Connections of Roman Legend celebrate after its victory in the Group I Qatar Thoroughbred Derby at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
Mansoor Ibrahim al-Mahmood owned Roman Legend was brilliantly ridden by jockey Gerald Avranche to an exciting win in the Group I Qatar Thoroughbred Derby, which was the highlight of the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Ponfeigh also impressed while finishing an eye catching second.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani owned Abhar (Alberto Sanna up) recorded a pillar to post victory in the Qatar Pure Arabian Derby, a Group II for four year olds.
Stable mate Al Mash’hoor finished with a purpose but found Abhar too good on the day. Lucky Sand and Aden finished third and fourth respectively.
Umm Qarn’s Majeed (Gaetan Faucon astride) fought out a gruelling three way battle and kept aside the challenge of Masnoon and Taraf to win the Qatar Local Bred Pure Arabian Derby, for four year olds. The Alban de Meulle trained Majeed, a progeny of Amer, came through the middle with a dazzling turn of foot to win by a head.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani owned Gidwa (Amer - Djamour Des Forges) made a winning debut, while annexing the Doha Pure Arabian Oaks in taking style. The Julian Smart trained Gidwa (Tadgh O’Shea up) covered good ground in the final stages and overhauled Bayalina in the shadow of the winning post to win by a head.
Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari owned Al Fakhamah (Af Albahar-Digama) was ridden by the talented Harry Bentley to a stylish start to finish victory in the Doha Local Bred Pure Arabian Oaks. The Jassim al-Ghazali trained four-year-old grey filly made a smashing debut, clocking a smart time of one minute 45.26 seonds for the mile trip. AJS Intifidah finished second ahead of Naamah.
Mohammed Kazim Al Ansari and Sons owned Footprintinthe sand was ridden to a hard fought victory over Hareth in the Qatar Thoroughbred Derby. After wresting the initiative at the bend, jockey Salim Golam and Footprintinthe sand skipped away to establish a sizeable lead, which eventually enabled the Ahmed Kobeissi trainee scuttle the late bid of Hareth, who finished half a length behind the winner. Al Dabor was a further five lengths behind in third.
Umm Qarn’s TM Thunder Struck was ridden to victory by jockey Pier Convertino in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 70 to 100, a race run over 1600 meters. Thawi was one length behind in second, while Zahi and Al Khattaf finished third and fourth respectively.
Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari owned Mayasa was a comfortable winner of the Pure Arabian Fillies Championship. Jassim al-Ghazali schooled Mayasa was ridden to victory by jockey Harry Bentley. Al Koufa and Nahla finished second and third respectively.
Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari owned Izzthatright (Harry Bentley up) clinched the Qatar Nursery Stakes, Thoroughbred race. Crescent finished one and half length behind the winner, while Beach Samba was behind in third place ahead of Power Play.
Results
1st race: TM Thunder Struck (Pier Convertino) 1, Thawi 2, Zahi 3, Al Khattaf 4. Won by: 1, ½, ½. Time: 1:44.61. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn.
2nd race: Mayasa (Harry Bentley) 1, Kampanule De Ghazal 2, Al Koufa 3, Nahla 4. Won by: 4, 1 ¾, 1 ¼. Time: 2:16.57. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari.
3rd race: Izzthatright (Harry Bentley) 1, Crescent 2, Beach Samba 3, Power Play 4. Won by: 1 ½, shd, 1 ¾. Time: 1:22.63. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari.
4th race: Footprintinthesand (Salim Golam) 1, Al Hareth 2, Al Dabor 3, Al Murtajazz 4. Won by: ½, 5, 5. Time: 1:56.46. Trained by: Ahmed Kobeissi. Owned by: Mohammed Kazim Al Ansari & Sons.
5th race: Al Fakhamah (Harry Bentley) 1, AJS Intifadah 2, Naamah 3, Bint Al Akaber 4. Won by: 3, 3 ½, 1 ¼. Time: 1:45.26. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari.
6th race: Gidwa (Tagh O’Shea) 1, Bayalina 2, Kimfalah 3, Bahia Du Bhartas 4. Won by: hd, 1, shd. Time: 1:44.38. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani.
7th race: Majeed (Gaetan Faucon) 1, Masnoon 2, Taraf 3, Seif Ennar 4. Won by: hd, hd, 3 ½. Time: 2:12.75. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn.
8th race: Abhar (Alberto Sanna) 1, Al Majh’Hoor 2, Lucky Sand 3, Aden 4. Won by: nk, 1, nk. Time: 2:14.04. Trained by: Jullian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani.
9th race: Roman Legend (Gerald Avranche) 1, Ponfeigh 2, Rosso Corsa 3, Red Rocks Point 4. Won by: ½, 3, ¾. Time: 2:00.18. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Mansoor Ibrahim al-Mahmood.
BELOW:
1) HE Major General Pilot Ghanim bin Sheheen al-Ganim, Chief of staff of Qatar Armed Forces, presents trophy to Abhar's jockey Alberto Sanna after winning the Qatar Pure Arabian Derby
2) Jockey Gerald Avranche rides Roman Legend to victory in the Group I Qatar Thoroughbred Derby, which was the highlight of the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. PICTURES: Juhaim