Injaaz Stud’s Rayyan Bu Thaila secured an impressive victory in the Al Uqda Local Thoroughbred Trophy Open Race as jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot completed his treble at Al Rayyan Racecourse Saturday.
The five-year-old chestnut gelding, trained by Jihad El Ahmad, was settled off the early pace before launching a strong run to reel in the long-time leader and strike the front inside the final furlong, drawing clear to score by 1½ lengths.
Al Nasr Al Washeek set the pace from the outset and dictated throughout the early and middle stages, tracked by Barq Al Atam, War Boy, Saida and Al Faisal, with the field well strung out behind the long-time leader. Settling off the tempo, Rayyan Bu Thaila travelled comfortably in behind, conserving energy as the race developed. Approaching the final furlong, he was produced with a strong run, closing rapidly on the leader and the chasing pack. Once in front, he asserted and pulled clear in the closing stages. Al Faisal, representing Al Emadi Racing and prepared by Khalifa Hamed Nasser al-Sawai, finished second with Alberto Sanna doing the steering, just a head ahead of Saida, who stayed on for Time Form Syndicate, from the Hamad al-Jehani yard and with Saleh Faraj al-Otaibi aboard to take third.
Earlier in the day, Boudot had claimed wins aboard Toyota (Local Thoroughbred Handicap 0-70) and Reverberate (Thoroughbred Handicap 0-95).
The 57th Al Uqda Race Meeting at Al Rayyan featured a total of eight races on the card.
The Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate saw Salman Fahad al-Hajri steer Sharifa KA to victory, while Extension Of Kings won the Thoroughbred Rated Maiden Plate under Faleh Bughenaim.
Other winners included Waajidd (Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85), Mai Dubai (Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85), and Naseeb Zakhir (Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 75-95).
RESULTS
57th Al Uqda Race Meeting In Al Rayyan - Al Uqda Local Thoroughbred Trophy
WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - Al Uqda Local Thoroughbred Trophy, Open Race
Rayyan Bu Thaila, Jihad El Ahmad, Pierre Charles Boudot
2 - Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate
Sharifa KA, Maayouf bin Hashim al-Shamari, Salman Fahad al-Hajri
3 - Thoroughbred Rated Maiden Plate
Extension Of Kings, Bader al-Balushi, Faleh Bughenaim
4 - Thoroughbred Handicap (65-85)
Waajidd, Zuhair Mohsen, Soufiane Saadi
5 - Thoroughbred Handicap (65-85)
Mai Dubai, Nayef Batal al-Otibi, Alberto Sanna
6 - Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-70)
Toyota, Saeed al-Shafi, Pierre Charles Boudot
7 - Thoroughbred Handicap (0-95)
Reverberate, Hamad al-Jehani, Pierre Charles Boudot
8 - Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (75-95)
Naseeb Zakhir, Eng. Osama Omer al-Dafea, Faleh Bughenaim