QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (centre) is seen with the winners of the End of Season Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim
By Chris Hoover/Doha
Champion trainer Jassim al-Ghazali ended the season on a glorious note with the victory of Roman Legend in the End of Season Cup, which featured the races on the concluding day of 2014-15 racing season at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Jockey Harry Bentley, who rode the winner, completed a treble and took his tally to 105 winners for the season.
Ghazali, who dominated the season, finished with 175 winners, which is unlikely to be ever surpassed in the near future.
“I am happy to finish the season on a winning note. aIt has been a fantastic season and my thanks to Ghazali and his team for giving me all the support to achieve this magnificent milestone,” Bentley told the Gulf Times.
Ghazali was elated that he could finish the season on a winning note. “It was very important for me to win this race as it was the best gift that I could have asked for. Having done well right through the season, I was keen to win the End of Season Cup. Roman Legend came with a good performance to give me this opportunity. My sincere thanks to my owners, jockeys and my team for all the support I got from them.”
Julian Smart trained Gazwan had to extract every ounce of his energy to thwart the spirited challenge of Vetlana De Faust to win the Al Musheireb Cup, a Pure Arabian Condition race, run over 2,000m. The talented Amer progeny, Gazwan completed a hat-trick of wins and will now be heading to Europe to have a say in the French Derby and other races later this year.
Jockey Ladjadj, astride Badriya Thabeth, was quick to make headway and easily went past the field to take charge. Making his own pace, Ladjadj had the Ghazali trainee upfront and travelling well. Entering the homestretch, Badriya Thabeth bowed out of contention as the others quickly moved up to take a striking position. Vetlana De Faust soon surged ahead but was challenged by Gazwan. With a power-packed ride by jockey Marco Monteriso, Gazwan got ahead of his challenger to win by a neck.
Trainer Smart was delighted with the third straight success of his ward and was looking ahead to the campaign in Europe.
“Gazwan had an average performance in the UK last year and later he had some shoulder problem which kept him out of action for quite a while. He came back to Doha with all sorts of problems, so we had to take our time. Probably it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as he is a strong horse. He has run three times here and won all of them. He has beaten the talented filly Vetlana De Faust twice which is pretty good. I am delighted with his form and happy with this victory today.
“We are going to Europe with a bunch of good youngsters and we are looking ahead to the French Derby later this year. Sheikh Joaan and the other owners will bring their best horses here. Gazwan is definitely one of my top prospects and I am confident that we will have a bold show,” Smart concluded.
Hassan Ali Hassan al-Matwi’s Dheeb Al Shajaa plunged into an all-out offensive in the final furlong and launched a fiery gallop to outrun Almuheet and score a thrilling victory in the Club Breeders Trophy, a Pure Arabian race from three year olds. Dheeb Al Shajaa was brilliantly ridden by Marcialis.
Majid Safedeen trained Rasheeda (Gerald Avranche up) posted a facile victory without encountering any challenge from her rivals in the Al Ghariya Cup, a Thoroughbred Conditions race for Fillies and Mares. Racing a handy second until the home turn, Rasheeda spurted into the lead and went away to win by nearly three lengths from her nearest challenger Azma.
Hussain Ali Bukanan owned Abrar came up with a superlative performance to annex the Umm Bab Cup, a Local Thoroughbred race for three year olds.
The Zuhair Mohsen trained Abrar was brilliantly ridden by Stephane Ladjadj.
Franad led them all the way into the straight and Abrar slipped in through the rails improving position all along the turn. On entering the home stretch, Ladjadj had Abrar take charge and the Mohsen trainee quickly went away to establish a useful lead which eventually held him in good stead.
Though Raad Al Zaeem came charging in the final 100m, Abrar was unrelenting and held on to win by two lengths. Princess Noor also finished with a late burst but could only finish third.
Injaaz Stud’s Dark Leopard, which had finished a notable third to Tumut in his previous outing, came good under the able riding of Harry Bentley to win the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate.
After racing a handy third until the home turn, Dark Leoprad sped past the frontrunner and went away to record his first win in seven starts.
Izghama was second ahead of Words Of A Prophet, while Fadak completed the frame. Ghazali trained Muhim (Bentley astride) plunged into an all-out offensive in the final furlong and launched a fiery gallop to thwart the spirited bid of Farashat Yasmina and score an exciting victory in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 to 80.
Though Farashat Tasmina came with a ground devouring run in the final stages of the race, Bentley was up to the challenge as he held his nerve and got the nod at the wire. A neck separated the two, while Al Jeali was a length behind in third.
In the opener, Debbie Mountain schooled Zuzi shed her maiden status with a comfortable victory in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate.
Zuzi was ably ridden by Frenchman Ladjadi to victory, while Sattam was second ahead of Tabashir and Tarablas.
RESULTS
1st race: Zuzi (Stephane Ladjadj) 1, Sattam 2, Tabashir 3, Tarablas 4. Won by: 1 ¾, ½, Hd. Time: 1:14.36. Trained by: Debbie Mountain. Owned by: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik
2nd race: Dark Leopard (Harry Bentley) 1, Izghama 2, Words Of A Prophet 3, Fadak 4. Won by: ½, 2, Nk. Time: 1:05.42. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Injaaz Stud
3rd race: Muhim (Harry Bentley) 1, Farashat Yasmina 2, Al Jeali 3, Ras Al Qimmah 4. Won by: Nk, 1, 1 ¾. Time: 1:31.93. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Hamad bin Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Attiya
4th race: Abrar (Stephane Ladjadj) 1, Raad Al Zaeem 2, Princess Noor 3, Mahbooba 4. Won by: 2, 1 ½, 1 ¾. Time: 1:15.82. Trained by: Zuhair Mohsen. Owned by: Hussain Ali Bukanan
5th race: Gazwan (Marco Monteriso) 1, Vetlana De Faust 2, Ghizwan 3, Seif Ennar 4. Won by: ½, 3, Nk. Time: 2:11.21. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani
6th race: Rasheeda (Gerald Avranche) 1, Azma 2, Fast 3, Lady Chantilly 4. Won by: 2 ½, 2, 1. Time: 1:22.36. Trained by: Majid Safedeen. Owned by: Mubarak Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi
7th race: Dheeb Al Shajaa (J. Marcialis) 1, Almuheet 2, Majdan 3, Raqyah 4. Won by: Nk, 1 ½, 2. Time: 1:35.34. Owned and trained by: Hassan Ali Hassan al-Matwi
8th race: Roman Legend (Harry Bentley) 1, Janoub Nibras 2, Shaolin 3, Oasis Cannes 4. Won by: 1, Nk, Shd. Time: 1:34.90. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Mansoor Ibrahim al-Mahmood.
Al Shaqab’s Equine Education Competition tomorrow
Al Shaqab, a Member of Qatar Foundation, will host the 2nd Al Shaqab Equine Education Invitational Competition tomorrow. The event will be held at the Equine Education Facilities.
The competition includes Style Class, Caprilli Tests, Gymkhana Games, Foundation Skills; Horsemanship Club Challenge and Open Ridden Class.
Certificates of participation, rosettes, trophies and flower bouquets are at stake for the winners.
The event is part of Al Shaqab’s vision in its pursuit of excellence and providing an engaging experience for the future world-class horsemen and horsewomen of the Equestrian industry.
BELOW:
QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani (right) presents the End of Season Cup to trainer Jassim al-Ghazali after his ward Roman Legend had won the event at the QREC yesterday. Right: QREC Board Member Saeed Mohammed al-Shafi (right) presents the Al Musheireb Cup to Al Shahania trainer Julian Smart after Cazwan had won the event at the QREC yesterday.