Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani-owned Barq Al Atam returned to winning form by clinching the Lehwaila Cup at the Al Uqda Racecourse Saturday.
Barq Al Atam showed trademark toughness to capture the feature race, a Local Thoroughbred Handicap (50–70) for three-year-olds and up over 1200m, Class 3, contested by eight runners.
The seven-year-old bay gelding, trained by Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki, won the race by a head, following up two recent placings to record his second success from four starts this season. He was partnered by Arnaud De Lepine. In the 1200m Local Thoroughbred Handicap race, the bay gelding followed up two placed efforts to record his second success from four starts this season, tracking the leaders throughout before asserting inside the final 150m and holding on gamely to prevail by a head from the fast-finishing Ghafan.
Breaking sharply with clear intent, Barq Al Atam moved straight into a prominent role, briefly ceding the lead to Doghan before quickly reclaiming control. From there, he dictated a strong tempo, with the order remaining largely unchanged through the early and middle stages as the field tracked his every move. Approaching the home turn, Ghafan began to improve into contention, moving up into third before pressing further to take second on straightening.
Barq Al Atam still held the advantage entering the final furlong, but the pressure intensified inside the last 150m as Ghafan launched a sustained challenge and momentarily edged in front, appearing to have wrested control. The response from Barq Al Atam was immediate and decisive. Showing grit and resolve, he dug deep once more, rallying strongly in the closing strides to reclaim the lead and thrust his head in front right on the line to secure a hard-fought victory. Ghafan, owned and trained by Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, was brave in defeat under Pierre Charles Boudot, beaten only a head, but finishing two lengths clear of the remainder. Mutamarrid, carrying the colours of Injaaz Stud and trained by Jihad El Ahmad, stayed on from midfield under Soufiane Saadi to take third, best of the rest behind the tightly matched first two.
Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of QREC Racing Operations Section, awarded the winners of the meeting’s feature contest.
