Jockey Stephane Ladjadj celebrates after riding Fauvism to victory in the Umm Taqa Cup, which featured the 22nd day’s races at the QREC yesterday. Pictures: Juhaim
By Chris Hoover/Doha
Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari owned Fauvism put up a forceful gallop to win the Umm Taqa Cup, a Thoroughbred Handicap, which featured the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
The Stephane Ladjadj-ridden Fauvism came with telling strides in the final 50 metres and thwarted the late bid of Pearl Bridge. The Ghazali trainee was up with the pace throughout and then capped it with a power-packed finish to land the QR 100,000 event.
Rule Maker guided the field into the straight with Fauvism ready to pounce on the leader. Fauvism understandably took the turn wide and soon jockey Ladjadj gave him the go. Rule Maker was shifting gears and stretched out nicely to build a handy lead.
With the others not gaining any ground, Rule Maker looked home and dry with a furlong to go. This is when Fauvism warmed up and started to bridge the gap at a brisk pace. Rule Maker, however, looked in control right through as he kept the momentum going. However the finishing burst of Fauvism saw the Ghazali trainee edge past Rule Maker to record a much awaited victory for its owners.
Jassim al-Ghazali’s Collect Art lived up to the promise of his recent runs and scored his third straight victory in the Thoroughbred Conditions race run over six furlongs. He earned victory alright as the Ghazali trainee had to find his way between horses to make a final successful bid. Kohala had taken over from early leader Hestian and put in a spirited run approaching the distance post.
With under a furlong to go, jockey Convertino poked through a narrow split and set Collect Art alight to time his final run to perfection. Colect Art managed to snatch the lead from a determined Kohala to etch out a half-length victory. Sydney Harbour and Gojeri came flying towards the end and finished a noteworthy third and fourth, close up with the winner.
Haifaa (Pier Convertino astride) trained by Alban de Mieulle rose to the occasion in a splendid manner to clinch the local bred Pure Arabian Graduation Plate.
Taking over the running soon after entering the homestretch, Haifaa found a good rhythm going and looked completely in command. The Mieulle quickly amassed a winning lead and looked the winner long way from home and galloped on majestically to win by a widening margin of four lengths. Al Shahania Stud’s Raheel was a faraway second ahead of AJS Fath Elkheir.
Earlier, de Mieulle and Convertino had combined to win the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate with Mujidd. After racing a handy second behind Mowhoubat Al Zaidy, Mujidd gathered fierce momentum in the last 100 metres and finished with a flourish to collar AJS Faraa Tazeez and Khafouqi in the shadow of the winning post.
In the opener, Mohammed Hussain saddled Nomaas scored a resounding victory in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate, making every post a winning one. Jockey Swanepoel had no trouble getting Nomaas going at the start and they shot into the lead and never looked back.
It was the Nomaas all the way and once he turned for home he galloped straight as an arrow, bounding forward showing fine acceleration and eventually outclassing his opponents altogether, clocking one minute 34.58 seconds for the seven-furlong race. Allegreto ran on to finish second.
