Footprintinthesand wins Al Jassasiya Cup duel

Ahmed Kobeissi-trained Footprintinthesand edged out Alban de Mieulle’s Marjan in a thrilling duel to win the Al Jassasiya Cup, a Local Thoroughbreds Open Handicap event, at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
Starting off wide from Gate 7, Marvin Suerland had Footprintinthesand take the lead early on, with Umm Qarn’s Marjan right on his heels under Gaetan Faucon. In the final furlong, Marjan was breathing down the neck of Kobeissi’s charge and only moved closer as the end neared.
However, at the post, Marjan’s efforts were undone by a short head, while the winner’s stablemate Sraab, one of the favourites for the race, finished third.
“The race was a good one. We had prepared the horse well for this one and it all paid off in the end,” trainer Kobeissi told Gulf Times after the win.
Sraab’s form, with two straight wins, the last one more than a month ago, had him under the spotlight, along with Injaaz Stud’s Al Hareth, who had 17 wins in the kitty from 22 starts before yesterday.
“If you look at Sraab’s record, and even me as a trainer, I know, that she needs a good run after a break. But Footprintinthesand has done well right after a break. So we knew what to expect and it all worked.
“Umm Qarn’s horse was great, but thanks to God, we won.”
The blue colours of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani and his Al Shahania Stud swept the top two places in the Purebred Arabian Conditions event with Meghwaar and Rasi showing phenomenal pace on the home stretch in the 1850m race.
Julian Smart-trained Meghwaar had stayed at the back of the pack under Marvin Suerland but moved out wide to avoid traffic coming on to the home stretch, even as Harry Bentley had to deal with traffic on Jassim Ghazali-schooled Rasi.
After early leader Al Safi was overwhelmed and passed by the likes of Mindza and Tharwah, Meghwaar steadily moved up the order in the final furlong, while Rasi, having broken free of the traffic, picked up pace too. Eventually Meghwaar won, while Rasi edged out Adnan Hawa-ridden Mindza to the second spot.
Bentley guided Flying Empress to her second win this season, the first being the Oaks Trial in November.
Yesterday, running in the Thoroughbred Handicap for fillies and mares rated 76-90, Flying Empress track early leader Queen Anne, helmed by Gaetan Faucon, but went past the Abdulaziz al-Qathiri’s Queen Anne as the mile-long run reached the business end.
Ibrahim al-Malki-trained Fadak and Mohamed Riyaz’s Harry’s Dancer finished second and third respectively.
The win was trainer Jassim Ghazali’s third on the day, having won the two maiden races earlier in the evening.
Jockey Tomas Lukasek guided Blazers Rock to the gelding’s first victory in a little over a year for trainer Hadi al-Ramzani in the Thoroughbred Classified Stakes for horses rated 65 & below.
Black Treacle, ridden by Eduardo Pedroza, had sound claims in the mile-long run having won earlier this year over the same distance and then coming close on the same course last month. With the lead early on, Black Treacle looked in control.
However, 200m from the post, Lukasek had his mount move wide and then in the front, before pulling away for a fine win.
Black Treacle edged out Abbey Village for the second spot.
Mohamed Hussain-trained Al Aayar registered his second straight victory in as many weeks when Alberto Sanna rode the Dhafi al-Ardi al-Marri-owned six-year-old to victory in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 90 & below.
Sanna had his mount track early leader Saab before nudging forward, coming on to the home stretch. And even as the likes of Kassar and Al Fouz mounted their challenge, Al Aayar, despite a big win over the Qatar International Derby weekend had a bit of a reserve to pull away for his third career win.
Earlier in the day, Ghazali’s charges shed their maiden status with Al Majd Stud’s Teejann and Shaheen bin Khalid Shaheen al-Ghanim-owned Hillside Dream winning the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate and Thoroughbred Maiden Plate events respectively.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Teejann (JP Guillambert), 2. Namroud (Pier Convertino), 3. Semwo (Adnan Hawa), 4. Almudhahab (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 2 1/2, 1 3/4, 3/4. Time: 1:47.32. Owner: Al Majd Stud. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 2: 1. Hillside Dream (Harry Bentley), 2. Poet’s Song (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Moueen (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Dubawi Flame (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 3/4, Nk, Nk. Time: 1:24.06. Owner: Shaheen bin Khalid Shaheen al-Ghanim. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 3: 1. Al Aayar (Alberto Sanna), 2. Kasser (JP Guillambert), 3. Al Fouz (Pier Convertino), 4. Mujahidah (Harry Bentley). Won by: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 1 1/2. Time: 1:30.16. Owner: Dhafi al-Ardi al-Marri. Trainer: Mohamed Hussain.
Race 4: 1. Blazers Rock (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Black Treacle (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Abbey Village (JP Guillambert), 4. Christmas Aria (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 1 3/4, Nk, Shd. Time: 1:57.25. Owner: Mohamed Nasser al-Ramzani. Trainer: Hadi al-Ramzani.
Race 5: 1. Flying Empress (Harry Bentley), 2. Fadak (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Harry’s Dancer (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Sefaat (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 1 ½, Nk, ½. Time: 1:35.76. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Meghwaar (Marco Monteriso), 2. Rasi (Harry Bentley), 3. Mindza (Adnan Hawa), 4. Tharwah (Gaetan Faucon). Won by: ½, Hd, 1 ½. Time: 2:05.53. Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer. Julian Smart.
Race 7: 1. Footprintinthesand (Marvin Suerland), 2. Marjan (Gaetan Faucon), 3. Sraab (Saleem Golam), 4. Mutawassal (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: Shd, 1 ¾, Nk. Time: 1:36.89. Owner: Mohamed Kazim al-Ansari & Sons. Trainer: Ahmed Kobeissi.


Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) general manager Nasser Sherida al-Kaabi (third from right) and head of Media Saad Mubarak al-Hajri (right) with the winners of the Al Jassasiya Cup after Footprintinthesand won the mile-long event at the QREC yesterday. PICTURE: Juhaim