In a thrilling finish to the day’s feature, charges of champion trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali locked the top two spots in the Muaither Cup sprint feature for Thoroughbreds, even as Alban de Mieulle saddled four winners at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park yesterday.
Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Anima Rock, who had stayed in the rear third till the bend, showed some fantastic pace on the home straight in the 1000m sprint feature under Theo Bachelot to edge out Injaaz Stud’s Izzthatright, with Harry Bentley in the saddle, in the final few metres, winning by half a length at the post. Stephan Ladjadj helmed Abdulaziz Ali al-Kathiri’s Cristofano Allori to third.
It was Ghazali’s second victory of the day, after champion jockey Harry Bentley rode Indian Horseman to his maiden victory in the first race of the card, a maiden race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds.
After Ronan Thomas guided Patrice Nicolet-owned Baahir to the colt’s maiden victory in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for three-year-olds in the third race of the day, De Mieulle had three more winners in consecutive races, including a one-two for Nicolet’s colours with Prince Amer and Diese finishing first and second respectively in the Purebred Arabian Handicap for horses rated 95 and below.
Umm Qarn’s Dabaab, who shed her maiden status on her second outing in Qatar, and Sehab, who has now picked up two graduation plate wins this season, were the other two winners for the Frenchman.
Julian Smart-trained Al Wannah was the other Arabian, other than Dabaab, to shed her maiden status, while Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani-schooled Sharhan Azzam and Ibrahim al-Malki-saddled Black Fear were among the Thoroughbreds who registered their first career victory.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Indian Horseman (Harry Bentley), 2. Bercheny (Theo Bachelot), 3. Hard Forest (Marco Casamento), 4. Don Logan (JP Guillambert). Won by: 2, Shd, 3/4. Time: 1:14.78. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 2: 1. Al Wannah (Ryan Curatolo), 2. Aaila (Ronan Thomas), 3. Enfrad (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. AJS Rayah (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 2 1/4, 1/2, 1 1/2. Time: 2:09.98. Owner: His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart. 
Race 3: 1. Baahir (Ronan Thomas), 2. Ezaz (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Mukhtar RS (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Hilala (Marco Casamento). Won by: 8, 1 1/2, 4. Time: 1:18.49. Owner: Patrice Alexandre Nicolet. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 4: 1. Sharhan Azzam (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Al Motanaa (JP Guillambert), 3. Meera (Theo Bachelot), 4. Adaam Bu Thaila (Meteb Ali al-Marri). Won by: 1 1/4, 1, Shd. Time: 1:28.89. Owner: Nasser Owaida al-Hajri. Trainer: Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani.
Race 5: 1. Black Fear (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Sharifa Bu Thaila (Ronan Thomas), 3. Gazwa (Marco Casamento), 4. Attaf (Harry Bentley). Won by: 1 1/4, 1, No. Time: 1:29.49. Owner: Sheikh Ghanem bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 6: 1. Dabaab (Mathieu Pelletan), 2. Evolution Du Croate (Stephan Ladjadj), 3. AJS Al Uraiq (Theo Bachelot), 4. Fakhir (JP Guillambert). Won by: 1 1/4, Shd, 3/4. Time: 1:49.95. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 7: 1. Sehab (Ronan Thomas), 2. Abercrombie (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Goumoh (Harry Bentley), 4. Shabih Alreeh (Ryan Curatolo). Won by: 2, 1, Hd. Time: 2:34.89. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle. 
Race 8: 1. Prince Amer (Ronan Thomas), 2. Diese (Mathieu Pelletan), 3. Melk (Harry Bentley), 4. Fazan (Marco Casamento). Won by: 3, 3 1/2, 2. Time: 1:48.13. Owner: Patrice Alexandre Nicolet. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 9: 1. Anima Rock (Theo Bachelot), 2. Izzthatright (Harry Bentley), 3. Cristofano Allori (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Shobrom (Jimmy Quinn). Won by: 1/2, 1 1/2, 1 3/4. Time: 1:00.85. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 10: 1. On The Front Line (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Dark Light (Ivan Rossi), 3. Lawless Louis (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. War Order (Ryan Curatolo). Won by 1, 1 1/4, 1 3/4. Time: 1:27.03. Owner: Nasser Owaida Salem al-Hajri. Trainer: Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani.