QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (fourth from right) is seen with the winners of the Khor Al Adaid Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Injaaz Stud’s Sheikh Mohammed  bin Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani (fifth from right) received the trophy after Ningara had won the event. PICTURES: Juhaim

By Chris Hoover/Doha

Jassim al-Ghazali trained Ningara (Singspiel-Garanciere) recorded a thrilling win over Elkhart in the Khor Al Adaid Cup, a Group III race for Thoroughbreds, which featured the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. In form jockey Harry Bentley did a tidy job on the Singspiel progeny as he held his nerves together and managed to get the better of Elkhart and Bal De France who had shaped to win with a furlong left in the race. Trainer Ghazali with five winners and jockey Bentley with three hogged the day’s limelight.
Goldenrod settled to lead as the field set out for the 2,100 metres trip followed by Anticipated, while Bal De France Upholland were in close attendance. Goldenrod and Anticipated brought the field into the straight and they were not inclined to give up easily as the duo fought on resolutely but with 300 metres left in the race, they looked vulnerable. Meanwhile, Elhkhart, Bal De France and Ningara came along to dispute for the lead. Though Ningara was making a comeback after a eight month break, the Ghazali trainee displayed a brilliant turn of foot which ensured a half length victory. Having made a winning return, Ningara is capabe of an encore when saddled next.
“It was brilliant to see Ningara make a winning comeback after such a long break. He is a brilliant horse and I am delighted with this victory. I am also happy for owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani who was here to witness the race,” trainer Ghazali told the Gulf Times.
Ghazali who led in five winners for the day was delighted with the victory of City Zen in the Zekreet Cup. “I am very happy with the victory of City Zen in the Zekreet Cup which I have won many times. I also took the top five places in this race. It was simply amazing to do so. I am looking forward to the Qatar Gold Sword day and hope to do well.”
“It was a sensible enough pace and I sat back and looked for my options. Ningara was travelling well but did not have a lot of room. Swinging off the home bend, Ningara picked up very well for me and luckily enough I found a few gaps. Once he got the opening, Ningara was unstoppable and went on win quite well. It was a bit of a concern to me that Ningara was coming back after a long layoff and looking at his form I thought he would be struggling. But the layoff seems to have done him good as he has come back in brilliant form. I think he can go on and improve further,” jockey Bentley explained.
A brilliant turn of foot in the straight enabled Zohair Moghsen saddled Rossa Corsa to assert his superiority over his 14 rivals in the Wadi Al Sail Cup, a Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 85 and above. Despite being eased up in the final stages of the race, the free-striding Rosso Corsa crossed the winning post three lengths clear of the others.
City Zen (Baltic King-Queen Cobra), sporting the colours of Sheil bin Khalifa al-Kuwari rose to the occasion in a splendid manner and fought off a determined bid from stable mate Botanica and Fast to clinch the Zekreet Cup, a Thoroughbred Conditions race for Fillies and Mares.
Harry’s Dancer darted into the lead soon on start with Glossy Posse keeping company with the front runner. Once they turned for home, Botanica ridden by Harry Bentley, quickened well to establish a handy lead. Meanwhile, Richard Mullen alighted City Zen to the task on hand. The response was immediate and the Ghazali trainee quickly pounced on her stable mate in the shadow of the winning post to win by half a length. Incidentally trainer Ghazali dominated the race with five of his wards taking the first five places.
Mohanad al-Yaqout schooled AJS Al Rayyan put up a gritty show to deny hard ridden Bint Al Akaber a victory in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Going for it from the start, Al Rayyan (Tadgh O’Shea up) held the upper hand right through the race. He entered the homestretch with a slender lead and had his work cut out as Bint Al Akaber, Ba’sil and Rasi were all too close for comfort. Bint Al Akaber (Adrie de Vries astride) was the one to raise hopes as she inched closer with every stride. The duo battled it out in the final furlong and Tadgh O’Shea astride Al Rayyan deserves credit for keeping his mount going all through and ward off the serious challenge of the runner-up. Ba’sil finished on strongly to take the third place ahead of Rasi.
Rassan produced a superlative run to humble Al Khattaf and Mouwash in the straight to win the Pure Arabian Graduation Plate in a thrilling finish. Mouwash had just taken over the running and had hardly set sights on the winning post when Rassan came crushing down on the front runner. The Jassim al-Ghazali trainee streaked ahead in no time and later held of the late bid of Al Khattaf, who finished with a rush but had to settle for second place ahead of Mouwash. Jockey Harry Bentley was astride the winner.
Injaaz Stud’s My Sharona, which had finished seventh to Pay Freeze in her previous outing, responded well to jockey Gaeran Faucon’s urgings in the final furlong to win the Thoroughbred Conditions race, run over six furlongs. My Sharona was racing a close third, all the way from the start, while Hamza and stable mate Trinityelitedotcom made the running in front. Entering the straight, My Sharona was asked for an effort and the six year old grey mare picked up momentum and shot to the front. Court Life threw a challenge but could only finish second. Hamza took the third spot, ahead of the Collect Art.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani owner Arraab (Amer-Cath) completed a hat trick while annexing the seven furlongs Pure Arabian Condition race. Bentley had Arraab race in mid bunch for most part of journey, bidding his time to make the move. Once the field straightened for the home turn, Bentley goaded Arraan through an opening along the rails and went past the others to win by a neck from Wahchey.
In the day’s opener, Ibrahm Saeed al-Malki’s Al Naif Alpha broke through the maiden ranks with a fluent victory in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Coming from way off the pace, Al Naif Alpha came with a ground devouring run in the final 100 metres and went past the front runners to win by over a length.

RESULTS:
1st race: Al Naif Alpha (Gary Carter) 1, Ammon 2, Gaza VI 3, Sattam 4. Won by: 1 ¼, ½, ½. Time: 1:14.82. Owned and trained by: Ibrahm Saeed al-Malki.
2nd race: AJS Al Rayyan (Tadgh O’Shea) 1, Bint Al Akaber 2, Ba’sil 3, Rasi 4. Won by: Nk, Nk, ½. Time: 1:32.09. Trained by: Mohanad al-Yaqout. Owned by: Al Jeryan Stud
3rd race: Rassan (Harry Bentley) 1, Al Khattaf 2, Mouwash 3, Bambino Du Pouy 4. Won by: Hd, ¾. 1 ½. Time: 1:18.76. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Jassim bin Ali al-Attiya
4th race: My Sharona (Gaetan Faucon) 1, Court Life 2, Hamza 3, Collect Art 4. Won by: Nk, 1 ½, Nk. Time: 1:10.60. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Injaaz Stud
5th race: Arraab (Harry Bentley) 1, Wahchey 2, Harir 3, Mutazz 4. Won by: Nk, 1 ¾, 1. Time: 1:31.02. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
6th race: City Zen (Richard Mullen) 1, Boatnica 2, Fast 3, Abeer 4. Won by: ½, Hd, 2 ½. Time: 1:23.28. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari
7th race: Rossa Corsa (Alberto Sanna) 1, Peter Mac 2, Hearts Of Stone 3, Mister Ryan 4. Won by: 3, ½, Shd. Time: 1:22.48. Trained by: Zohair Moghsen. Owned by: Mubarak Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi
8th race: Ningara (Harry Bentley) 1, Elkhart 2, Bal De France 3, Upholland 4. Won by: ½, Hd, ½. Time: 2:11.35. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Injaaz Stud

BELOW:
QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (right) presents the Wadi Al Sail Cup to Mubarak Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi after Rosso Corsa won the event at the QREC yesterday.