|
|
Julian Smart trained Maseh posted a facile start to finish victory in the Al Britha Cup, which featured the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
Dictating terms right from the start, Maseh made every post a winning one. He spurted into the lead soon on jumping out and had Khabbab and Tameh towing his line.
On entering the straight, Maseh rolled on. Khabbab tried hard and even got to within a length of Maseh, but the Richard Mullen ridden chestnut horse never faltered and carried on his good work all the way home.
“This is an impressive performance by Maseh to win his second race on sand track this season. He was our lead horse last season and did not have many opportunities to excel. Now that he had the chance he has gone on to win both his outings. We have had a good start this season and hope it continues to remain the same,” trainer Smart told the Gulf Times.
Maseh, which is on the list for the auction sale on Saturday, is likely to skip it. “After seeing his performance this season, I would prefer to have him in the stables. I would request HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani to retain him in the stables,” Smart revealed.
Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari owned Mawatheek stormed his way to a scintillating victory snatching victory in the last few strides from Noorah who did nothing wrong in the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Noorah had a comfortable lead coming into the homestretch and she seemed to be going on well. Robbamma and Mawatheek warmed up in the final furlong and cut his lead at a brisk rate. In the final fifty, the Jassim al-Ghazali schooled Mawatheek flew in with a flourish along the rails to shock Noorah and win the thriller. Robbamma, too, did well to end a close third.
The trainer Ghazali and jockey Ladjadj combine were once again in the limelight with a popular double. Sandbetweenourtoes, under the able guidance of Ladjadj went on to win the Thoroughbred Handicap, a 1,200 metres contest for horses rated 70 to 90. After racing a handy second behind Sand Boy, Ladjadj alerted the Ghazali trainee to the task ahead. Once Sandbetweenourtoes hit the front, the four-year-old bay gelding went from strength to strength and stretched away to pile on a huge lead and win with a good margin. Sand Boy stayed on to take the second place ahead of Ghalaa.
Al Ghazali Stud’s Thawi pulled off a hard fought victory and jockey Gerald Avranche did well to get the maximum out of the six year old bay horse in the local bred Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 40 to 70. The fight began soon on turning for home as Al Munjez threw the towel in after raising some hope. Waad darted into the lead and had a slight upper hand when Thawi arrived to challenge. The duo were engaged in a neck and neck fight with Thawi gaining with each stride. Avranche managed to wriggle free and moved ahead in sight of the winning post and registered a convincing victory.
Al Brooq Stud’s Guide Al Khal put in a determined gallop in the straight to win beating Tuyoorna in a keen tussle in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 60 to 90. Al Mostarsil was in the thick of things until the home turn before Tuyoorna and Guide Al Khal came alongside. Guide Al Khal with German lady jockey Rebecca Danz in the saddle, produced an assertive gallop to win quite comfortably from Tuyoorna. Incidentally this was the second win for the German jockey in her new stint in Qatar.
Dhafi al-Ardhi al-Marri’s Abshar ridden by Declan Cannon scored an impressive victory to earn his second success in seven starts. Cannon was quick to settle Abshar behind leader Nayel Mona. Majd was up next along with Al Moheeb.
Abshar took charge as he surged ahead soon on turning for home. He sailed smoothly into the lead and worked up a steady gallop. Majd soon moved to second with Assil also improving places. However, neither could match the brilliance of Abshar. The Mohammed Hussain trainee won easily without encountering any resistance. Majd ran on to take second place and ought to improve after this run and may not take too long to enter the winners enclosure soon.
Mohammed Majeed saddled Jaaeyza won the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 50 and below, without encountering serious threats. Up in front early, the eight-year-old bay mare surged to dictate terms soon on entering the homestretch. She quickly established a handy lead and marched on ahead to score his third career victory. Maliha came with a good finishing effort, but was far too late to trouble the winner.
Debbie Mountain schooled Pawprints galloped to her third victory with a fluent win in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 50 to 70, run over six furlongs. Hassan Ali Abdulmalik owned Pawprints entrusted to Marvin Suerland, looked the part in the paddock and was quick to take the initiative at the. She grabbed the lead entering the straight and produced a fiery gallop to shut her opponents out within a few strides. She grew stronger at the finish and sailed home to post a memorable win. Yes We Can Dream came from the mid-field to take the runner up slot from a bunch of horses clustered together. Statesmanship did well to end third.
Results:
1st race: Al Mawatheek (Stephane Ladjadj) 1, Noorah 2, Robbamma 3, Melody 4. Won by: ¾, 1, 4. Time: 1:14.08. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari
2nd race: Thawi (Gerald Avranche) 1, Waad 2, Haizum 3, Al Yarmouk 4. Won by: 2, 5, Distance. Time: 2:09.50. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Al Ghazali Stud
3rd race: Guide Al Khal (Rebecca Danz) 1, Tuyoorna 2, Al Mostarsil 3, Ziraya 4. Won by: 5, Shd, 5. Time: 1:20.36. Trained by: Hamad al-Marri. Owned by: Brooq Stud
4th race: Abshar (Declan Cannon) 1, Majd 2, Assil 3, Al Moheeb 4. Won by: 2, 2 ½, ½. Time: 1:15.27. Trained by: Mohammed Hussain. Owned by: Dhafi al-Ardhi al-Marri
5th race: Jaaeyza (Mark Lawson) 1, Maliha 2, Qatar World Cup 3, Hatta Diamond 4. Won by: 5, 7, 9. Time: 2:06.48. Trained by: Mohammed Majeed. Owned by: Hamad bin Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiya
6th race: Pawprints (Marvin Suerland) 1, Yes We Can Dream 2, Statesmanship 3, El Ameen 4. Won by: 7, Nk, 2 ½. Time: 1:12.50. Trained by: Debbie Mountain. Owned by: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik
7th race: Sandbetweenourtoes (Stephane Ladjadj) 1, Sand Boy 2, Ghalaa 3, Compass Way 4. Won by: 3 ½, 1 ½, Nk. Time: 1:12.74. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari
8th race: Maseh (Richard Mullen) 1, Khabbab 2, Tameh 3, Saint De Faust 4. Won by: 2 ½, Distance, 5. Time: 2:07.84. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: Al Shahania Stud