Both the Arabian horses had little trouble taking the victories, as Rassan topped the Doha Cup, the six furlong Local Purebred Arabian Conditions race, while Spaghetti won the Al Daayen Cup, the 1800m Purebred Arabian Conditions event, both on dirt.
Perigee was the first winner on the day for Ghazali and Bentley as the colt won the seventh race on the nine-race card, the Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70-90. The five-year-old had gone winless in seven races last season but went one better than his last outing this time round in the 1700m run.
Trainer Mohamed Riyaz had two winners on the day, with JP Guillambert in the saddle for both the rides. While al-Kuwari-owned Yanar picked up a scintillating 17-length victory in the Purebred Arabian maiden race for fillies and mares, Crisscrossed raced past the post in the 1800m Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70 and below with five lengths to spare.
Ibrahim al-Malki-trained Admiral shed his maiden status on his fifth attempt with Jimmy Quinn riding Sheikh Khalid bin Jassim bin Thani al-Thani-owned colt to victory in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event.
In the first race of the day, Khalid Nasser al-Naimi-schooled Saab registered his first victory after a gap of more than three years, with Gerald Avranche in the saddle.
Catch A Wave, trained by Deborah Mountain, registered his first victory in Qatar with Ray Fuentes riding the gelding to a comfortable victory in the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate sprint.
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Saab (Gerald Avranche), 2. Munaawashat (JP Guillambert), 3. Al Mustafiz (Harry Bentley), 4. Jahfal (Jimmy Quinn). Won by: 3 ½, No, 3 ¼. Time: 1:20.22. Owner: Khalid Nasser al-Naimi. Trainer: Khalid Nasser al-Naimi.
Race 2: 1. Yanar (JP Guillambert), 2. Enfrad (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Alanoud (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Waab Tuhfah (Harry Bentley). Won by: 17, ¼, 2. Time: 2:02.49. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Riyaz.
Race 3: 1. Admiral (Jimmy Quinn), 2. Sharhan Azzam (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Reem Brooq (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 4. Al Qamar (JP Guillambert). Won by: ¾, 3, 2 ½. Time: 1:15.10. Owner: Sheikh Khalid bin Jassim bin Thani al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 4: 1. Catch A Wave (Ray Fuentes), 2. Subhaan (JP Guillambert), 3. Beach Samba (Saleem Golam), 4. Festive (Harry Bentley). Won by: 1 ¼, 1 ½, 4. Time: 00:58.87. Owner: Hassan Ali al-Abdulmalik. Trainer: Deborah Mountain.
Race 5: 1. Crisscrossed (JP Guillambert), 2. Tadeem (Harry Bentley), 3. Truancy (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Zainat (Ray Fuentes). Won by: 5, 6, 2 ¼. Time: 1:55.58. Owner: Hussain Ali Bukanan. Trainer: Mohamed Riyaz.
Race 6: 1. Ventura Shadow (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Noble Masterpiece (Harry Bentley), 3. Midaawi (JP Guillambert), 4. Littlemissblakeney (Ray Fuentes). Won by: 2, Shd, 1. Time: 1:12.39. Owner: Mohamed Nasser al-Naimi. Trainer: Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani.
Race 7: 1. Perigee (Harry Bentley), 2. Rich History (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. King Of Doha (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. First To Post (Jimmy Quinn). Won by: ¾, 1, 1 ¼. Time: 1:48.62. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 8: 1. Spaghetti (Harry Bentley), 2. Al Walid (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Messine De Sinuhe (JP Guillambert), 4. Reda (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 6 3/4, 1 1/2, 1 1/2. Time: 2:04.77. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 9: 1. Rassan (Harry Bentley), 2. Raqee (Saleem Golam), 3. Al Muntathar (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Samhan Al Shajaa (Rashid Ali al-Marri). Won by: 3, 1, Shd. Time: 1:19.34. Owner: Jassim bin Ali al-Attiyah. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.