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Mohammed al-Sulaiti’s Dahash led all the way and held off the challenge of Ajab quite easily in the Al Zubara Cup, a local bred Pure Arabian Stakes race which featured yesterday’s races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. Dahash broke into a decisive lead inside the final furlong which in the end proved to be too big to bridge for his pursuers. |
Darren Williams had Dahash lead the field from the start with Arakan Al Naif and Ajab in close proximity. The rest of the runners were spaced out behind. Rounding the final turn, Dahash quickened for home while Arakan Al Naif failed to pick up speed and rolled out under pressure. Ajab, who entered the straight along the rails, was angled out to essay his challenge but he found the front runner beyond his reach. Dahash was in no mood to relent as he sailed to an easy victory. Thumal Al Naif who has been in good nick edged out Arkan Al Naif for the third slot.
Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya saddled Daiyala proved formidable in the local bred Pure Arabian Handicap, a race for horses rated 40 and below. The Mohammed trainee proved overwhelmingly superior as jockey Marvin Suerland had Daiyala take charge from the top of the straight and win quite comfortably.
Julian Smart saddled Jamra broke through the maiden ranks with a fluent victory in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. After racing a handy second behind Fazza’a, Jamra cruised away from the rest to win as she pleased. Vercors De Rovon who chased the winner in the final furlong took the second place ahead of Ugo Des Vialettes.
QREC chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (right) presents a memento to Minister of State HE Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Eid al-Thani, under whose patronage the were 48th day’s races were held at the QREC yesterday.
Jockey Salim Golam had to use all the resources at his command to contain the challenge of Valley Of Destiny while steering Osama Omar al-Dhafa’s Marked Card to a narrow victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 60 to 80.
French saddle artist Gerald Avranche rode out My Sharona to a facile victory in the local Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 80 to 100. Avranche preferred to wait with the Jassim al-Ghazali schooled My Sharona in a handy third position even as Bern Me Baby appeared to have established a comfortable lead. Avranche brought the Ghazali trainee into contention with a couple of backhanders and got his mount into top gear. My Sharona came with a smooth run to pass the front-runner and stretched out well to win by over three lengths.
Earlier in the day, the fleet-footed End Of Dreams (Adnan Hawa up) produced a sparkling run in the final furlong to assume command and dictate the terms of the race in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 50 and below, which was open to Qatari jockey and apprentices only. Under the able riding of Adnan, the Majid Safedeen trained End Of Dreams came along the rails with a smooth run and sped past the field to win as he pleased.
Mohammed al-Ramzani’s Invincible Prince easily accounted for the opposition in the 1,800 metres Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 60 and below. Jockey Mark Lawson and Invincible Prince hit the front and made every post a winning one as he raced away to a pillar to post victory in a smart timing of one minute 55.43 seconds. Sworn finished ahead of Chronic Flame, while Barzan was a faraway fourth.
Results
1st race: Jamra (Darren Williams) 1, Vercors De Rovon 2, Ugo Des Vialettes 3, Candahar 4. Won by: 1 ½, ¾, ½. Time: 2:06.41. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
2nd race: Daiyala (Marvin Suerland) 1, Ra’deed Al Naif 2, Jezia 3, Al Azuur 4. Won by: 3, 1, 5. Time: 2:06.71. Trained by: Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya. Owned by: Nasser Abdullah Khalifa al-Attiya
3rd race: End Of Dreams (Adnan Hawa) 1, Country Wolf 2, Dubai Tiger 3, Mganga 4. Won by: 3, ½, 1 ¼. Time: 1:13.80. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Ali bin Saeed al-Nuami
4th race: Invincible Prince (Mark Lawson) 1, Sworn 2, Chronic Flame 3, Barzan 4, Won by: 3 ½, 4, ¾. Time: 1:55.43. Trained by: Mohammed al-Ramzani. Owned by: Mohammed Nasser al-Ramzani
5th race: Marked Card (Salim Golam) 1, Valley Of Destiny 2, Andalieb 3, Exact 4. Won by: Nk, 1, 4. Time: 1:56.05. Owned and trained by: Osama Omar al-Dhafa
6th race: My Sharona (Gerald Avranche) 1, Bern Me Baby 2, Trompettiste 3, Honest Prospector 4. Won by: 3 ½, 1 ¾, Nk. Time: 1:03.47. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheikha Mariam bint Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani
7th race: Dahash (Darren Wiliams) 1, Ajab 2, Thumal Al Naif 3, Arkan Al Naif 4. Won by: ½, 4, Shd. Time: 2:12.12. Owned and trained by: Mohammed al-Sulaiti