Yazeed edges out Gazwan in Qatar National Day Trophy

Gazwan, Yazeed and Ebraz have been the three Arabians that have always produced thrillers at Al Rayyan Park in Qatar and even abroad. Julian Smart-trained Gazwan, the older of the trio, had won the last two runs when all three ran together in HH The Amir’s Sword (Gr1 PA) and Qatar Gold Sword (Gr1 PA) in Qatar earlier this year.
Yesterday, it was the turn of Umm Qarn’s Yazeed, ridden by Ronan Thomas for French trainer Alban de Mieulle, produced a blistering run in the final furlong to edge out race leader Gazwan, helmed by Ryan Curatolo, at the post by a short head.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Gazwan had led for the bulk of the 2,000m race and was pushed by Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Spaghetti, with Harry Bentley in saddle, coming on to the home straight.
As the pace picked up, Yazeed found himself blocked behind Gazwan and Spaghetti, and had to step out for some breathing space. As Gazwan pulled away steadily on the rails, Yazeed was off and managed to edge out the seven-year-old at the post, while the former’s stablemate, Ebraz, helmed by Theo Bachelot, did enough to complete the top three.
Smart was gunning for a treble on the day, having saddled two winners along with Bachelot earlier — Al Shaman in the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70-90 and Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Sharesa in the Local Purebred Arabian Conditions event.
The other trainer-jockey duos to pick up a double each yesterday were Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani and Faleh Bughanaim, and champion trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali with champion jockey Bentley.
Al-Ramzani and Bughanaim, winners of the recent trainer and jockey of the year awards respectively at the Qatar Olympic Committee’s Sports Excellence Day, opened the day with Mohanad Jassim al-Yaqout’s Ellianka shedding her maiden status on her 16th attempt. Al Jeryan Stud’s Hajaj topped the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75-95.
Al-Kuwari’s Anima Rock and Injaaz Stud’s Black Granite were the winners for the Ghazali-Bentley combine in the seven-furlong Thoroughbred Plate for three-year-olds and six-furlong Thoroughbred Conditions respectively.
Qatari apprentice rider Rashid Ali al-Marri went past his wins tally from the last season already when he helmed Mansoor Mesfer al-Hajri’s Haddaj Dukhan in the Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 95 and below. It was al-Marri’s sixth victory of the season, and the 20-year-old has also notched up seven runners-up finishes, besides two third places.
Stephan Ladjadj rode Osama Omer al-Dafea’s Harry’s Dancer to the mare’s second straight victory this season in the five-furlong Thoroughbred Handicap sprint for horses rated 75-95.
 
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Ellianka (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Saa’d (JP Guillambert), 3. Echo De Faust (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Lusail (Ray Fuentes). Won by: 2, 1 ½, Hd. Time: 1:47.47. Owner: Mohanad Jassim al-Yaqout. Trainer: Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani.
Race 2: 1. Haddaj Dukhan (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 2. Deebah (Ronan Thomas), 3. Melk (Harry Bentley), 4. Majnona (Theo Bachelot). Won by: ¼, ½, 1 ¼. Time: 1:46.36. Owner: Mansoor Mesfer al-Hajri. Trainer: Mansoor Mesfer al-Hajri.
Race 3: 1. Al Shaman (Theo Bachelot), 2. Hajaam (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Carigrad (JP Guillambert), 4. Daneyan (Harry Bentley). Won by: 2 ¾, 3, 2 ¼. Time: 2:04.12. Owner: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 4: 1. Harry’s Dancer (Stephan Ladjadj), 2. Catch A Wave (Ray Fuentes), 3. Receding Waves (JP Guillambert), 4. Shaka Zulu (Jimmy Quinn). Won by: ¾, Shd, ¾. Time: 00:59.27. Owner: Osama Omer al-Dafea. Trainer: Osama Omer al-Dafea.
Race 5: 1. Anima Rock (Harry Bentley), 2. Kynoch (Theo Bachelot), 3. Holy Shambles (Ronan Thomas), 4. Random Decision (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 2, 1 ½, ½. Time: 1:23.98. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Hajaj (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Hydroxide (JP Guillambert), 3. Bluebeard (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Al Rayyan (Ronan Thomas). Won by: 1 ¼, Hd, 3 ¾. Time: 1:37.05. Owner: Al Jeryan Stud. Trainer: Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani.
Race 7: 1. Sharesa (Theo Bachelot), 2. Aahil (Ronan Thomas), 3. Istibdad (Harry Bentley), 4. AJS Anfowan (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 3 ¼, 1 ½, Hd. Time: 1:31.14. Owner: Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 8: 1. Black Granite (Harry Bentley), 2. Cristofano Allori (Stephan Ladjadj), 3. Crafted (Jimmy Quinn), 4. Itorio (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: ½, 1 ¾, ½. Time: 1:10.98. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 9: 1. Yazeed (Ronan Thomas), 2. Gazwan (Ryan Curatolo), 3. Ebraz (Theo Bachelot), 4. Spaghetti (Harry Bentley). Won by: Shd, 1 ½, ¾. Time: 2:15.35. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.