Umm Qarn’s Damas had finished in the money on his every outing since December 2017, but a win had eluded Alban de Mieulle’s ward. The seven-year-old changed that yesterday notching his second career victory in the Rodat Al Maida Cup, the feature on dirt, at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) Al Rayyan Park.
The result meant that Umm Qarn silks and De Mieulle completed a double on the day, even as champion trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali and champion jockey Harry Bentley combined for an impressive treble.
In the local Purebred Arabian conditions feature, Ronan Thomas had Damas follow Injaaz Stud’s Istibdad, ridden by JP Guillambert for Ghazali. The duo were joined by another Ghazali ward, Rassan, once the action moved to the final straight. While the field bunched up with each contender determined to not let go off easily, Damas found some extra reserves in the 1700m run to edge ahead of both the Ghazali charges for a win.
Bint Amir was the second winner on the day for Umm Qarn and De Mieulle. Apprentice jockey Damien Morin had the filly in the mix coming off the final bend in the six-furlong Purebred Arabian Handicap event, before steadily moving past the leaders, and taking a slight advantage 100m out, and eventually beating Ghazali-trained Al Neksh by a little more than two lengths.
Ghazali and Bentley, however, combined for three winners, including Molheb Al Naif, who led a one-two for the trainer in the penultimate race of the day — Purebred Arabian Conditions.
A timely lunge at the post saw Ghazali-trained Lo De Nalane snatch a thrilling victory from Deborah Mountain-saddled Palmetto Dunes in the 1800m Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70 and below.
Bentley had Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned gelding steadily move forward on the bend and once on the home straight, picked up pace, only to be threatened by Ryan Curatolo-ridden Palmetto Dunes in the final furlong. The latter ran out of the course as a lunge put seven-year-old Lo De Nalane in the front.
Ghazali-trained Sir Commander opened the day’s proceedings with a maiden win under Bentley.
In a yet another close finish, Al Moatasem al-Balushi guided Khalifa bin Ali bin Mohamed al-Attiyah-saddled Al Gomry to a thrilling victory in the 1100m Thoroughbred Handicap sprint for horses rated 80 and below. This was only the second time this season that al-Balushi helmed a winner.
Trainer Mohamed Khaled Elahmed too had a double on the day with Anas al-Seyabi riding Fazan to a close win over Julian Smart-trained Ennab in the 1700m Local Purebred Arabian Handicap. Another Elahmed charge, Wahdah, showed some fantastic turn of foot under Curatolo to make a winning debut in a maiden race for three-year-olds.
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Sir Commander (Harry Bentley), 2. Show Of Strength (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 3. Bint Saffian (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Fly With Cher Ami (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 2 ¼, 1, 1 ¾. Time: 1:12.41. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi.
Race 2: 1. Wadhah (Ryan Curatolo), 2. Mutamez (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Mama Samia (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Maisoor (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 4 ¾, 13, 4. Time: 1:14.40. Owner: Saif Rashid Saif al-Khayarin. Trainer: Mohamed Khaled Elahmed.
Race 3: 1. Lo De Nalane (Harry Bentley), 2. Palmetto Dunes (Ryan Curatolo), 3. Al Mikdam (Gerald Avranche), 4. Midnight Blue (Ronan Thomas). Won by: Shd, ¼, 2 ½. Time: 1:56.62. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 4: 1. Al Gomry (Al Moatasem al-Balushi), 2. Izzer (Ivan Rossi), 3. Saakhen (Yousef al-Hajri), 4. Tadeem (Ronan Thomas). Won by: ¼, Shd, ½. Time: 1:05.52. Owner: Mohamed Khalifa al-Attiyah. Trainer: Khalifa bin Ali bin Mohamed al-Attiyah.
Race 5: 1. Bint Amir (Damien Morin), 2. Al Neksh (Harry Bentley), 3. Muzn (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Ghazi Al Jeryan (Ivan Rossi). Won by: 2 ¼, 2 ½, No. Time: 1:19.53. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 6: 1. Fazan (Anas al-Seyabi), 2. Ennab (Ryan Curatolo), 3. Khor Al Adaid (Damien Morin), 4. Tasslam (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: ¼, 3 ½, 1 ¼. Time: 2:00.63. Owner: Rashid Mohamed al-Mosallam. Trainer: Mohamed Khaled Elahmed.
Race 7: 1. Molheb Al Naif (Harry Bentley), 2. Caid De L’Ardus (JP Guillambert), 3. Kasser (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 4. M.J Lattam (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 1 ¼, 1, 1 ¾. Time: 1:18.11. Owner: Al Naif Racing. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 8: 1. Damas (Ronan Thomas), 2. Istibdad (JP Guillambert), 3. Rassan (Harry Bentley), 4. Raqee (Saleem Golam). Won by: Hd, 1, 1 ¼. TIme: 2:00.74. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Racing manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi (third from right) with the winners of the Rodat Al Maida Cup after Umm Qarn’s Damas won the feature at the Al Rayyan Park yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim
