Muraqabah shines in feature; Ghazali, O’Shea claim double

The trainer-jockey combine of Jassim Ghazali and Tadgh O’Shea picked up their second win of the day when Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari owned Muraqabah won Al Wukair Cup, yesterday’s feature at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) dirt track.The Local Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 90 & below saw Muraqabah track leaders Abrar, also a Ghazali ward, and MR al-Kuwari-trained Akram early on, before picking up speed on the home straight, even as Faleh Bughanaim moved his mount, Deborah Mountain-schooled Zuzi, up on the inside.At the post, Muraqabah registered a one-length win, while Abrar held on for a runner-up spot ahead of Zuzi.After a runner-up finish a month ago over the same course and distance, Ghazali-schooled Fawwaz registered his first win in a year with O’Shea riding the six-year-old to victory in the Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 70 & below.In the 1700m race, O’Shea’s ride saw the grey son of Nizam win by a short head, with Kelly Harrison guiding Injaaz Stud-owned Ali Baba to second place, ahead of third-placed Al Yem, also from the Ghazali stables.Later in the evening, lady jockey Harrison guided another one into the frame, riding Bustawi Ismail’s Go Sakhee to third place in the Class 5 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75 & below.Hamad al-Jehani saddled Broadway Icon showed some amazing pace to win the nine-furlong run by five lengths under Anas al-Seyabi, leading a one-two for the trainer, with Makinson Lane following under Tomas Lukasek.Mountain-trained Technicolour too showed some dominant form to win the Division 2 Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 75 & below.Qatari jockey Bughanaim guided the four-year-old gelding first past the post, an impressive eight lengths ahead of the competition, with Ahmed Kobeissi-trained Exodus edging out Osama al-Dhafa-schooled One More Roman by three quarters of a length for the second spot.Mohamed Jassim Ghazali-saddled Lupie had thrived on dirt in 2015, and the colt came into yesterday’s Class 1 Thoroughbred Conditions event for horses rated 96-115, riding on a victory in January on the surface.Yesterday, the five-year-old registered his second win from four outings this season, winning the 1000m run in a close finish, beating Ibrahim al-Malki-saddled Victory Laurel by a little less than a length, while My Sharona, trained by Ghazali Senior, Jassim, also made it to the podium.Abbey Village registered his first victory in Qatar when Almotasem al-Balushi rode the six-year-old to a thrilling victory in the Class 6 Thoroughbred Sprint Handicap event for horses rated 51-65.Dropping back in trip to six furlongs, having finished third over nine furlongs two weeks ago, worked well for Ismail’s ward, who edged Injaaz Stud-owned Hatchet Harry for the win, while Bughanaim helmed Mohamed Hamad al-Attiyah-trained Pale Enchantment to a fine third.Earlier in the day, Rashid al-Jehani-schooled Stam Al Naif and Mubarak al-Khayarin’s ward Al Maftoon registered their first career wins respectively. While Stam Al Naif won the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, Al Maftoon topped the Class 6 Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event. RESULTSRace 1: 1. Stam Al Naif (Adnan Hawa), 2. Al Mustafiz (Tadgh O’Shea), 3. Raqyah (Alberto Sanna), 4. Aneedah (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: Nk, 3 ½, Nk. Owner: Khalid Rashid al-Mohanadi. Trainer: Rashid al-Jehani.Race 2: 1. Al Maftoon (Richard Mullen), 2. Firsts First (Saleem Golam), 3. China Club (Tomas Lukasek), 4. Alaskan Phantom (Abdulla Faisal). Won by: 6, Shd, 1 ½. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mubarak al-Khayarin.Race 3: 1. Fawwaz (Tadgh O’Shea), 2. Ali Baba (Kelly Harrison), 3. Al Yem (Marco Monteriso), 4. Al Doctor (Almotasem al-Balushi). Won by: Shd, ½, 2. Owner: Abdullah Mohamed al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.Race 4: 1. Abbey Village (Almotasem al-Balushi), 2. Hatchet Harry (Richard Mullen), 3. Pale Enchantment (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Modest (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: ½, ¾, ¾. Owner: Jassim Mohamed al-Badi. Trainer: Bustawi Ismail.Race 5: 1. Technicolour (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Exodus (Adnan Hawa), 3. One More Roman (Marco Monteriso), 4. Rose Zafonic (Yousef al-Hajri). Won by: 8, ¾, 3 ½. Owner: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik. Trainer: Deborah Mountain.Race 6: 1. Broadway Icon (Anas al-Seyabi), 2. Makinson Lane (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Go Sakhee (Kelly Harrison), 4. Akeed Misk (Marvin Suerland). Won by: 5, 2, 1 ½. Owner: Ahmed Hassan al-Malki al-Jehani. Trainer: Hamad al-Jehani.Race 7: 1. Lupie (Richard Mullen), 2. Victory Laurel (Saleem Golam), 3. My Sharona (Almotasem al-Balushi), 4. Black Granite (Tadgh O’Shea). Won by: 3/4, Nk, 1 3/4. Owner: Sheikha Sara bint Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.Race 8: 1. Muraqabah (Tadgh O’Shea), 2. Abrar (Richard Mullen), 3. Zuzi (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Akram (Abdulla Faisal). Won by: 1, 1, Nk. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.