Though making his first appearance this season, Zohair Moghsen trained Qadir (Adrie de Vries astride) displayed his old brilliance while recording an emphatic victory in the Dukhan Cup, the main event of the races held on the sand track of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Al Naif Way hit the front as the field was dispatched for the 1,700 metres trip. Qadir raced a handy second, with the others close on his heels. Rounding the final bend, Qadir swiftly moved into striking position and sailed past the front-running Al Naif Way without any apparent effort and stretched away to record yet another remarkable victory. “He is an amazing horse and he seemed to relish the sand track. Qadir is a champion and he has proved it once again with this victory,” trainer Moghsen told the Gulf Times. “The only question was whether Qadir could handle the sand track. He works really well on the sand and the only bother was whether he could have the pace from the very beginning. Qadir did have the pace and he knows the track so well that he quickened when the race took a serious turn. He won very well and I am happy to be in a team with such a professional, set-up” jockey Vries said.
Mohamed Hussain saddled La Famiglia had to be ridden out by jockey Arnaud Bouleau to contain the challenge of stable mate Mganga (David Bouland up) to win the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 0 to 60. It was the power packed ride by Bouleau that enabled La Famiglia to thwart the spirited challenge by Mganga and Handicraft. Incidentally this was the second win of the season for the talented rider.Trainer Hussain led in another winner for day when David Bouland partnered Ridge Wood Dani to a comprehensive victory in the Thoroughbred Stakes. Darren Williams continued his good form in the saddle and gave remarkable assistance to the Julian Smart schooled Mansourah in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate run over 1,700 metres. Though lying in the mid bunch for most of the journey, Wiliams showed enough maturity in riding Mansourah plain hands and heels after coming through the shortest way home. Once put into top gear by Williams, Mansourah breezed past the front runners to win as she pleased. Saint De Faust finished a faraway second ahead of Rich Mistress. After having failed in her previous three starts, Al Muzdahir bounced back to win the Pure Arabian Handicap, which was open to Qatari jockeys and apprentices only. Now nursed back to top condition, the George Mikhalides trainee staved off the challenge of the opposition effectively to win with some degree of comfort. K. Ram was brilliant on the saddle while steering Al Muzdahir to a pillar to post victory. In the day’s other action, Thumal Al Naif (Marvin Suerland up), from trainer Mohammed Khalid’s yard, showed remarkable turn of foot while overhauling Al Muntakhab in in the dying stages of the race to record a thrilling victory in the local bred Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 to 80. Results: 1st race: Mansourah (Darren Williams) 1, Saint De Faust 2, Rich Mistress 3, Ajeeb 4. Won by: 7 ¼, 1 ¼, 2 ¾. Time: 1:57.66. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: Al Shahania Stud2nd race: Al Muzdahir (K. Ram) 1, Al Munjez 2, Laheeb 3, Al Falak 4. Won by: 4 ¾, 7 ½, 6 ¾. Time: 2:06.86. Trained by: George Mikhalides. Owned by: Sheikh Mohamed bin Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani 3rd race: La Famiglia (Arnaud Bouleau) 1, Mganga 2, Handicraft 3, One Cool Mission 4. Won by: Hd, ¾, 1 ¼. Time: 1:11.39. Trained by: Mohamed Hussain. Owned by: Ali Rashid al-Ardhi al-Marri4th race: Thumal Al Naif (Marvin Suerland) 1, Al Nashat 2, Al Muntakhab 3, Helu Al Maany 4. Won by: 1 ¾, 1 ¼, 7 ¾. Time: 1:55.55. Trained by: Mohamed Khalid. Owned by: Ms Subaiya Awad Ibrahim5th race: Ridge Wood Dani (David Bouland) 1, Varya 2, Baraari 3, Footloose Man 4. Won by: 3 ¼, Nk, ¾. Time: 1:09.71. Trained by: Mohamed Hussain. Owned by: Dr Mohamed Rashid al-Ardhi al-Marri6th race: Qadir (Adrie de Vries) 1, Al Naif Way 2, Batal 3, Al Bidah 4. Won by: Distance, 3 ½, 9. Time: 1:46.83. Trained by: Zohair Moghsen. Owned by: Hussain Ali Bukanan