By Chris Hoover/Doha
REC chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (third from right) and REC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain (right) are seen with the winners of Club Breeders Trophy at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim
Rashid al-Malki trained Nil Blanc asserted his superiority with a commanding victory in the Qatari Jockey Challenge Cup, a Pure Arabian Stakes race for four-year-olds, which featured the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrain Club yesterday.
Though there were was the formidable Tameemah  in the fray,  Nil Blanc gave no anxious moments to his supporters as he checked in well clear of his opponents under the able riding of Qatari jockey Jassim al-Kaabi, who timed his challenge to a nicety and sped away from the pack to win by two and a half length. Jassim has been the best amongst the local riders and he proved this with a brilliant ride on the Rashid al-Malki trainee, who has returned to the race track after recovering from injury.
Trainer Rashid was elated with the success of his ward in such a strong field. “Nil Blanc was a brilliant horse earlier in his career, but suffered a setback. It is nice to see him back in form. He looks good for another season and we are considering taking him to France later this year.”

Jockey Darren Williams celebrates after steering Al Uraiq to victory in the Club Breeders Trophy at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday

Majid Safedden schooled Al Uraiq recorded a thrilling victory, staving off the challenge of a late-finishing Al Majd to lift the Club Breeders Trophy, a Pure Arabian Stakes race for three-year-olds.
Hunting Tartan (Avranche up), from trainer Ghazali’s yard, showed remarkable turn of foot and stretched away in fine style to record a fluent victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap.
In the day’s other action, Khalifa Shael al-Kuwari saddled Al Falak had to be ridden out by Darren Williams to contain the challenge of Laheb (Mrvin Suerland astride) to win the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. It was the power packed ride by Williams that enabled Al Falak to ward off the spirited challenge of the runner-up.
After having failed in his previous three starts, Scotchman bounced back to win the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 30 to 80. Now nursed back to top condition, the Hilal Kobeissi trainee was brilliantly ridden by Paul Eddery to score a narrow victory over Mefraas and Kahail.
Results:
1st race: Al Falak (Daren Williams) 1, Laheeb 2, Thawi 3, Dehen Al Oud 4. Won by: Nk, 6, 1 ½. Time: 1:33.53. Trained by: George Mikhalides. Owned by: Khalifa Shael al-Kuwari
2nd race: Yes We Can Dream (Syed Saddath) 1, Trompetteiste 2, Pawnee 3, Sixpenny Moon 4. Won by: 2, 1 ½, 1 ½. Time: 1:39.71. Trained by: Mutasim Mahmood. Owned by: Adel Abdulla Mohanna al-Nuaimi
3rd race: Scotchman (Paul Eddery) 1, Mefraas 2, Kahail 3, Melody In The Mist 4. Won by: Nk, Shd, ½.  Time: 1:10.53. Trained by: Hilal Kobeissi. Owned by: Al Moqeerat Stud
4th race: Hunting Tartan (Gerald Avranche) 1, Subtefuge 2, Storm Sir 3, Mdawee 4. Won by: 2, ¾, 1. Time: 1:09.67. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Abdulatif Ali al-Misnad
5th race: Al Ghabraa (Gerald Avranche) 1, DamImat Al Naif 2, Mnif 3, Apache 4. Won by: 9, 1 ¼, ½. Time: 1:24.20. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by:Al Wasmiyah Farm
6th race: Dhaferat Al Naif (Erhan Kacmaz) 1, Thumal Al Naif 2, Jabar 3, Shiwhaith Al Naif 4. Won by: ¾, Nk, Hd.  Time: 1:31.51. Trained by: Ibrahim al-Malki. Owned by: Mohammed Khamis al-Kaabi
7th race: Ghazi (David Badel) 1, Al Muzadhir 2, Tsar De Faust 3, Fatek 4. Won by: 1, 6, 2. Time:1:32:77 Trained by: Yousef Bentaher. Owned by: Sheikh Tamim bin Abdullah Bin Nasser al-Thani
8th race: Nil Blanc (Jassim al-Kaabi) 1, Tameemah 2, Gayth 3, Za’eem 4.  Won by: 2 ½, 2, ¾. Time:1:43:54 Trained by:Rashid al-Jehani al-Malki.  Owned by: Dhafi al-Ardhi al-Marri
9th race: Al Uraiq (Darren Williams) 1, Al Majd 2, Mutamaris 3, Al Mustanfir 4. Won by: 1, Nk, 5. Time: 1:31.22. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Mohammed Abdullah Abdulmalik.