Jassim Mohammed Ghazali trained Altarsheed continued with his great run in Qatar this season, winning the Late Yousef al-Romaihi Cup, the feature event at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club on Thursday.
Harry Bentley rode the Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari owned gelding to a close win over another Ghazali ward, Extremis, in the 3200m race.
Earlier, Tariq Issa trained Full Combat set the pace up front, pulling away a couple of lengths on the back straight. Early pace left Full Combat vulnerable and soon he was overwhelmed, with Julian Smart’s ward Fundamental grabbing the advantage. However, coming into the final two furlongs, Bentley moved Altarsheed up on the outside, and Convertino too made his move on Extremis. In the final 100m, a final burst of speed by Altarsheed saw the 4-year-old edge out the Injaaz Stud colt by a neck, while Zuhair Mohsen trained Cameraman was third under Gerald Avranche, who had won thrice earlier in the evening.

P/A SPRINTER CUP
Gerald Avranche picked up his third win of the day with Yousef Bentaher’s ward Molheb Al Naif continuing an impressive run this season. Thursday’s impressive three length victory has been the 5yo colt’s fourth this season, in which he also notched a second-place three weeks ago.

THOROUGHBRED CONDITIONS (CLASS 3)
The owner, trainer and jockey trio of H.H Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, Stefano Ibido and Gerald Avranche combined well for a win for the second straight race on Thursday. Otwo finished narrowly ahead of Mohammed Jassim Ghazali trained Stevie’s Wonder who had won a turf feature a week ago, under Harry Bentley.

THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (CLASS 4)
Stefano Ibido was the second trainer on the day to pick up a one-two with H.H Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani owned War Order (War Front x Shades of Grace) registering his first victory over seven furlongs in Qatar. Ridden by Gerald Avranche for the first time in Qatar, the 4-year-old finished a little over a length ahead of Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri’s Wayward Hoof, who finished in the top three for the first time in Qatar after being well held in the earlier outings this season.

THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (CLASS 4)
Al Gomry registered his second victory this season when Tomas Lukasek guided the gelding first past the post in the seven furlong run. Trainer by Bustawi Ismail, the one and three quarters length victory was the gelding’s fifth overall. Stefano Ibido’s Inland Sea bounced back from two forgettable finishes to finish second under Gerald Avranche, riding in the colours of H.H Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani.

THOROUGHBRED PLATE (CLASS 5)
Owner Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani and trainer Ibrahim al-Malki emerged with a one-two in the mile long run with Saleem Golam riding Izghawa to the filly’s first win this season. The 5-year-old edged out stablemate Neutron Bomb, helmed by Eduardo Pedroza.

PUREBRED ARABIANS
In the longest race of the day for Purebred Arabians, Messine de Sinuhe registered his first win on Qatari turf for trainer Mohamed Jassim Ghazali. Despite a win eluding the 5-year-old in the first three races this season, the Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari owned colt had shown quality with two top three finishes coming into Thursday’s 2200m race. Under Pierantonio Convertino, Messine De Sinuhe went past the post a little under two lengths ahead of Julian Smart’s ward Hagwa, helmed by Richard Mullen, while Harry Bentley guided Rasi to the last place on the podium.

LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE
The royal blue silks with white stars shone in the second race of the day with Julian Smart schooled Majnona, owned by H.H Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, shedding her maiden status ahead of Jassim Mohamed Ghazali trained E’zaaz in the mile long run. Under Richard Mullen, Majnona edged out E’zaaz, ridden by Harry Bentley in the colours of Al Shahania Stud, by a neck for a win on her second outing.

THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE
A day after picking up four second place finishes, Champion Trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali opened the nine race card with a win with Champion Jockey Harry Bentley riding Mansoor Ibrahim al-Mahmood’s High Commabder to his first career victory over a mile on Thursday. Bentley guided the 3-year-old to a comfortable victory over Al Muraqabah, trained by Ghazali’s son, Mohammed, and ridden by JP Guillambert, while Rabiah Al Kaabi schooled A G Magnum completed the top three.