Umm Qarn and trainer Alban de Mieulle had won the Gulf Cup, a mile long race for four-year-olds or older Pure Arabians bred in the GCC, for three straight years before Injaaz Stud’s Al Mujahaz broke the run last year.
The French trainer’s Muhjah ensured Umm Qarn had the event back in their control on day two of the HH The Emir’s Sword Festival at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday with a late charge that left strong runners like Jassim Ghazali-schooled Al Mujahaz, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani Trophy winner Taraf and last year’s Emir’s Silver Sword winner Al Murabitoon behind.
Al Mujahaz, the oldest runner in the field at nine years, returned to the Doha turf after a year’s rest and immediately showed his intentions running in the leading pack under Stephan Ladjadj.
Al Mujahaz moved into the lead after taking the final turn and pulled ahead but his lead evaporated as Muhjah, ridden by Jean Baptiste Hamel, galloped at a great pace to take the win.
“When you win a race like that in a race meeting this big, it is definitely special. She had won three races this season and one last season, and she finished third in December in a very good field. So I was confident going into the race… but you never know. Well, I can always say that after the race but yes, she raced very well today,” De Mieulle told Gulf Times yesterday.
Umm Qarn’s Majeed had already given De Mieulle a big win in the Qatar Local Purebred Arabian Trophy on Day One of the three-day HH The Emir’s Sword Festival on Thursday.
But not the one to dwell in the results of the last two days, De Mieulle said, “Well the results of this meeting have been great so far for us but the big day is yet to come. Tomorrow is the big challenge, so let’s see what happens.”
Baltic Knight, running for trainer Badr al-Abid, won the Group 2 Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup.
Baltic Knight, who was bought at the Tattersalls sale in October last year by Ebrahim al-Afoo, had only run once in the Gulf, finishing second in Bahrain earlier this month.
Trained by Richard Hannon, before al-Abid, the five-year-old had seen a run of nine winless outings in the UK after which the bay colt was put on sale.
“He had finished second in Bahrain this month, and needed this win,” al-Abid said after the win. On a personal note, he added, “Last year, I had finished second in this race but it feels great to finally win.”
Injaaz Stud’s Bretherton led the field in the mile-long race right till the final two furlongs on to the home straight.
When the field spread out for a clear run to the finish, Baltic Knight, who was kept in the middle on the inside all this while by jockey Duran Fentiman, started moving outward, while Hannon-trained Moheet, ridden by Frankie Dettori in the famous colours of Al Shaqab Racing, moved closer to the rails.
As Moheet got stuck in traffic, with final few metres to go, it became a two-horse race with Jassim Ghazali-trained Roman Legend and al-Abid-schooled Baltic Knight galloping alongside.
Baltic Knight edged out Harry Bentley’s ride Roman Legend by a neck for a memorable win.
Injaaz Stud’s Masnoon put on display an impressive turn of foot under Adrie de Vries, moving from the back of the pack to a two and a half length win in the Purebred Arabian Sprint Cup for four-year-olds and older.
Julian Smart-schooled Ba’sil, ridden by champion jockey Harry Bentley in the silks of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, was running up front along with half-brother from prolific sire Amer, Mutazz, even as De Vries was content keeping his ride at the back.
With two furlongs to go, the field scattered and Masnoon found a gap to get through, and pass Ba’sil and Mutazz in the final 200 metres to pick up the first win of the evening for champion trainer Jassim Ghazali. Al Jeryan Stud’s AJS Qahir and Hassan al-Matwi’s Mindza overhauled the early leaders to finish second and third respectively.
Stefano Ibido-trained duo Nayef Dancer and Charlie’s Wish swept the Thoroughbred Handicap Trophy, a Class 3 event for horses rated 70-90, with Eduardo Pedroza riding the former to his first victory this season. Zuhair Mohsen’s Emaad, winner of a mile-long Handicap event earlier this month, finished third.
Brother and sister duo of Meqdam Al Zaidy and Mowhoubat Al Zaidy swept the Purebred Arabian Handicap Trophy for horses rated 55-75 for trainer Ibrahim al-Malki yesterday.
Owned by Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, the two Al Mudaffar progenies out of El Modamerah, finished ahead of Al Jasra Stud’s Derzkiy to win the mile-long race. Meqdam Al Zaidy’s all three outings before yesterday’s race were on dirt, and he ensured a winning debut on turf with an impressive run.
Alan Munro had his ride Meqdam Al Zaidy track early leaders Umm Qarn’s Tabasheer and Tarek Al Mels, while jockey Evert Pheiffer had Mowhoubat Al Zaidy a bit further back on in the inside. On to the home stretch, Munro pulled ahead and Pheiffer found his gap to chase the leader, but had to be content with second.
Jockey Gaetan Faucon’s successful run with Umm Qarn filly Yasmeen continued yesterday as they won the Local Thoroughbred Graduation Trophy
yesterday.
After a win over the same seven-furlong distance in a Graduation Plate event last month, yesterday’s race was right within the comfort zone for trainer Alban de Mieulle’s charge.
The grey daughter of Atlantic Air moved into the lead coming on to the home stretch and stable-mate Zahrah ensured a thrilling two-horse finish at the post.
Jassim Ghazali-trained Al Dabor finished six lengths behind for third.
Bronze Maquette made sure that her ninth place finish in the Zekreet Cup last time round was only a blip in what has otherwise been a great season for the Dark Angel filly with a win in the Class 2 Thoroughbred Fillies and Mares for three-year-olds and older yesterday.
Mohamed Hussain’s Oaks and Oaks Trials winner, owned by Hamad Adel al-Muslimani, was ridden by Frenchman Julien Auge to a thrilling win over Mohannad al-Yaqout-trained Dubawi filly Zman Awal, while Majed Seifeddine-schooled Rasheeda was third. Bronze Maquette has notched up four places, including three wins, in her six outings so far this season.
 
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Bronze Maquette (Julien Auge), 2. Zman Awal (Alan Munro), 3. Rasheeda (Pier Convertino), 4. Fast (Adrie de Vries). Won by: Hd, Nk, 1 1/4. Time: 1:35.35. Owner: Hamad Adel al-Muslimani. Trainer: Mohamed Hussain.
Race 2: 1. Yasmeen (Gaetan Faucon), 2. Zahrah (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Al Dabor (Harry Bentley), 4. Tanja Bu Thaila (Marco Monteriso). Won by: 1/2, 6, Hd. Time: 1:23.39. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 3: 1. Meqdam Al Zaidy (Alan Munro), 2. Mowhoubat Al Zaidy (Evert Pheiffer), 3. Derzkiy (Pier COnvertino), 4. Farashat Yasmina (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: 3, 2, 3. Time: 1:45.18. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 4: 1. Nayef Dancer (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Charlie’s Wish (Marco Monteriso), 3. Emaad (Marvin Suerland), 4. Erroneous (Harry Bentley). Won by: 1 1/4, Shd, 1 1/4. Time: 1:50.40. Owner: Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri. Trainer: Stefano Ibido.
Race 5: 1. Masnoon (Adrie de Vries), 2. AJS Qahir (Alan Munro), 3. Mindza (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Mutazz (Marvin Suerland). Won by: 2 ½, Nk, 1. Time: 1:15.44. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Muhjah (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. Rassan (Adrie de Vries), 2. Taraf (Harry Bentley), 4. Al Mujahaz (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 1, 1, Hd. Time: 1:43.01. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 7: 1. Baltic Knight (Duran Fentiman), 2. Roman Legend (Harry Bentley), 3. Moheet (Frankie Dettori), 4. Bretherton (Alberto Sanna). Won by: Nk, 1 1/2, Nk. Time: 1:34.37. Owner: Ebrahim al-Afoo. Trainer: Badr al-Abid.

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