Pedroza, Topsy Turvy shine in Al Wajba Cup

Ibrahim al-Malki-trained Topsy Turvy had finished behind rival Third Dimension on his first two outings this season. But yesterday, Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani’s gelding made amends in the Al Wajba Cup, yesterday’s feature for Thoroughbreds on dirt.
In the 1900m race, Eduardo Pedroza helmed the seven-year-old to a fine one-and-a-half length victory ahead of Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani’s Vitally Important, while Jassim Mohamed Ghazali-schooled Third Dimension had to settle for fourth, quarter of a length behind third-placed Shakour, also saddled by Ghazali.
Ghazali, however, had two winners on the day, and so did Alban de Mieulle.
Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Attaf in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate was the first winner on the day for the champion trainer, while Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari’s Gangland topped the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 80 and below.
Alban de Mieulle’s ward Aafreen opened the day with a victory in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate under Ronan Thomas, while Mathieu Pelletan helmed Umm Qarn’s Dabaab in the only Purebred Arabian race of the day — Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate.
Jockeys Theo Bachelot and Thomas too had two winners on the day. Besides Aafreen, Thomas was in the saddle for Mohamed Riyaz-trained Al Migdam, who topped the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate.
Bachelot helmed Gangland, and Bader al-Balushi-trained Nayer Bu Thaila in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event.
JP Guillambert guided Mohamed Jassim Ghazali-trained Noble Masterpiece to the gelding first victory in Qatar — Thoroughbred Novice Plate.
After a difficult season, Al Mugheerat Stud’s Shadow Game registered his fourth career victory, when Al Moatasem al-Balushi rode the colt to a close victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70 and below.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Aafreen (Ronan Thomas), 2. Hilala (Marco Casamento), 3. Mama Samia (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Rosasa (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: 14, 2, 5 ¼. Time: 1:15.42. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 2: 1. Nayer Bu Thaila (Theo Bachelot), 2. Sarat Abha (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Mallhog (Ivan Rossi), 4. Lamyaa (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 1 ¼, 5, ¼. Time: 1:13.71. Owner: Rashid Mohamed al-Athba. Trainer: Bader al-Balushi.
Race 3: 1. Attaf (Marco Casamento), 2. Jafla Bu Thaila (Yousef al-Hajri), 3. Sharifa Bu Thaila (Gerald Avranche), 4. Black Forest (Abdulla Hozam al-Marri). Won by: 6, ¼, Hd. Time: 1:14.63. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 4: 1. Al Migdam (Ronan Thomas), 2. Hard Forest (Marco Casamento), 3. Suprematism (Tomas Lukasek), 4. Modharafah (JP Guillambert). Won by: 4, ¾, 2 ¾. Time: 1:49.77. Owner: Meshaal bin Ali al-Attiyah. Trainer: Mohamed Riyaz.
Race 5: 1. Noble Masterpiece (JP Guillambert), 2. Beach Samba (Ivan Rossi), 3. Acclaimed Dancer (Adnan Hawa), 4. High Horse (Marco Casamento). Won by: 4 ¼, 2 ¼, 6 ¼. Time: 1:11.45. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Dabaab (Mathieu Pelletan), 2. Melk (JP Guillambert), 3. Jabal Aramoon (Gerald Avranche), 4. Baker De Saularie (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 6 ¼, ¾, 2 ¾. Time: 1:58.99. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 7: 1. Shadow Game (Al Moatasem al-Balushi), 2. Lo De Nalane (JP Guillambert), 3. Eledeed (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Al Mikdam (Gerald Avranche). Won by: ¾, 1 ¾, 3 ½. Time: 1:49.97. Owner: Al Mugheerat Stud. Trainer: Wasim Al Sahn.
Race 8: 1. Gangland (Theo Bachelot), 2. Al Gomry (Marco Casamento), 3. Intenser (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Crisscrossed (Ronan Thomas). Won by: 3, 3 ¼, Shd. Time: 1:11.60. Owner: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 9: 1. Topsy Turvy (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Vitally Important (Ronan Thomas), 3. Shakour (JP Guillambert), 4. Third Dimension (Theo Bachelot). Won by: 1 ½, ½, ¼. Time: 2:01.68. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.