Holland rides Theeb to Al Wajba Cup victory

Julian Smart saddled Theeb asserted himself in the 1,700 metres Al Wajba Cup, which featured yesterday’s races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. Theeb did so in fine style under the able riding of Daryly Holland as he staved off the challenge Falak, who put up a spirited challenge but was undone by the final  burst of the Smart trainee.Trainer Smart was mighty pleased with the performance of Theeb. “It is nice to see Theeb win again and I was confident that he could handle this set. Holland was impressive on the saddle,” Smart told the Gulf Times.Holland came with yet another power packed ride while steering Ibrahim al-Malki’s Rich Mistress to a brilliant win in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 0 to 40. Though Al Munjez (David Badel up) came up with a spirited effort, Holland’s persistence on the saddle enabled Rich Mistress to ward off the challenge of Al Munjez.Hamad al-Attiya saddled Sworn had to be ridden out by Syed Saddath to overhaul Handicraft (Adrian Hawa astride) to win the Thoroughbred Handicap which was open to Qatari jockeys and apprentices only. Though Handicraft had established a sizeable lead, Saddath timed his challenge to a nicety on Sworn, who got up just in time to win by In the day’s other action, jockey Darren Williams continued his good form on the saddle while parnering Majid Safedeen’s Talkhees to a start to finish victory in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate.Darren had another winner of the day when he rode Al Rayyan to a pillar to post victory in the local Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 0 to 50. Jockey Liam Jones used similar runaway tactics on Mohammed al-Sulaiti trained Jezia to emerge victorious in the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. The Essa Mohammed al-Sulaiti owned Jezia set a scorching pace and stretched away from the field to win with plenty in hand.Results: 1st race: Talkhees (Darren Williams) 1, Judgement 2, Sixpenny Moon 3. Indian Narjes. Won by: ½, ½, 1 ¼. Time: 1:11.50. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Ali bin Saeed al-Nuaimi2nd race: Jezia (Liam Jones) 1, Thawi 2, Bohour Al Naif 3, Dehen Al Oud 4. Won by: Distance, 2 ¾, ¾.  Trained by: Mohammed al-Sulaiti. Owned by: Essa Mohammed al-Sulaiti3rd race: Rich Mistress (Daryl Holland) 1, Al Munjez 2. Ajeeb 3, Al Falak 4. Won by: Nk, ½, ½. Time: 1:59.11. Trained by: Ibrahim al-Malki. Owned by: Khalfan Mohammed Ali Sheban al-Suwaidi4th race: Al Rayyan (Darren Williams) 1, Al Naif Sprint 2, Smiling Assasin 3, Mnif 4. Won by: 2 ½, 6 ½, 5 ¾. Time: 1:13.78. Trained by: A. Abbas. Owned by: Khalid Nasser al-Naimi5th race: Sworn (Syed Saddath) 1, Handicraft 2, Montfjord 3, Cidra 4. Won by: 1, 4, 1 ½. Time: 1:47.14. Trained by: Hamad al-Attiya. Owned by: Jassim bin Ali al-Attiya6th race: Theeb (Daryl Holland) 1, Falak 2, Jelmud 3, Rebelle de Faust 4. Won by: 1, 2 ¾, 2 ¾. Time: 1:56.77. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani