban de Mieulle, James Doyle
7 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, 3YO Thoroughbreds, 3YOs, 1400m
August George, Jassim al-Ghazali, Alberto Sanna
8 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Thoroughbred Open Sprint
Soldier's Gold, Alban de Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi
9 - Desert Rose Cup, Local Thoroughbred Fillies & Mares
Doha Bu Thaila, Alban de Mieulle, James Doyle
10 - Al Na'ama Cup, Local Purebred Arabian Fillies & Mares
Razika, Alban de Mieulle, James Doyle
