Minister of Arts, Heritage and Culture HE Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz al-Kuwari and QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani are seen with the winners of the feature event at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim
Mohammed Hussain trained Amirat Al Qaloob put in a terrific stretch run to demolish the hopes of her six rivals to clinch the Minister of Arts, Heritage and Culture Cup, a Local Thoroughbred Conditions race for Fillies and Mares, which featured the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. After assuming command in the final furlong, jockey Gary Carter did well to ward off the late challenge of Sraab, who finished with a flourish but fell short by a neck.
Manayer shot into the lead and was closely followed by Amirat Al Qaloob. The duo continued to call the shots as the field entered the business end of the race. In the final furlong, the Hussain trainee swooped down on Manayer and sped away to establish a sizeable lead. Sraab warmed up late to essay a challenge but Amirat Al Qaloob was home and dry.
“I am very thrilled with this victory. We expected Amirat Al Qaloob to win today and she has not disappointed us. She is very good filly who is capable of doing well in her future engagements,” trainer Hussain told the Gulf Times.
Majid Safedeen schooled Rosso Corsa scored a glorious victory in the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate in a most convincing fashion. Jockey Alberto Sanna kept Rosso Corsa just a couple of lengths from the lead. Trading Profit was in charge early on but it was City Zen who took the early initiative when the race took a serious turn. Sensing the urgency, Sannao alerted the Safedeen trainee to the task on hand. He shot ahead soon and once in the lead, looked well in command. Trading Profit, who had the winner well covered until the turn, failed to quicken and did just enough to run a tame second ahead of Peter Mac.
Safedeen had another winner for the day when Kaydoum kept aside the challenge of stable mate Maazouz in the Local Bred Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 60 to 90. Jockey Darren Williams was astride the winner.
Napolean (Williams up) put in a powerful finishing effort to deadheat with Jeem (Faleh Bughanaim astride) in a thrilling finish in the 1,850 metres Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Hamad Mohammed al-Khayarin’s Jeem finally shed his maiden in his 20th outing, while Napolean after nine third finishes in 22 starts, made his first entry into the winners enclosure.
Jeem went into the lead and was followed closely by Al Naif Citation and Napolean. In the straight, Bughanaim and Jeem were ahead and travelling well when Napolean came with a sustained gallop in the final furlong. The duo went stride for stride in the last 50 metres and went past the post locked together. The photo finish could not spate the two and a deadheat was declared.
Jassim al-Ghazali schooled Masnoon recorded a facile win in the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. The four year old grey colt had indicated his readiness to strike while finishing a close second to Rabha in his previous outing. With that race benefit, Masnoon broke through the maiden ranks in splendid fashion under the able riding of Yanis Aouabed. Sporting the colours of Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari, Masnoon moved strongly from the third position at the bend to gather speed with minimum of fuss to win by a widening margin of six lengths from Al Jeryan Stud’s Al Fateh and Faraa.
Osama Omar al-Dhafa’s One More Roman had shown promise in his last outing and he did no wrong when the chance came again his way in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 50 to 705. He had stripped much fitter this time and it showed in no uncertain terms. Lying in the rear of the field, One More Roman stormed past the field and won drawing away. Jockey Stephen Swanepoel rode a well judged race on the winner.
Results
1st race: Jeem (Faleh Bughanaim) and Napolean (Darren Williams) 1, Nahaam 3, Al Naif Citation 4. Won by: Deadheat, 1 ¾, 2. Time: 1:59.93. Trained by: Hamad Mohammed al-Khayarin and Abdulreda Abbas. Owned by: Hamad Mohammed al-Khayarin and Saif Rasheed Saif al-Khayarin
2nd race: Masnoon (Yanis Aouabed) 1, AJS Al Fateh 2, AJS Faraa 3, Al Sabeg 4. Won by: 6, ½, 2 ½. Time: 2:15.73. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari
3rd race: AJS Amjad (Salim Golam) 1, Arraf 2, Khattab 3, Jihad 4. Won by:Nk, Hd, Hd. Time: 1:45.98. Trained by: Mohammed al-Yaqout. Owned by: Al Jeryan Stud
4th race: Kaydoum (Darren Williams) 1, Maazouz 2, Maksab 3, Tameh 4. Won by: Hd, 3, 2. Time: 1:30.23. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Saeed Mubarak Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi
5th race: Rosso Corsa (Alberto Sanna) 1, Trading Profit 2, Peter Mac 3, City Zen 4. Won by: 3 ½, 1, 1. Time: 1:21.09. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Saeed Mubarak Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi
6th race: One More Roman (Stephen Swanepoel) 1, Rubbamaa 2, Mount Mayday 3, Enjoy Today 4. Won by: 5, 1, ¾. Time: 2:02.47. Owned and trained by: Osama Omar al-Dhafa
7th race: Seif Ennar (Alberto Sanna) 1, Jouharah 2, Raedah 3, Thawi 4. Won by: Shd, Hd, Shd. Time: 1:45.74. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Saeed Mubarak Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi
8th race: Amirat Al Qaloob (Gary Carter) 1, Sraab 2, Al Naif Trade Mark 3, Manayer 4. Won by: Nk, 1, 3. Time: 1:37.08. Trained by: Mohammed Hussain. Owned by: Ali Rashid al-Ardhi al-Marri
BELOW:
QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (centre) presents a memento to the Minister of Arts, Heritage and Culture HE Dr Hamad bin Abdul Aziz al-Kuwari, under whose patronage the 41st day’s races were held at the QREC yesterday. QREC vice-chairman Abdulaziz al-Malki is also seen.