QREC Board Member Mohammed Ahmed al-Sheeb (fourth from right) is seen with the winners of the Losail Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim

By Chris Hoover/Doha

Mohanad al-Yaqout trained AJS Intifidah made an effective switch back in distance and won the 1,200 metres Losail Cup, a Pure Arabian Conditions race, which featured the races at the  Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. The well performed four year old chestnut filly justified the faith of her connections and comfortably held off the challenge of Mutazz and Arraab to win by half length in this QR 100,000 event.
Though AJS Intifidah was taking on seasoned campaigners, she came with a brilliant performance to end the season on a winning note. After racing a handy third, jockey Marco Monteriso urged the Yaqout trainee to take the initiative. The response was immediate as she quickly pounced on the front runners and surged to take the lead. AJS Intifidah was strongly challenged inside the final furlong by Mutazz and after a brief duel, she asserted her supremacy to take her fourth career win in 10 starts.
“I am extremely happy with this victory. There were many who felt that I had put this young filly in a very strong field. Since this was the last race for her this season, I felt that she might have a good chance as her morning tracks were quite impressive. She has not disappointed me and she looks to be one of the best sprinters here,” trainer Yaqout told the Gulf Times.
Trainer Jassim al-Ghazali and jockey Harry Bentley cornered the day’s glory by winning five of the eight races to consolidate their undoubted hold on the championship. Bentley won on all his rides excluding Count Curlin, Sandbetweenourtoes and Arraab, where he finished third. Ghazali with 122 and Bentley with 70 winners lead the trainer’s and jockey’s championship for the season.
Injaaz Stud’s Izzthatright, which had finished a close second to Omani challenger Roi De Vitesse in the Qatar 2022 Invitational Cup, responded well to jockey Bentley’s urgings in the final furlong to win the Thoroughbred Conditions race, run over six furlongs. Izzthatright was racing a close third, all the way from the start, while Harry’s Dancer and stable mate Lupie made the running in front. Entering the straight, Izzthatright was asked for an effort and the three year old bay gelding picked up momentum and shot to the front and won with plenty to spare. Copley’s Walk threw a challenge but could only finish second. Lupie took the third spot, ahead of the Littlemissblakeney.
Ghazali schooled Initizaa, which had gone winless for a year, finally broke through the shackles, while annexing the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 to 80. It was another Bentley display as the talented British jockey came with yet another confident ride to steer the Ghazali trainee to a half length win over Al Koufa. Though Al Koufa came along with a spirited run, Bentley lay unperturbed and only unleashed Intizaa in the last 50 metres. Intizaa grew stronger at the finish and thwarted the bid of Al Koufa, who lost out to a better horse on the day.
Bentley later partnered HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani owned Sherston to a runaway win in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 60 to 80. Getting an opening along the rails, Bentley and Sherston came with a fluent run along the rails and went away to win by a length from Jumaira Tower, who came with a late dash only to diminish the margin of defeat.
Earlier in the day, Ghazali and Bentley started off the day’s proceedings with a back to back double through Gaza VI and Al Sardal. Bentley had to use all the resources at his command astride Gaza VI while thwarting the serious bid of Ammon in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate.
“It has been another good day for me in Qatar. I thought I was a bit unlucky on Count Curlin and Sandbetweenourtoes. Anyway I have nothing to complain. The season has been going great and I am happy for my owners and trainer Ghazali,” Bentley said.
In another thrilling contest, Bentley astride Al Sardal overhauled Naamah to emerge victorious in the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Al Sardal won by a shorthead to shed his maiden status.
Mohammed Hussain trained Napinda came with a ground devouring run in the final furlong and beat I Got You Babe to win the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 60 and below. Jockey Tadgh O’Shea was astride the winner.
Majod Safedeen saddled Hamza was a pillar to post winner of the Thoroughbred Conditions race which had attracted 16 runners. Jockey Alberto Sanna and Hamza set their own pace and late skipped away at the top of the straight to win by nearly a length from Bazaruto and Sandbetweenourtoes.

RESULTS
1st race: Gaza VI (Harry Bentley) 1, Ammon 2, Al Naif Never Mind 3, Saif Al Shujaa 4. Won by: Nk, ¾, 3. Time: 2:03.93. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Mishal bin Ali al-Attiya

2nd race: Al Sardal (Harry Bentley) 1, Naamah 2, Thabit 3, Saab 4. Won by: Shd, Nk, ¾. Time: 2:16.60. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Injaaz Stud

3rd race: Napinda (Tadgh O’Shea) 1, I Got You Babe 2, Count Curlin 3, Chess Valley 4. Won by: ¾, ½, 1 ½. Time: 1:37.53. Trained by: Mohammed Hussain. Owned by: Dhafi al-Ardhi al-Marri

4th race: Intizaa (Harry Bentley) 1, Al Koufa 2, Vit’al Fauquey 3, AJS Admiral 4. Won by: ½, 1 ½, 1. Time: 1:45.55. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Injaaz Stud
5th race: Izzthatright (Harry Bentley) 1, Copley’s Walk 2, Lupie 3, Littlemissblakeney 4. Won by: 2, Shd, ½. Time: 1:10.62. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Injaaz Stud

6th race: Sherston (Harry Bentley) 1, Jumaira Tower 2, Windblowing 3, Damascene 4. Won by: 1, 1 ½, Hd. Time: 2:16.12. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani

7th race: Hamza (Alberto Sanna) 1, Bazaruto 2, Sandbetweenourtoes 3, Andrew;s Prize 4. Won by: ¾, 1, Hd. Time: 1:09.87. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Mubarak Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi

8th race: AJS Intifidah (Marco Monteriso) 1, Mutazz 2, Arraab 3, Raghed 4. Won by: ½, ¾, ½. Time: 1:16.96. Trained by: Mohanad al-Yaqout. Owned by: Al Jeryan Stud.

BELOW:
Jockey Marco Monteriso rides AJS Intifidah to victory in the Losail Cup, which featyred the races at the QREC yesterday.  Trainer Mohanad al-Yaqout leads in AJS Intifidah after a victorious outing in the feature event at the QREC yesterday.