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Alban de Mieulle trained Muntasar was driven out by jockey David Bouland for a narrow win over Qassed in the Group III Pure Arabian Sprinters Championship, the feature event of yesterday’s races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. Qassed shaped to overhaul Muntasar with a furlong out but the four-year-old Majd Al Arab progeny put up a determined effort and pulled away to prevail by a neck. |
“Though having a bad draw, Muntasar did well to win here. It is very difficult to win a sprint race on this track but David did a fine job on the saddle. Though he took the lead a little bit early, Muntasar was upto the task on hand. We will race him in the International race and hope he can do well there,” trainer Mieulle told the Gulf Times.
Jassim al-Ghazali trained Ladyanne recorded her fourth straight win, with an easy victory in the Al Khariab Cup, a Thoroughbred Stakes for Fillies and Mares race run over 1,600 metres, which was the other added attraction of the day.
Ladyanne has been an outstanding performer having won over various trips. Now running in a mile race, Ladyanne ran unperturbed in the back bunch as Abeer and Al Faraaj set the pace. After gradually moving into contention, jockey Gerald Avaranche alerted Ladyanne to the task on hand. Her response was immediate and she sprouted a pair of wings to sail past the front runners and won as she pleased.
Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed al-Thani (right) presents the Al Khariab Cup to trainer Jassim al-Ghazali after his ward Ladyanne won the event at the QREC yesterday.
“Ladyanne is an outstanding filly and she won very well today. I am also equally pleased with the performance of Namibian Orator who was very impressive. They are both in good form and we hope they will win a few more races this season,” a jubilant trainer Ghazali said.
Ghazali completed a hat-trick when Kohala clinched an exciting victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 85 and above. Coming from way off the pace, Yanis and Kohala pounced on the front runners and later thwarted the challenge of Sydney Harbour to win by a neck.
George Mikhalides schooled Al Bouraq was a pillar to post winner of the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 40 and below, which was open to Qatari jockeys and apprentices only. Al Bouraq with Adnan Hawa in the saddle, showed enough speed to lead the way from the start and managed to thwart a strong challenge of Qabas, who came with a devastating run in final 50 metres but found the winner unrelenting to the pressure. Rich Mistress was a long way third.
Trainer Alban de Mieulle leads in Muntasar (David Bouland up) after winning the Sprinters Championship at the QREC yesterday
The local bred Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 40 to 70, was a keenly contested one. Al Mustanfir shaped to win as he went into a decisive lead in the final furlong, but unfortunately he bled which caused him to slow down. Al Mizan who had warmed up to the task managed to `neck` him home at the finish. Al Mizan gave trainer Mikhalides his second win for the day and jockey Nicolas Romeo his maiden success in Qatar.
In the day’s opener, Ahmed Abbas saddled L’Immortel finally shed his maiden status in his tenth outing, while recording a comfortable win in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, Al Doha (Darren Wiliams up) attempted to win with a start to finish dash but L’Immortel who did not allow the front runner much leeway, swooped down on her and managed to get stronger in the final 100 metres to win by a length. Villa Reigns finished on strongly to snatch the runner-up berth from Al Doha. Jockey Stephen Ladjadj rode a confident race on the winner.Trainer Abbas had another winner for the day when jockey Marco Monteriso rode out Periguex to an emphatic victory in the first disvion of the Thoroughbred Handicap horses rated 60 and below.
In the lower division, Ghazali saddled Namibian Orator was an impressive winner. Namibian Orator (Yanis Aouabed astride) had no problem in wining with a start to finish mission. The manner of this victory suggests that the Ghazali trainee is capable of an encore when saddled next.
