Darren Williams rides Agshar to thrilling win

Julian Smart trained Agshar’s consistency was finally rewarded when he recorded a thrilling win which had eluded him for a long time in the Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Cup, a local bred Pure Arabian Stakes race, the feature event of the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Trainer Smart was in the limelight, saddling three winners.“It has been a good weekend for Al Shahania and I am very happy for Agshar as he was a bit unlucky in his last run. In this company he did well to beat some good horses. He is a good colt and should win a few more races,”  Smart told the Gulf Times.“Raheel was simply brilliant tonight. If she had not won in the fashion that she did, we would have been disappointed. After finishing fourth in the Derby, Raheel had to definitely win a maidens race, which she did with a brilliant performance.  Mekhbatt  also is a good colt and looks to be good handicapper. I am very happy with the turn of events during this weekend and hope to continue in the same fashion.” Smart added.Both the divisions of the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate were won by Smart trained horses. Raheel, made it a one horse race in the lower division, winning by a widening margin of four lengths. Ridden by in form jockey Darren Williams, Raheel tracked Sibeh into the straight and then broke clear. Khabbab came from way behind to finish a suggestive second. Though it took her 11 runs to make a mark, Raheel, a progeny of Amer, appears to be a good type, judging by the ease with which she hammered the opposition.Mekhbatt was another who profited from his readiness to strike. After having finished fifth to Raedah in his previous outing, Mekhbatt managed to prevail at the expense of Shakeemah who threatened to overhaul the Smart trainee at one stage. Mekhabatt drew on his reserves to reach the safety of the post with a power packed ride by Italian saddle artist Pier Convertino. Jassim al-Ghazali schooled Zizanie Al Maury edged out Jezla in a close finish in the Pure Arabian Handicap for Fillies and Mares, a race for horses rated 0 to 40. Though coming late on the scene the Ghazali trainee rallied well in the final furlong to edge past Jezla in the shadow of the winning post. Frenchman Gerard Avranche was impressive on the saddle on the winner.Jockey Avranche and trainer Ghazali had their second winner when the former steered Al Adeed to a thrilling victory in the local Thoroughbred Handicap, a 1,850 metres race for horses rated 0 to 50. It was another typical Avranche finish that saw Al Adeed come with a late flourish to get past stable mate Al Mansoor in the dying moments of the race.Trainer Hussain Aashoor had reason to rejoice as his ward Michaelmas Daisy was taken on a successful start to finish mission by jockey Salim Golam in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 0 to 60. After hitting the front, Michaelmas Daisy kept a vice like grip on the race to check in well clear of Nasr  who chased without hope. Trainer Ibrahim al-Malki, who is going through a lean patch, had a rewarding day as he recorded a much needed victory. Mefraas recorded an impressive win in the 1,850 metres Thoroughbred Handicap, a race for horses rated 60 to 80. After loitering at the wrong end of the field, Mefraas came home with a big run to swoop past the front running Flying Lady to finally break the winless streak. Jockey Arnaud Bouleau rode a peach of a race on the winner.The feature race was held in honour of Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah. Speaking to reporters after the presentation ceremony, HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah thanked QREC chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani for hosting a race in his name. “I must thank Sheikh Mohammed for hosting a race in my name and I wish QREC all the very best in all their endeavours. They have been doing well and I am sure they will continue to promote the sport of our forefathers.”