Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Third Dimension completed a treble for champion trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali with a thrilling victory in the Al Khor Cup, a Thoroughbred conditions race on dirt that was also the feature of the eight-race card at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park yesterday.
With champion jockey Harry Bentley in the saddle, the gelding edged out Deborah Mountain’s five-year-old ward, Shabbab, at the post by a nose to brush aside a winless last season. 
The top two horses were locked in a duel on the home straight, with Jimmy Quinn-ridden Topsy Turvy finishing eight lengths behind Ray Fuentes’ ride.
Earlier in the day, Bentley was also astride Captain Vancouver, Ghazali’s first winner of the day, who shed his maiden status. Injaaz Stud’s Town Crier topped the six furlong Thoroughbred Handicap event for Qatari riders as jockey Saleh Salem al-Marri registered his first victory of the season.
Qatari apprentice rider Rashid Ali al-Marri continued with an impressive run of results this season, with a double on the day, guiding Mansoor Mesfer al-Hajri’s Haddaj Dukhan and Khalid Nasser al-Naimi’s Al Ayyar to victories in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap and Local Thoroughbred Handicap races respectively.
The owner-trainer-jockey trio of Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi, Ibrahim al-Malki and Eduardo Pedroza combined for two winners on the day — Could Be and Munira Eyes. Both the horses registered close short head victories in their respective Thoroughbred Handicap races.
Shakir al-Balushi started the day astride Dr Mohamed Rashid al-Marri’s Hamee, who shed his maiden status in the six furlong Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate event.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Hamee (Shakir al-Balushi), 2. Ellianka (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. AJS Al Maha (Tomas Lukasek), 4. Barq Al Shajaa (Saleem Golam). Won by: 7 ½, 1, 1. Time: 1:20.62. Owner: Dr Mohamed Rashid al-Marri. Trainer: Dr Mohamed Rashid al-Marri. 
Race 2: 1. Captain Vancouver (Harry Bentley), 2. Qianlong (JP Guillambert), 3. Eledeed (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Lo De Nalane (Marco Casamento). Won by: 1 ½, 7 ¾, 2 ¼. Time: 2:05.13. Owner: Nasser Saeed al-Eida. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 3: 1. Town Crier (Saleh Salem al-Marri), 2. Take A Nap (Ali Khalid al-Mosallam), 3. Acclaimed Dancer (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 4. Bretherton (Khalid Abdulaziz al-Kuwari). Won by: 2 ¾, No, 1. Time: 1:12.83. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 4: 1. Haddaj Dukhan (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 2. AJS Wathanan (Marco Casamento), 3. Saab Al Manal (Harry Bentley), 4. Fahdah Al Naif (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: ¾, Nk, Nk. Time: 2:01.61. Owner: Mansoor Mesfer al-Hajri. Trainer: Mansoor Mesfer al-Hajri.
Race 5: 1. Could Be (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Comrade In Arms (Saleem Golam), 3. Alizoom (Ray Fuentes), 4. Elkhart (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: Shd, 1 ¼, ¾. Time: 2:04.39. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 6: 1. Al Ayyar (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 2. Sarmad Bu Thaila (Anas al-Seyabi), 3. Sandaan (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Waeed (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 2 ¼, 11, 2 ¾. Time: 1:51.70. Owner: Khalid Nasser al-Naimi. Trainer: Khalid Nasser al-Naimi.
Race 7: 1. Munira Eyes (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Receding Waves (JP Guillambert), 3. Cristofano Allori (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Shaka Zulu (Jimmy Quinn). Won by: Shd, 3 ¼, 2. Time: 1:04.84. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 8: 1. Third Dimension (Harry Bentley), 2. Shabbab (Ray Fuentes), 3. Topsy Turvy (Jimmy Quinn), 4. Karraar (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: No, 8, 2. Time: 2:02.00. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.