No surprises as Pazeer, Gazwan win features

Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi-owned Pazeer has been one of the mainstays in Ibrahim al-Malki’s Thoroughbred roster. And barring minor aberrations, the colt had a good strike rate having won 10 out of his 18 career outings going into yesterday’s meeting.Yesterday, in the USD100,000 HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani’s Trophy, the five-year-old improved his record notching his 11th win with a confident run under Eduardo Pedroza in the 2200m race at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park.Once he snatched the advantage on the home straight, the Siyouni colt held off challenges from His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Veranda, helmed by Ronan Thomas for trainer Stefano Ibido, closer to the post to win by half a length. Julian Smart-trained Al Shaman put up an impressive show surging from back of the pack to snatch third under Theo Bachelot, also in the famous royal blue and white stars silks like Thomas.“Pazeer has always been the best horse in my stable, especially among the Thoroughbreds. He won his last race impressively, but the distance was a little bit shorter than this one,” al-Malki told Gulf Times referring to the colt’s victory in the 2000m Umm Qarn Trophy last month.“Today, he repeated it again, and he won against the biggest horses in Qatar. He deserves to be a champion here in Qatar,” added al-Malki, who also had a winner in Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani’s Surra Man Raa.The horse notched his second straight victory winning the Local Thoroughbred Trial event for four-year-old and older horses.There was nothing stopping Julian Smart-trained Gazwan once he grabbed the advantage on the top of the home straight in the HH The Amir Sword Trial (Gr3 PA) yesterday.At eight years he was the oldest horse in the 2200m race for four-year-old and older horses, but that was no factor for the His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned horse, with Bachelot in the saddle, to match pacemaker Aaley Al Magam up front.Taking the advantage almost one and a half furlongs out, Gazwan was off and away for a fantastic victory that had Smart yelling in celebration.Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Walid, ridden by Faleh Bughanaim for Alban de Mieulle, was second, ahead of Jassim Mohamed Ghazali-schooled Spaghetti, helmed by Harry Bentley.“I was told that probably the young horses will win (HH The Amir’s) Sword this year, they are that good. So we waited. What I have got at home this year is a Gazwan who feels and trains better than he has been training in a while,” an ecstatic Smart told Gulf Times yesterday.“The race (Qatar National Day Trophy) with Yazeed last time, there was no pacemaker in the race, and we only lost by a nose (short head). Today, he followed the pacemaker and I believe he has beaten the track record. And we weren’t even going quick. So wait till (HH The) Amir’s Sword and let’s see what time is it that day.”Smart’s first winner on the day was Sharesa, who has been nothing less than impressive this season, taking her fourth consecutive victory in Qatar yesterday. Ridden by Bachelot in the colours of Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, Sharesa began moving up the order on the outside coming on to the home straight in the mile-long Purebred Arabian Trial.Bachelot and his partner went past two Al Shaqab Racing horses – Daloob and Al Naama – in the final furlong, and then held on to the position to win by half a length at the post. Daloob and Al Naama, both schooled by De Mieulle, finished second and third under Bughanaim and Thomas respectively.Earlier, Qatari jockey Bughanaim rode a winner in the HH The Amir Silver Sword Trial for four-year-old Purebred Arabians. AJS Moaddie was the second winner on the day for trainer Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani and Al Jeryan Stud. In a close finish to the mile-long Thoroughbred Cup Trial for four-year-olds and older horses, Injaaz Stud’s Nordic Dream, ridden by JP Guillambert, edged out the competition by a neck to register his first career victory.Ivan Rossi rode his second winner of the season when he partnered Tareq Essa Abdulla schooled Cococabala in the Thoroughbred 3 Year Old Trial event yesterday. An objection by Jean Baptiste Hamel over interference in the Thoroughbred Sprint Trial saw Mohamed Hussain-trained Darkanna pick up a victory in the six furlong run.In the race, Harry Bentley had the favourite, Anima Rock, schooled by Ghazali, come in from wide on the home straight to close in on the rails leaving little room for Hamel and Al Thumama Racing’s Darkanna. Eventually, the matters were settled in the steward’s room, with Darkanna registering her first victory in Qatar, pushing Anima Rock to second, while Stephan Ladjadj had Cristofano Allori finish third.Umm Qarn’s Fahim built on his second place finish on debut last month to shed his maiden status in the day’s first race, a seven furlong Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate, under Thomas. In the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup, Lukasek rode Al Jeryan Stud’s AJS Al Maha to her second victory this season.