By Chris Hoover/Doha Jockey Stephen Ladjadj rides Areej to a thrilling victory in the Rowdat Al Fares Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday
Julian Smart trained Areej recorded a gutsy win over Hibah and Tameemah in the 1,850 metres Rowdat Al Fares Cup, a Pure Arabian race for fillies and mares, which was the highlight of the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain (second from right) is seen with trainer Julian Smart (extreme left), Shahania Stud manager Daryl Duncan and jockey Stephen Ladjadj after the presentation of the Rowdat Al Fares Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Pictures: Juhaim
Areej (Stephen Ladjadj up) who was handily placed at the top of the straight, surged ahead when the race was on the boil and held on gallantly even as Hibah with jockey David Bouland on the saddle, came with a threatening run. Tameemah also put in an impressive performance while finishing a close third.
“Tameemah is a super horse and also to beat two Umm Qarn Farms challengers was also great. Areej is a nice filly who has been improving all the time. She is running in the International race next week which is a tough race over a mile,” trainer Julian told the Gulf Times.
Abdulaziz al-Qaithri schooled Dammat Al Naif set the track ablaze when showing a clean pair of heels to her rivals en route to a thrilling victory in the local Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 30 to 60. Dammat Al Naif with Seb Sanders in the driver’s seat came smoothly in the home stretch to take charge of the running and the Qaithri ward never seemed to be in danger of being caught as she stepped up the pace in the final furlong. Though Al Murassas (Darren Williams astride) came with a belated challenge, the power packed finish of Sanders enabledDammat Al Naif negate the effort.
Trainer Ghazali who has having a dream run this season added one more to his tally when Moon Boy shed his maiden status with a comfortable victory in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Ghazali has saddled 39 winners to top the trainers points table.
Jockey Alan Munro was at his aggressive best when steering Hassan Ali Abdulmalik owned Barq Al Naif to an exciting win over Zaeem Al Shajaa local bred Pure Arabian Stakes. With a power-packed ride by Munro, Barq Al Naif came with devastating strides on the wide outside to overhaul Zaeem Al Shajaa who was shaping like a winner. As a nine-year-old Zaeem Al Shajaa continues to dazzle and put in a gallant display before succumbing to the onslaught of the winner. It was indeed an amazing performance by Hassan al-Matwi trainee.
In the day’s opener, Julian Smart Agshar (Naif al-Hajri up) produced a sparkling run in the home stretch to overhaul Al Ejtiyah (Jassim al-Kaabi astide) to win the local bred Pure Arabian Handicap.
Alban de Mieulle trained Kalim Du Loup (Gerard Avranche up) was bang on target in the Pure Arabian Handicap , winning with a great deal of comfort from Kaher The Alban trainee who quickened well on turning for home, had the race well sewn up with Kaher trying his best to bridge the gap but not making any impression on the winner.
Results
1st race: Agshar (Naif al-Hajri) 1, Al Ejtiyah 2, Al Muntaser 3, Kuhlan 4. Won by: 2, 1 ¾, 2 12/. Time: 1:46.85. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: Al Shahania Stud
2nd race: Moon Boy (Yanis Aouabed) 1, Norsili 2, El Ameen 3, First Sea Lord 4. Won by: ½, 1 ¼, 1. Time: 1:38.23. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Faisal bin Ali bin Mohammed al-Attiya
3rd race: Dammat Al Naif (Seb Sanders) 1, Al Murassas 2, Al Naif Victory 3, Smiling Assasin 4. Won by: Nk, 2 ½, ½. Time: 1:40.74. Trained by: Abdulaziz al-Qaithri. Owned by: Saoud Abdulaziz Ali al-Qaithri
4th race: Barq Al Naif (Alan Munro) 1, Zaeem Al Shajaa 2, Al Adaid 3, Mothaber 4. Won by: 1, Nk, 2. Time: 1:19.37. Trained by: Ibrahim al-Malki. Owned by: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik
5th race: Kalim Du Loup (Gerard Avranche) 1, Kaher 2, Prosherpine 3, Colbanric 4. Won by: ¾, 2, Shd. Time: 2:07.81. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn Farms
6th race: Areej (Stephen Ladjadj) 1, Hibah 2, Tameemah 3, Ezaya 4. Won by: ½, Hd, ¾. Time: 2:06.79. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani