Samaa leads Umm Qarn one-two in Al Hamla Cup

Trainer Ibrahim al-Malki saddles four winners in the seven-race cardUmm Qarn and trainer Alban de Mieulle notched up a one-two in the Al Hamla Cup, a race for three-year-old Purebred Arabians, with Samaa winning on her debut at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.The mile-long feature race on turf saw Majd Al Arab’s daughter, with Gaetan Faucon at the helm, finish ahead of Jean Baptiste Hamel’s ride Sehab, also making his debut in Qatar.Another Majd Al Arab progeny, Jalwa Al Jazeera, ridden by Gerald Avranche, completed the top three.Meanwhile, Ibrahim al-Malki spent a productive day at office saddling four winners, with Alberto Sanna riding three of those in a seven-race card.Mowhoubat Al Zaidy, ridden by the Italian, picked up right from where she had left last season — with a win in the mile-long Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 90 and below.The seven-year-old had finished her previous season with a win in May, and yesterday she edged out Zuhair Mohsen-trained Khattab for her sixth career victory and third on turf, while Hassan al-Matwi’s colt Dheeb Al Shajaa completed the podium.Earlier in the day, Sanna was at the helm of two al-Malki-schooled horses, who shed their maiden status, In the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, he was astride Sky Metro, who finished a little over a length ahead of Al Jazeera, ridden by Saleem Golam, to post her first career victory in 14 starts, while Majd Al Arab filly Afreetah comfortably beat Haddaj Dukhan in the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate.The third runner, who also shed his maiden status yesterday, was War Order, also ridden by Sanna. Stefano Ibido’s colt picked up a victory on his first run at the QREC turf, in the mile-long Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event.Another al-Malki ward, Dardawan finished ahead of his rivals in the nine furlong Thoroughbred Classified Stakes for horses rated 61-75, handing jockey Luca Sorrentino his first win of the season.Marvin Suerland was astride second-placed Succeed and Excel, while Dubawi’s son Dubai Crown was third for Ibido.A year after notching up his maiden win, Words Of A Prophet was ridden to a victory over seven furlongs yet again, this time by Saleem Golam. Ahmed Kobeissi-schooled gelding edged out Buy Art, who is yet to win on QREC tracks, and Black Treacle in a close finish.RESULTSRace 1: 1. War Order (Alberto Sanna), 2. King of Doha (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Neutron Bomb (Saleem Golam), 4. Al Maftoon (JP Guillambert). Won by: 5, Nk, 2 1/2. Time: 1:33.52. Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Stefano IbidoRace 2: 1. Sky Metro (Alberto Sanna), 2. Al Jazeera (Saleem Golam), 3. Bunoa Sera Al Naif (Marvin Suerland), 4. Mahbooba (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 1 1/4, Hd, Nk. Time: 1:12.85. Owner: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik. Trainer: Ibrahim al-MalkiRace 3: 1. Afreetah (Alberto Sanna), 2. Haddaj Dukhan (Yanis Aouabed), 3. Kasser (JP Guillambert), 4. Ameenah (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 1, Hd, 6. Time: 1:31.38. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.Race 4: 1. Words Of A Prophet (Saleem Golam), 2. Buy Art (Gerald Avranche), 3. Black Treacle (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Izghawa (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 3/4, 1/2, 1/2. Time: 1:22.61. Owner: Mohamed Kazim al-Ansari & Sons. Trainer: Ahmed Kobeissi.Race 5: 1. Dardawan (Luca Sorrentino), 2. Succeed and Excel (Marvin Suerland), 3. Dubai Crown (Alberto Sanna), 4. Drillmaster (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 3/4, 1/2, Nk. Time: 1:49.60. Owner: Trainer: Ibrahim al-MalkiRace 6: 1. Mowhoubat Al Zaidy (Alberto Sanna), 2. Khattab (Marvin Suerland), 3. Dheeb Al Shajaa (Gerald Avranche), 4. Khor Al Adaid (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: Shd, 2 1/2, 3. Time: 1:45.01. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.Race 7: 1. Samaa (Gaetan Faucon), 2. Sehab (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Jalwa Al Jazeera (Gerald Avranche), 4. M.J Lattam (Marco Monteriso). Won by: 1 3/4, 5, 5. Time: 1:45.38. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.