Al Rayyan Al Sakab wins Al Uraiq Cup in a thriller

By Chris Hoover/Doha

Al Shahania Stud and trainer Julian Smart had something to cheer when Al Atique and Aziz Al Shahania took the first two places in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. It was Aziz Al Shahania (Richard Mullen up) who set the pace and looked set to land the spoils but found stablemate Al Atique gain the initiative along the rails. The duo fought out a grueling battle but Al Atique grew stronger at the finish to pevail by a head. Jockey Marco Monteriso rode a well judged race on the winner.

Jassim al-Ghazali saddled Al Saad finally entered the winners enclosure with a hard fought victory in the second division of the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Al Saad was hard ridden to by jockey Mark Lawson. Jouharah who took over the running in the final furlong, flattered to deceive as he did not have an answer to the onslaught launched by Al Saad who warmed up in nick of time, and overhauled the front runner with something to spare. Nazza Al Uraiq came up with a long stretch run to snatch the third spot from Sodouh Al Naif.

Earlier, Ghazali led in another winner when Zakhir Stud’s Khalifa came good in the hands of Frenchman Gerald Avranche, who timed his challenge to a nicety while overhauling Fath Elkheir in the shadow of the wining post in the lower division of the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate.

Trainer Ghazali took his day’s tally to four winners with the victories of Inside and Abeer. Avranche steered Inside to a comfortable win in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 65 to 85, while Marvin Suerland piloted Abeer  to a one lenght victory in the Thoroughbred Conditions race.

In the day’s other action, Intizaa came through with a good run to pip the Umm Qarn duo of Suwaida and Khabbab to win the local bred Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 40 and below.

 Results: 1st race: Khalifa (Gerald Avranche) 1, Fath Elkheir 2, Waad 3, Sibeh 4. Won by: ½, 2, ½. Time: 1:20.00. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Zakhir Stud

2nd race: Al Saad (Mark Lawson) 1, Jouharah 2, Nazza Al Uraiq 3, Sodouh Al Naif 4. Won by: 1 ¼, ½, 1 ½. Time: 1:21.20. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Ali bin Abdullah bin Ali al-Attiyah

3rd race: Al Atique (Marco Monteriso) 1, Aziz Al Shahania 2, Ultimome 3, Al Pacinoo 4. Won by: Hd, 3 ½, 1. Time: 1: 45.79. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani

4th race: Intizaa (Sylvain Ruis) 1, Suwaida 2, Khabbab 3, Besher Al Naif 4. Won by: ¾, Nk, 1 ¾. Time: 2:06.43. Trained by: George Mikhalides. Owned by: Sheikh Abdullah bin Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani

5th race: Invincible Prince (Adrie de Vries) 1, Swingfire 2, Late Debate 3, Miss Clodia 4. Won by: Nk, Nk, Nk. Time: 1:03.43. Trained by: Mohammed al-Ramzani. Owned by: Mohammed Nasser al-Ramzani

6th race: Inside (Gerald Avranche) 1, Talkhees 2, Marinus 3, Hatta Diamond 4. Won by: 1 ¼, Shd, Hd. Time: 1:13.59. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Khalid Yahya al-Khussai

7th race: Rule Maker (Sylvain Ruis) 1, Nasr 2, Zakon 3, Iffraam 4. Won by: ½, 2 ½, ½. Time: 2:18.03. Trained by: George Mikhalides. Owned by: Sheikha Mariam bint Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani

8th race: Abeer (Marvin Suerland) 1, Hestian 2, Kohala 3, Itsher 4. Won by: 1, Hd, Shd. Time: 1:06.08. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Abdulla Mohammed al-Kuwari Sons

9th race: Al Rayyan Al Sakab (Marvin Suerland) 1, Al Mazrooah 2, Al Shaqab 3, Assil 4. Won by: Shd, Hd, 2 ½. Time: 1:33.35. Trained by: Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya. Owned by: Hamad bin Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Attiya