Bentley guides Thawi to impressive win in Abdulla bin Hamad al-Attiyah Cup

HE Abdulla bin Hamad al-Attiyah (fifth from left) and other dignitaries are seen with winners of the Abdulla bin Hamad al-Attiyah Cup at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday Picture: Juhaim

By Chris Hoover/DohaThawi (Mared Al Sahra-Gardenia Gora) from the stables of Jassim al-Ghazali, put in a dazzling display while annexing the Abdulla bin Hamad al-Attiyah Cup,  a Local Bred Pure Arabian Conditions race, which featured the eight event card at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. In form jockey Harry Bentley was astride the winner.Jockey Bentley settled Thawi in a handy third position as the field settled down and got the Ghazali trainee into a fine rhythm. Once they turned for home, Thawi galloped on impressively and sailed to victory literally unchallenged. Bentley only guided the Ghazali colt and did not have to exert any pressure as Thawi knew the job on hand and they together accomplished the task without being extended. Haashed came with a late stretch run to take the runner-up berth ahead of  Rassan. Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri owned Tortoni (Marco Monteriso astride) put in a terrific stretch run to demolish the hopes of his rivals to clinch the Umm Taqa Cup, a Thoroughbred Handicap race, which was the other highlight of the day. Jockey Barry Doyle came with a brilliant effort while steering Mohammed Hussain saddled Copleys Walk to a narrow victory in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for three year olds.  Copleys Walk raced a handy second all the way and did well to thwart the spirited bid of Red Connect Beach Samba, who finished on strongly but could not pass the winner. Trainer Hussain had another winner for the day when his ward Nomaas was confidently piloted by Cedric Segeon to victory in the Pure Arabian Graduation Plate. Kaydoum set out in front closely followed by the rest. As they moved into the straight for the final 400 metres, Nomaas began to quicken on the rails with Segeon bidding his time to make his move. Once put into top gear, the Hussain trainee stepped up pace and kept at bay the challenge of Qassy to record his third win in 19 starts. Trainer Hussain completed a rare treble for the day with Leaf Cutter (Monteriso up) emerging victorious in a nail biting finish in the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate. Jockey Marco Monteriso did well to come through a rough passage and prevail in a close finish to win by a shorthead. Itorio put in a spirited challenge but found the winner too good on the day.Alban de Mieulle trained Tabasheer (Mugadir-Ezraa) thwarted a serious challenge to beat Thabit in a close finish in the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Tabasheer (Pier Convertino up) and Thabit (Monteriso astride) began their fight early in the straight and went stride for stride until the winning post. At one point Thabit had the upper hand but the Mugadir progeny fought back stubbornly to wrest the lead back and win by nearly a length. Naamah which did not have clear run finished a notable third. Ahmed Hassan al-Malki al-Jehani’s Tarrafal shed his maiden status with a fluent win in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Making his sixth appearance on the race track, Tarrafal moved up the ranks with a judicious ride from Italian Convertino.  Sitting sixth at the turn, Convertino  switched Tarrafal to the inside and made his move when Inis Ains moved ahead to take charge of the proceedings. Inis Ains fought on but had no answer to Tarrafal when the Jehani trainee burst on to the scene with a sustained gallop. The four year old bay colt was unstoppable and drew away in the final stages to win from late finishing Sherston to win by one and a quarter length. Soebroto ran on to take third place.Jockey Gary Carter showed lot of mettle in riding out Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki’s  Victory Laurel to an exciting win in the Thoroughbred Advanced Plate, run over six firlongs. Coming from way off the pace, Carter brought Victory Laurel into contention even as Hearts Of Stone had stolen a march. The duo fought out the issue in the final furlong, stride for stride. The Ibrahim trainee emerged the winner by a length.