Champion Jockey Harry Bentley began his campaign two weeks into the new season but made his intentions clear when he guided Injaaz Stud’s Istibdad to a thrilling victory over Umm Qarn’s formidable six-year-old TM Thunder Struck in the Al Daayen Cup, a six-furlong sprint for the Purebred Arabians, at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
While the two jostled for supremacy at the front of the pack, with Mubarak al-Khayarin-trained Istibdad winning by half-a-length, Hassan al-Matwi-schooled Mindza finished third 10 lengths adrift.
The owner-trainer-jockey trio of Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, Ibrahim al-Malki and Eduardo Pedroza picked up three victories on the day.
In the penultimate race of the day, Topsy Turvy was in a league of his own, racing to a massive seven-length victory over the rest of the field in the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 71-85. Stablemate Fadak was third behind second-placed Deborah Mountain’s Sunley Pride.
First to Post was first to post yesterday for the fourth time out of six runs this year, when the three-year-old gelding won the Thoroughbred Plate event for horses rated 81-95 ahead of Mohamed Riyaz-schooled Intenser. Captain Cleo was third in the six-furlong sprint for Bustawi Ismail.
Next up, Suhail Al Uraiq, who finished second in his campaign-opener two weeks ago, tasted his first victory in two years yesterday, finishing three lengths ahead of Afreetah, also trained by al-Malki, to win the Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 70 and below.
Gerald Avranche guided One More Roman to his tenth career victory for Mohamed Riyaz. Pedroza was at the helm of second-placed Could Be, while Lastchancelucas finished third under Saleem Golam.
Alberto Sanna rode Al Wasmiya to a comfortable win in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70 and below. Mohamed al-Attiyah-trained Al Wasmiya finished two lengths ahead of Tarablas while Al Moheeb was third.
Earlier in the day, Kasser, ridden by JP Guillambert, shed his maiden status on his eighth attempt this year.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Kasser (JP Guillambert), 2. Magie D’Eau (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Jefool Al Jazeera (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Secret Angel (Harry Bentley). Won by: Shd, 13, 3. Time: 2:08.08. Owner: Mohamed Ali Yousef al-Sheeb. Trainer: Mohamed al-Sheeb.
Race 2: 1. Al Wasmiya (Alberto Sanna), 2. Tarablas (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Al Moheeb (Harry Bentley), 4. Al Shaqab (Pier Convertino). Won by: 2, 1 1/2, 3. Time: 1:53.10. Owner: Al Wasmiyah Farm. Trainer: Mohamed al-Attiyah.
Race 3: 1. First to Post (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Intenser (Saleem Golam), 3. Captain Cleo (Almotasem al-Balushi), 4. Millers Wharf (Marco Monteriso). Won by: 1/2, 1 1/4, 1. Time: 1:11.70. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 4: 1. Suhail Al Uraiq (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Afreetah (Alberto Sanna), 3. Hijran (Gaetan Faucon), 4. Najwa (Richard Mullen). Won by: 3, 3 1/2, 6. Time: 2:08.69. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 5: 1. One More Roman (Gerald Avranche), 2. Could Be (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Lastchancelucas (Saleem Golam), 4. Cueca (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: Hd, Nk, 4. Time: 1:50.36. Owner: Osama Omar al-Dhafea. Trainer: Mohamed Riyaz.
Race 6: 1. Topsy Turvy (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Sunley Pride (Stephan Ladjadj), 3. Fadak (Saleem Golam), 4. Disco Inferno (Adnan Hawa). Won by: 7, 1/2, 1 3/4. Time: 1:55.08. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 7: 1. Istibdad (Harry Bentley), 2. TM Thunder Struck (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Mindza (Gerald Avranche), 4. Saab (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 1/2, 10, 1 3/4. Time: 1:18.15. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Mubarak al-Khayarin.