Sanna ridden Majd pulls it off in feature in tight finish

Former QREC general manager Saeed bin Ahmed al-Rabia al-Kuwari (centre), QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (fourth from right) and QREC vice-chairman Abdulaziz al-Malki (third from right) are seen with the winners of the Al Uraiq Cup, which featured the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURE: Juhaim

By Chris Hoover/Doha

Jockey Alberto Sanna rode out Majd to contain the challenge of late rallying Amirat Al Qaloob to win the Al Uraiq Cup, a race for local Thoroughbreds rated 60 and above, the feature event of yesterday’s races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. The Majid Safedeen trained Majd had finished a close second to Araam in his last outing and benefitted by that forward run to first nail the front running Ohud in the closing yards of the race and survive by the skin of his teeth over Amirat Al Qaloob who found the winning post coming a stride earlier. Italian saddle artist Sanna had a fruitful day booting home a rare double.

Ohud attempted to win the hard way by hitting the front as the field set out for the eight furlong trip with Al Moheeb racing in close proximity. Majd was in handy third position. Ohud brought the field into view and with Al Moheeb making no impression, charged for home.

Closer home, he was strongly challenged by Majd who came up with a striking acceleration and measured the front runner. Even as his supporters were hailing him as the winner came Amirat Al Qaloob with a late burst but Majd kicked on gamely to spare half a length at the finish.

“I know this horse well as I had finished a close second on the sand track in the previous start and won two races earlier. He was very good today as he relaxed well and when asked to quicken he responded nicely. I am happy for the stable as they have been very supportive of me. It is a very happy moment for me to win a cup race and I look forward to doing well in my future rides as well,” jockey Sanna told the Gulf Times.

Excuse To Linger plunged into an all out offensive in the final furlong and launched a fiery gallop to outrun Burren Quality and clinch a thrilling victory in the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate. Umm Qarn’s Burren Quality made all the early pace with Anna’s Pearl in chase, the others huddled in a bunch with Al Excuse To Linger in a close fourth.

The Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi owned Excuse To Linger with Sanna in the saddle, quickly moved up in the straight and after a brief tussle with the front runner in the final furlong, surged ahead and won in an exciting contest. Right To Dream came with a late bid to deadheat with Burren Quality for second place.

Hamad bin Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiya owned Muhim just about got the measure of front running Seif Al Jazeera in the final stride of the race to win the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Jockey Yanis Aouabed was able to extract a winning acceleration with a power packed finish, which was witness to an exciting duel. Abdullah al-Jaber saddled Mutazz pulled off a hard fought victory to shed his maiden tag. It didn’t come easy though, as Mutazz had to fight all the way to the wire to win the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Majid Safedeen trained Jallad went stride for stride with Mutazz but buckled in the final stages of the race. Moddhish came with a late rally to snatch the runner-up berth from Jallad.

Williams shows mettle

Jockey Darren Williams showed lot of mettle in riding out Abdulreda Abbas schooled Robbamaa to a narrow win in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, run over a mile. Coming through an opening in the middle, Williams powered past the battling duo of Signature Dish and Jumaira Tower to win by a head. Zakhir Stud’s Umlijnob also put in a gallant display while finishing a close fourth.

Fadhal Asfoor trained Jenjal made a winning start in Qatar with a thrilling win in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Sitting fifth at the turn, jockey Barry Doyle switched Jenjal to the outside and made his move when Al Sabeq, Derzkiy and Shmoos were disputing for the lead. Al Sabeq fought on but had no answer to Jenjal when the Zakhir Stud debutant burst on to the scene with a sustained gallop. Julian Smart saddled Al Koufa came with telling strides in the final furlong but was unable to get past Jenjal.

Great show by Carina Palace

Hussain Aashoor schooled Carina Palace put on a great performance to record her first career win. The Aashoor trainee was brilliantly ridden by jockey Salim Golam to victory in the first division of the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Carina Palace was not in the best of positions early on, but made steady progress along the way. Global Icon was in the lead with Keyword stalking him as they turned for home.

On entering the homestretch, Global Icon had stolen a march and had a good momentum going as well. Once alerted to the task on hand, Carina Palace devoured ground in a trice and went past Lions Park and Global Icon to win by half a length.

Mohammed al-Ramzani’s Marcus Augustus put in a dazzling display while decimating the field in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 55 to 75. The Ramzani trainee recorded a pillar to post victory in the hands of Guillambert. Court Life, Glossy Posse and Sunley Pride completed the frame.

Umm Qarn’s Suwaida clinched a facile victory in the Pure Arabian Graduation Plate. Coming from way off the pace, Suwaida quickly covered ground and went past Maazouz to win quite comfortably. Al Shahania Stud’s Abhar came far too late on the scene to take the third place.

Jassim al-Ghazali saddled Sandbetweenourtoes edged out Rosso Corsa in an absorbing finish of the 1200 metres Thoroughbred Copnditions race. The Ghazali trainee who rallied brilliantly from way behind in the hands of Frenchman Stephane Ladjadj managed to overhaul Rosso Corsa who had shaped like a winner in the final furlong.

Results

1st race: Mutazz (Salim Golam) 1, Moddhish 2, Jallad 3, Al Baaz 4. Won by: ½, Hd, 1. Time: 1:20.81. Trained by: Abdullal al-Jaber. Owned by: Jaber Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber

2nd race: Muhim (Yanis Aouabed) 1, Seif Al Jazeera 2, Mhaiyedha Al Zaidy 3, Mowhoubat Al Zaidy 4. Won by: ½, 7, 1 ½. Time: 1:20.02. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Hamad bin Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiya

3rd race: Jenjal )Barry Doyle) 1, Al Koufa 2, Al Sabeq 3, Derzkiy 4. Won by: ¾, 2, 1. Time: 1:34.99. Trained by: Fadhal Asfoor. Owned by: Zakhir Stud

4th race: Carina Palace (Salim Golam) 1, Lions Park 2, Global Icon 3, Brief Chat 4. Won by: ½, Nk, 2. Time: 1:38.74. Trained by: Hussain Aashoor. Owned by: Al Moqeerat Stud

5th race: Robbamaa (Darren Williams) 1, Signature Dish 2, Jumaira Tower 3, Umlijnob 4. Won by: Hd, Shd, ½. Time: 1:39.87. Trained by: Abdulreda Abbas. Owned by: Mohammed Khalid Hamad Ali al-Khalifa

6th race: Excuse To Linger (Alberto Sanna) 1, Burren Quality and Right To Dream 2, Fauvism 4. Won by: ½, Shd, 1 ½. Time: 1:37.75. Trained by: Abdulreda Abbas. Owned by: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi

7th race: Suwaida (Pier Convertino) 1, Maazouz 2, Abhar 3, Seif Ennar 4. Won by: ½, ½, 1 ½. Time: 2:15.98. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn

8th race: Marcus Augustus (J.P Guillambert) 1, Court Life 2, Glossy Posse 3, Sunley Pride 4. Won by: 1, ½, ½. Time: 1:11.71. Trained by: Mohammed al-Ramzani. Owned by: Mohammed Nasser aL-Ramzani

9th race: Sandbetweenourtoes (Stephane Ladjadj) 1, Rosso Corsa 2, Pirate’s Song 3, New Pearl 4. Won by: Shd, Hd, Nk. Time: 1:11.56. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari

10th race: Majd (Alberto Sanna) 1, Amirat Al Qaloob 2, Zahrah 3, Ohud 4. Won by: ½, ¾, ½. Time: 1:40.01. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Abdulla Mubarak Aljafali al-Naimi