|
A brilliant turn of foot in the straight enabled Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Botanic Garden to assert his superiority over his six rivals in the Sealine Cup, a Thoroughbred Conditions race, which featured the fifth day’s races on the sand track of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. |
Frenchman Stephane Ladjadj had Botanic Garden dictate the pace from the word ‘go’ with Trinityelitedotcom in close proximity but the character of the race altered once these two runners took the final stretch. Trinityelitedotcom failed to quicken while Botanic Garden kept on increasing the lead to go clear of the field. Hunting Tartan finished with a late rally to take the second spot. Trainer Ghazali who saddled the winner completed a treble for the day.
“It has been another fruitful day for me. I am very happy with the performance of Botanic Garden. Even Muhim and Big Gees did well to win their races today. Hopefully we can continue in the same way during the season,” trainer Ghazali told the Gulf Times.
In the opening event of the day, Al Sadd Stud’s Thameem held on gamely from a fast finishing Urban Dreamer to win the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. The Marvin Suerland ridden Thameem raced prominently into the straight and took charge inside the final 200 metres and kicked clear and lasted out to win from Urban Dreamer to shed his his maiden status in its fifth outing. River Goddess and Katja also finished on strongly to finish a close third and fourth respectively. The winner was saddled by Nasser al-Kaabi.
Bustavi Ismail saddled Saint De Faust displayed blinding speed in the final furlong to take charge and win the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 to 80. Jockey Almotasem al-Balushi timed his challenge to a nicety along the rails while overhauling Al Mostarsil in the final stages of the contest. Nomaas and Ashkal were third and fourth, while Candahar after a sluggish start finished on with a purpose to fill the frame.
Jassim al-Ghazali trained Muhim (Declan Cannon up) was a pillar to post winner of the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 60 and below. Though Lady’s Sandman (Pheiffer astride) came up with a challenge at the 200 metre marker, Muhim unleashed a terrific run in the final furlong to stretch away from the pack and win quite comfortably. Zallal was three lengths behind in third ahead of Saif Brooq.
Jockey Suerland took his second win for the day when he rode out 10-year old Big Gees to a commanding victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 55 to 75. Big Gees took the lead at the start and made very post a winning one as he cantered home to his fifth career win in 44 starts. Sunley Pride was a faraway second ahead of Marked Card and Statesmanship.
Trainer Ghazali completed a double with Late Debate (Yanis Aouabed up) recording a fluent win in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 75 to 95. After racing a handy second until the home turn, Late Debate stepped up the pace and went away to win as he pleased. The manner of this victory suggests that the Ghazali trainee is capable of an encore when saddled next.
Though it took 10 outings for Ibrahim al-Malki schooled Sylvia Pankhurst to break through the maiden ranks, the four-year old bay filly came up with a dazzling performance in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 60 and below. After setting her own pace for the six furlong trip, the Malki trainee skipped away from her rivals and won with a measure of comfort by three lengths from Barzan who was in futile chase of the winner.
Jockey Richard Mullen showed a lot of mettle in riding out Julian Smart trained Haashed to its second career win with a power packed ride in the Local Bred Pure Arabian Conditions race run over nine furlongs. Though coming from way off the pace, Mullen did well to bring Haashed into contention and the Smart trainee quickened well to overhaul Al Mizan in the final 50 metres to win by one and a half length.
Results:
1st race: Thameem (Marvin Suerland) 1, Urban Dreamer 2, River Goddess 3, Katja 4. Won by: ½, ¾, Shd. Time: 1:13.89. Trained by: Nasser al-Kaabi. Owned by: Al Sadd Stud
2nd race: Saint De Faust (Almotasem al-Balushi) 1, Al Mostarsil 2, Nomaas 3, Ashkal 4. Won by: 3, ¾, Nk. Time: 1:20.29. Trained by: Bustavi Ismail. Owned by: Jassim bin Ali al-Attiya
3rd race: Muhim (Declan Cannon) 1, Lady’s Sandman 2, Zallal 3, Saif Brooq 4. Won by: ¾, 3, ¾. Time: 1:21.07. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Hamad bin Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiya
4th race: Sylvia Pankhurst (Declan Cannon) 1, Barzan 2, Diamond Laura 3, Safonic Sound 4. Won by: 3 ½, 1, 3 ½. Time: 1:13.02. Trained by: Ibrahim al-Malki. Owned by: Saeed Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki
5th race: Big Gees (Marvin Suerland) 1, Sunley Pride 2, Marked Card 3, Statesmanship 4. Won by: 5, 6, 1. Time: 1:57.02. Trained by: Mohammed Majid. Owned by: Hamad bin Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiya
6th race: Late Debate (Yanis Aouabed) 1, Glossy Posse 2, Elkhart 3, One Cool Bex 4. Won by: 3 ½, 9, Nk. Time: 1:54.32. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Shaheen bin Khalid Shaheen al-Ghanim
7th race: Haashed (Richard Mullen) 1, Al Mizan 2, Thawi 3, Maazouz 4. Won by: 1 ½, 1 ¾, Shd. Time: 2:07.85. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
8th race: Botanic Garden (Stephane Ladjadj) 1, Hunting Tartan 2, Trinityelitedotcom 3, Millers Wharf 4. Won by: ½, 3, ½. Time: 1:12.03. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari.