Avranche rides La Hoor to Rodat Al Maida Cup victory

Secretary to HH the Emir for Family Affairs HE Sheikh Hassan bin Khalid bin Hassan al-Thani and QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani are seen with the winners of the Rodat Al Maida Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. PICTURES: JuhaimBy Chris Hoover/DohaHassan Ali Hassan al-Matwi’s La Hoor relished the nine furlong trip and won the Rodat Al Maida Cup, a Pure Arabian Conditions race, which featured the races in the sand track of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. The five-year-old progeny of Burning Sand won the race in his patented style of leading from the front to return back to winning form, that had eluded him in his previous starts. Gerald Avranche had La Hoor leading the charge from the start with Jelmud in close proximity followed by the rest. The order remained the same as La Hoor brought the field into the straight with Jelmud putting up a stiff challenge. Majd Al Uraiq improved places to show up in the final furlong but found his stable mate too good on the day.  “I am glad to see La Hoor back to his best. He put in a fine display and I was confident that he would do well today. Jockey Avranche rode a perfect race and I am looking ahead to the future assignments of La Hoor,” Hassan al-Matwi told the Gulf Times.Jassim al-Ghazali trained Muhim took his second win in seven starts when the progeny of Amer came good under the riding of Yanis Aouabed in the Local Bred Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 and below. Al Khabar led the field into the straight but had no answer when Kafayef swooped on him at the turn. Kafayef went on to establish an useful lead when Muhim came with a sustained run to challenge the front runner. After a brief tussle, Muhim got stronger at the finiah and won by half a length. Ghazali had another winner for the day when Al Shahania Stud’s Heytham (Richard Mullen astride) powered his way to an emphatic victory in the Local Bred Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 to 70.Osama Omar al-Dhafa’s One More Roman recorded a stylish victory in the local bred Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 55 to 75. Settling in the rear of the field, One More forged ahead soon on turning for home. Jockey Stepehn Swanepoel waited with One More Roman until well into the straight and when he began to urge Osama ward, the Holy Roman progeny unleashed a terrific gallop to draw away and clinch his second straight victory. In the form that he is in, One More Roman is capable of another winning performance when saddled next.Ibrahim al-Malki schooled Afortunado timed his challenge to a nicety while overhauling Blue Twister in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 60 and below. Jockey Mark Lawson rode a well judged race on the winner.Al Majd Stud’s Gull Rock continued her domination while recording her third straight victory with a start to finish mission in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 60 to 80. The Ghazali trained filly performed on expected lines and cantered away from the pack to win by five lengths from the fast finishing duo of Lady Chantilly and Glossy Posse. Hamad al-Khayarin schooled Zekreet (Faleh Bughanaim up) shed his maiden status with a determined gallop when it mattered most to down the efforts of Jelmood in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Zekreet which had failed to finish on board in his previous six outings, raced a handy third while Jelmood set the pace and sprouted a pair of wings midway up the straight and went sailing clear to win by a widening margin of six lengths.1 Hassan Ali Hassan al-Matwi leads in La Hoor (Gerald Avranche up) and Majd Al Uraiq (Tagh O’Shea astride) after taking the first two places in the feature event yesterday. RIGHT: QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (right) presents a memento to Secretary to HH the Emir for Family Affairs HE Sheikh Hassan bin Khalid bin Hassan al-Thani at the QREC.