Rassan, ridden by Pier Convertino, had tracked early leader Barrelaman, helmed by Marvin Suerland in the colours of Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, before passing Pierre Deymonaz’s ward on the final stretch and staying on the rails till he won the Owners Cup, a race for local Purebred Arabians, by a head for his tenth career victory. Julian Smart-trained Reda did well to go past Meqdam Al Zaidy for a third-place finish in the 1900m race.
Convertino too picked up a hat-trick, guiding winners in the last three races of the day.
In the penultimate race of the day, Ghazali’s ward Izzthatright led an Injaaz Stud sweep of the Class 2 Thoroughbreds event, with My Sharona finishing runner-up. Sandbetweenourtoes, ridden by Almotasem al-Balushi for Ghazali’s son Mohamed, was third in the 1100m sprint.
Another Injaaz Stud horse, Messine De Sinuhe, topped the 1800m Purebred Arabian Conditions event with an easy five-length win under Convertino. Zuhair Mohsen-saddled Nomaas, with Suerland astride, was second, ahead of JP Guillambert and his ride Carab.
Guillambert guided Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned Midaawi to the gelding’s second straight victory yesterday, having signed off last season with a maiden win.
The Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75 and below saw Midaawi hold on by a neck against Sylvia Pankhurst, ridden by Eduardo Pedroza for trainer Ibrahim al-Malki, while a weak finish in front of the grandstand saw Lawless Louis, ridden by Marc Lerner, complete the top three in the six-furlong sprint. Jassim al-Badi’s Al Yem raced to a smashing seven-length victory under Almotasem al-Balushi in the Purebred Arabian Handicap for horses rated 75 and below.
The victory in the 1700m race was Al Yem’s first since the six-year-old gelding shed his maiden status less than a year ago in a six-furlong sprint.
Mansoor al-Hajri-trained Haddaj Dukhan was second for the second straight run, while Umm Qarn mare Aneedah completed the top three for trainer Alban de Mieulle.
In the first three races of the day, Hamad al-Jehani-trained China Club, Abdulla al-Jabir’s Mahbooba and Ibrahim al-Malki’s Al Muntathar registered their first career wins respectively.
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. China Club (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Almasah (Marvin Suerland), 3. Acclaimed Dancer (Darren Williams), 4. Firsts First (Marc Lerner). Won by: 1/2, 1 1/2, 3. Owner: Ahmed al-Jehani. Trainer: Hamad al-Jehani.
Race 2: 1. Mahbooba (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Khoud (Alberto Sanna), 3. Gharam Lehshiiyat (Marc Lerner), 4. Tasleya (Almotasem al-Balushi). Won by: 4, 2, 1/2. Owner: Sultan al-Jaber. Trainer: Abdulla al-Jabir.
Race 3: 1. Al Muntathat (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Ghalaad (JP Guillambert), 3. Alanoud (Marc Lerner), 4. Mannaa Al Naif (Darren Williams). Won by: 7, 3, 9. Owner: Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Thani al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 4: 1. Midaawi (JP Guillambert), 2. Sylvia Pankhurst (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Lawless Louis (Marc Lerner), 4. River Goddess (Almotasem al-Balushi). Won by: Nk, 3, Shd. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 5: 1. Al Yem (Almotasem al-Balushi), 2. Haddaj Dukhan (Darren Williams), 3. Aneedah (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Khattab (Marvin Suerland). Won by: 7, 1, 5 1/2. Owner: Jassem Mohamed al-Badi. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Messine De Sinuhe (Pier Convertino), 2. Nomaas (Marvin Suerland), 3. Carab (JP Guillambert), 4. Chanson Du Soleil (Marc Lerner). Won by: 5, 6 1/2, Shd. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 7: 1. Izzthatright (Pier Convertino), 2. My Sharona (JP Guillambert), 3. Sandbetweenourtoes (Almotasem al-Balushi), 4. Victory Laurel (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: 2 1/2, 2, Nk. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 8: 1. Rassan (Pier Convertino), 2. Barrelaman (Marvin Suerland), 3. Reda (Alberto Sanna), 4. Meqdam Al Zaidy (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: Hd, Dh, 1 1/2. Owner: Jassim bin Ali al-Attiyah. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.