Fouladh thwarts Laheeb Al Shahania to retain Al Wakra Cup

QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain is seen with the winners of the Al Wakra Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURE: Juhaim

By Chris Hoover/Doha

Alban de Mieulle trained Fouladh (Amer-Jaljalah) thwarted the late challenge of Laheeb Al Shahania and Thawi to win the Al Wakra Cup, the feature event of yesterday’s races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. Incidentally, Fouladh was the winner of the event in 2012 as well.

Mekhbatt put in a fast run to take over the running with Zahi in close attendance, while Fouladh getting a comfortable position in mid group along with Laheeb Al Shahania and Thawi.

Mekbhatt continued his foray deep into the homestretch but Fouladh (David Bouland up) came through in the centre of the track to measure the front runner with about 200 metres left in the race. In the meanwhile, Laheeb Al Shahania showed out in the middle with a brilliant flourish. Fouladh was unrelenting as he went away for a comfortable win over Laheeb Al Shahania and Thawi.

Trainer de Mieulle was pleased with the performance of Fouladh. “In the previous race, Fouladh was a little unfit but today he was simply superb. He is now fit and ready for the big events of the season. We have pinned our hopes on him,” Mieulle told the Gulf Times.

Al Abid trained Al Wasmiya (Salim Golam up) broke through the maiden ranks with a dominating performance in the local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Nayel Al Mona cut the wind with Al Wasmiya just beside and Haidara biding its time on the wider outside. Approaching the last 250 metres Al Wasmiya made headway to take over the running and stayed well. Haidara was all along the straight improving along the inner path to take the second place. Napolean finished third ahead of Nayel Al Mona.

Injaaz Stud’s Livia (Dormane-Cary De Carrere) from the stables of Mohammed Hussain recorded her first victory with a comprehensive win in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Shadeed Al Hana showed plenty of early speed to lead the field followed closely by Rodha Al Sakab, Ugo Des Vialettes and Livia. Declan Cannon got the four-year old bay filly Livia to get to a striking position behind the leader as they rounded the turn and galloped strongly to surge forward midway up the straight. Ugo Des Vialettes held on gamely to finish second from the late finishing Ashkal.

Zohair Moghsen nurtured Conversing was confidently piloted by jockey Golam to win the lower division of the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Hello Dubai set out in front followed by Conversing and Malaga Dream. As they moved into the straight, Hello Dubai shortened her strides, while Conversing began to quicken on the outside and Substantiate making his bid on the outside. Inside the final furlong, Conversing stepped up pace and travelled better to enter the winners enclosure. Maqamaat and Francisco finished third and fourth respectively. In the upoper division of the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, Majid Safedeen saddled Mojave Desert reigned supreme with an authoritative win over Brief Chat and Robbamma.

The most competitive finish of the day was seen in the 1,850 metres Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 75 to 95. More than half a dozen horses were in a line in the final furlong but it was Ahmed Kobeissi’s Exodus who managed to steal the race in the final strides of the race from Edith Cowan and Fauvism.

Despite running after a long layoff, Collect Art gave a good account of himself with an exciting win in the Thoroughbred Conditions race, run over six furlongs. Though the in form Gojeri had stolen a march, Gerald Avranche brought Collect Art into contention with a ground devouring run. The duo battled it out in the final 50 metres, but it was Collect Art which got stronger at the finish to win by a neck.

In the day’s other races, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s  Aziz Al Shahania (J.P. Guillambert astride) recorded an encore with a runaway victory in the Pure Arabian Graduation Plate, while Abdulaziz al-Qaithri’s Elkhart put in a dazzling display while annexing the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 60 to 80.

Results:

1st race: Al Wasmiya (Salim Golam) 1, Haidara 2, Napolean 3. Nayel Al Mona 4. Won by: 3 ½, 1 ¼, 2 ½. Time: 1:29.83. Trained by: B Al Abid. Owned by: Ali bin Hamad bin Ali al-Attiya

2nd race: Livia (Declan Cannon) 1, Ugo Des Vialettes 2, Ashkal 3. Rodha Al Sakab 4. Won by: 4, ½, 3. Time: 1:55.74. Trained by: Mohammed Hussain. Owned by: Injaaz Stud

3rd race: Mojave Desert (Adnan Hawa) 1, Brief Chat 2, Robbamma 3, Court Life 4. Won by: 1, Shd, 1 ½. Time: 1:27.91. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Mubarak Saeed al-Naimi

4th race: Conversing (Salim Golam) 1, Substantiate 2, Maqamaat 3, Francisco 4. Won by: 1 ¼, 1 ½, 1. Time: 1:28.35. Trained by: Zohair Moghsen. Owned by: Jassim Abdulaziz al-Boenain

5th race: Aziz Al Shahania (J.P. Guillambert) 1, Amour N; Al Maury 2, Besher Al Naif 3, Wadeea 4. Won by: 1 ½, 2 ½, ½. Time: 1:36.49. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani

6th race: Elkhart (Marco Monteriso) 1, Hi Holy 2, Power Punch 3, Azma 4. Won by: 4, Nk, ¾. Time: 1:40.62. Trained by: Abdulaziz al-Qaithri. Owned by: Abdulaziz Ali al-Qaithri

7th race: Exodus (Pier Convertino) 1, Edith Cowan 2, Fauvism 3, Rockinante 4. Won by: Hd, ½, ¾. Time: 1:57.15. Trained by: Ahmed Kobeissi. Owned by: Nasser Mohammed Kazim al-Ansari

8th race: Collect Art (Gerald Avranche) 1, Gojeri 2, Footloose Man 3, Kool Henry 4. Won by: Nk, 1 ½, Hd. Time: 1:01.35. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Al Ghazali Stud

9th race: Fouladh (David Bouland) 1, Laheeb Al Shahania 2, Thawi 3, Raihan 4. Won by: ¾, Shd, ¾. Time: 1:50.89. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn