Four winners from last year’s HH The Emir’s Sword Raceday emerged on top three weeks before the racing extravaganza graces the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club once again.
HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Gazwan, who had won HH The Emir’s Sword (Gr1 PA), showed he was going to be a contender once again, winning the Purebred Arabian Sword Trial for four-year-old and older horses yesterday.
Three of Jassim Ghazali’s winners from last year’s big day, HH The Emir’s Trophy winner The Blue Eye, Katara Sprint Cup topper Izzthatright, Al Biddah Mile (Gr 2) victor Opera Baron also won yesterday.
Alan Munro, who won thrice yesterday, guided Izzthatright to a win in the card’s opener, Thoroughbred Sprint Trial, while JP Guillambert helmed Opera Baron in the gelding’s Thoroughbred Trial victory.
Champion Jockey Harry Bentley’s only victory yesterday was in the final race of the day — Thoroughbred Trophy Trial. Bentley guided The Blue Eye to a fine win, the Dubawi colt’s seventh straight, going back to January last year.
Sraab registered her fourth win this season, leading a one-two for owner Mohamed Kazim al-Ansari & Sons and trainer Ahmed Kobeissi with Footprintinthesand finishing second in the Local Thoroughbred Trial event for four-year-old and older horses. This was the third time in the last five races that Sraab and Footprintinthesand topped their
rivals.
Coming off a Gate 8 start, Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim had Footprintinthesand move into the lead of the 1850m race with Al Moheeb and Sraab following him.
The pace quickened on the final straight and Umm Qarn’s Marjan, helmed by Jean Baptiste Hamel, joined the Kobeissi wards at the front. At the post, Sraab narrowly edged forward for a victory, while Marjan did enough for a third place.
Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi-owned Pazeer too led a one-two for trainer Ibrahim al-Malki in the Thoroughbred 3-year-old Trial event.
Eduardo Pedroza had Pazeer, who had won on his Qatar debut on Derby & Oaks Day in December 2016, follow early leaders Thorndyke and Catch A Wave early on in the mile-long race before moving alongside and then up ahead a furlong from the finish.
As Pazeer pulled away to stay unbeaten in Qatar, Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani-owned What A Surprise, ridden by Alberto Sanna, edged out Catch A Wave for the second spot.
In the first race of the day, Ghazali-schooled Izzthatright continued his impressive run of results in Qatar winning the six furlong Thoroughbred Sprint Trial event for three-year-old and older horses with ease.
Munro moved the five-year-old Injaaz Stud gelding into the lead off Gate 2 and stayed on the rails throughout.
A refreshed Izzthatright, who had won on his last outing in May 2016, pulled away a furlong from the finish, before easing his way on to victory even as Risk Adjusted finished a little under a length behind under Gerald Avranche. Eduardo Pedroza guided Victory Laurel to a third-place finish.
 
RESULTS
Race 1:
1. Izzthatright (Alan Munro), 2. Risk Adjusted (Gerald Avranche), 3. Victory Laurel (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Chilworth Icon (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 3/4, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 2: 1. Pazeer (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. What A Surprise (Alberto Sanna), 3. Catch A Wave (Alan Munro), 4. Perfect Storm (Saleem Golam). Won by: 3 1/2, Nk, Nk. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 3: 1. Sraab (Alan Munro), 2. Footprintinthesand (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Marjan (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Aseer (Alberto Sanna). Won by: Nk, 1/2, 2 1/2. Owner: Mohamed Kazim al-Ansari & Sons. Trainer: Ahmed Kobeissi.
Race 4: 1. Opera Baron (JP Guillambert), 2. Jumaira Tower (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Roman Legend (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Al Mohalhal (Darren Williams). Won by: Nk, Hd, 3/4. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 5: 1. Gazwan (Alan Munro), 2. Tayf (Gaetan Faucon), 3. Spaghetti (Harry Bentley), 4. Raddad (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: 2, 1 1/2, 3 1/2. Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 6: 1. The Blue Eye (Harry Bentley), 2. Ponfeigh (Alan Munro), 3. Nayef Dancer (Alberto Sanna), 4. Dubawi Flame (Gerald Avranche). Won by: 1 1/4, 1 1/2, 3/4. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.