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| Jockey Gerard Avranche rides Tabarak to victory in the Pure Arabian Stakes at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Below, trainer Alban de Mieulle (right) leads in Tabarak. PICTURES: Juhaim |
Alban de Mieulle trained Tabarak made a smashing winning reappearance on the Qatar race track, winning the Pure Arabian Stakes, the feature event of yesterday’s races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
The Umm Qarn bred Tabarak, son of Nizam, had been an outstanding performer during the early part of his career. having won a Group race in Chantilly in July, 2011. However, his lone appearance later in August in Deauville was below par and as such, there were fears whether something had gone wrong with the talented colt. However, he has dispelled any such misgiving with a spotless performance. After racing in mid bunch, Tabarak came into contention even as Harran had established a useful lead. The duo fought out a brief battle for supremacy but it was Tabarak who got stronger at the finish and won by a length. This victory surely augurs well for the future prospects of Tabarak.
“Tabarak has been out of competition for the past months and to come back and win today was simply brilliant. I am very pleased with his performance and it is good to see him back in winning form,” trainer Mieulle told the Gulf Times.
Mieulle had another winner for the day when Halik (Avranche up) shed his maiden status with an exciting victory in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Huaca Hay shaped like a winner as she cruised into the lead with a furlong to go but she was floored by Halik who finished home with a big run to overhaul the front runner. Debutant Malaga Dream was a close third. Laheeb Al Shahania continued his winning ways with yet another brilliant performance while annexing the local bred Pure Arabian Stakes. The talented colt from Julian Smart’s yard is proving to be a game performer having won two of his three starts.
Mohammed Hussain saddled Iradah (Arnaud Bouleau up) came up with a spirited run from behind to edge past Manayer in the dying moments of the race to record a thrilling victory local Thoroughbred Stakes. Zohair Moghsen’s Qadir streak of victories finally came to an end, when the seven-year-old bay gelding was a beaten horse well before the race came on the boil.
Ibrahim al-Malki trained Cometh proved too good in the 1,200 metres Thoroughbred Handicap, a race for horses rated 50 to 70 (Div. I). Cometh left the field stranded at the top of the straight to win as he pleased from Namibian Orator who was in futile chase of the winner.
The trainer and jockey combination of Mohammed al-Sulaiti and Pier Convertino were in the limelight as the duo recorded a back-to-back double through Diamond Laura and Dahash.Itsher led from the start but slackened in the final furlong. Diamond Laura who was in hot pursuit, quickened nicely and won comfortably by a length in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 50 to 70 (Div II). Italian saddle artist Convertino was impressive on the saddle on the winner.
The Italian had to use all the resources at his command while steering Dahash to victory in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 40 to 70. Though Farraaha (Davud Bouland astride) came with flourishing run in the final 50 metres, Convertino and Dahash thwarted the challenge to win by a neck.
Jassim al-Ghazali trained Al Muthanaa recorded a splendid win in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 85 and above.
After being settled nicely in the mid bunch, Al Muthanaa, under the able riding of Avranche, picked up momentum even as Flying Destination had stolen a march. Al Muthanaa devoured ground on the outside and got past the front runner.
Results:
1st race: Halik (Gerard Avranche) 1, Huaca Lay 2, Malaga Dream 3, Al Jamaniya 4. Won by: Nk, Shd, 1 ¾. Time: 1:40.00. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn
2nd race: Iradah (Arnaud Bouleau) 1, Manayer 2, Qadir 3, Izala 4. Won by: Hd, ¾, 4. Time: 1:41.08. Trained by: Mohammed Hussain. Owned by: Dhafi al-Ardhi al-Marri
3rd race: Cometh (Andrew Elliot) 1, Namibian Orator 2, Apazine 3, Sworn 4. Won by: 1 ¾, 1 ¾, Hd. Time: 1:13.36. Trained by: Ibrahim al-Malki. Owned by: Mohammed Khalid Hamad Ali al-Khalifa
4th race: Diamond Laura (Pier Convertino) 1, Itsher 2, Archers Prize 3, Judgement 4. Won by: 1, 1 ½, 2. Time: 1:13.29. Trained by: Mohammed al-Sulaiti. Owned by: Essa Mohammed al-Sulaiti
5th race: Dahash (Pier Convertino) 1, Farraaha 2, Dharr 3, Al Muntaser 4. Won by: Nk, 2, 1 ½. Time: 2:04.98. Trained by: Mohammed al-Sulaiti. Owned by: Essa Mohammed al-Sulaiti
6th race: Al Muthanaa (Gerard Avranche) 1, Flying Destination 2, Spoken 3, Gojeri 4. Won by: 1, Shd, 1 ¼. Time: 1:24.16. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Shaheen Ghanim Shaheen al-Ghanim
7th race: Laheeb Al Shahania (Salim Golam) 1, Fouladh 2, Al Uraiq 3, Al Majd 4. Won by: 1, 3, Nk. Time: 1:32.55. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
8th race: Tabarak (Gerard Avranche) 1, Harran 2, Bin Amer 3, Tameemah 4. Won by: 1, 1 ½, 1 ½. Time: 1:32.99. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn