Qatari jockey Rashid Ali al-Marri continued his impressive season yesterday when the apprentice rider rode Mohamed Hussain Afroz-trained Darkanna to his first feature win at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park.
With yesterday’s win in the Al Mamoura Cup, al-Marri has registered 13 wins this season, his highest season haul with five victories last time round his previous best.
In the seven-furlong race for Class 2 Thoroughbreds, al-Marri, who was in the saddle donning Al Thumama Racing colours, guided the Dark Angel filly to a thrilling victory, as they held off Al Moatasem al-Balushi-ridden Anima Rock by half a length at the post.
Alban de Mieulle saddled two winners yesterday, including a maiden winner in Al Shaqab Racing’s Meblish.
Later, in the penultimate race of the day, a conditions race for Arabians, the French trainer saddled Umm Qarn’s Dabaab to her fourth victory this season, locking the top two spots in the miler. Mathieu Pelletan helmed the filly to a comfortable two length victory as another De Mieulle charge, Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Naama finished runner-up under Faleh Bughanaim.
Qatari trainers Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani and Ibrahim al-Malki saddled two winners each yesterday.
While Tomas Lukasek rode both the Thoroughbred Handicap winners for al-Ramzani, he also helmed his third winner of the day with al-Malki.
The Class 4 run saw Suprematism holding off a threatening challenge by two al-Malki wards — Severini and Al Gazi. In a blanket finish, Anas al-Seyabi-ridden Severini finished a short head behind the winner, while Jimmy Quinn helmed Al Gazi to a third place finish by a nose.
In the Class 3 run, Random Decision led a one-two for al-Ramzani, who won the Qatari Trainer of the Year award last year. Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim, who is inching closer to his last season’s tally of 20 victories, guided On The Front Line to second place.
Al-Malki, who had won the Qatari Trainer of the Year Award in 2017, saddled the winner in the next race, also a handicap, with al-Seyabi helming Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani’s Yvenland to the gelding’s third victory this season. Yvenland beat Julian Smart-trained Off He Goes by a little more than a length for al-Malki’s 36th victory this season.
In the seven-furlong local Thoroughbred Handicap run, Lukasek-ridden Bab Al Rayyan led a one-two for al-Malki with Jimmy Quinn guiding Sly Fly to a fine second.
Earlier in the day, Mohamed Jassim Ghazali-trained Tilal registered her maiden victory in the card-opener.
In the graduation race for local Arabians, Qatari apprentice jockey Ali Khalid al-Mosallam matched his last season’s tally of three wins, riding Mohamed Khaled Elahmed-trained Fazan to victory.
 
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Tilal (JP Guillambert), 2. Majhool Al Zaeem (Asad al-Seyabi), 3. Karim (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Mizoun (Sylvain Ruis). Won by: 4 ¼, 1 ¾, 2 ¼. Time: 1:38.29. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 2: 1. Meblish (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Satam (Anas al-Seyabi), 3. Annab (Al Moatasem al-Balushi), 4. Djamil (Mathieu Pelletan). Won by: 3 ¾, 1 ¾, ½. Time: 1:45.31. Owner: Al Shaqab Racing. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 3: 1. Fazan (Ali Khalid al-Mosallam), 2. Lekhraib (Al Moatasem al-Balushi), 3. Ghazi Al Jeryan (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. E’zaaz (JP Guillambert). Won by: ¼, 4 ½, 1. Time: 1:30.97. Owner: Rashid Mohamed al-Mosallam. Trainer: Mohamed Khaled Elahmed.
Race 4: 1. Suprematism (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Severini (Anas al-Seyabi), 3. Al Gazi (Jimmy Quinn), 4. Yaarmen (JP Guillambert). Won by: Shd, No, 2. Time: 1:54.31. Owner: Ali Yousuf al-Kubaisi. Trainer: Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani.
Race 5: 1. Random Decision (Tomas Lukasek), 2. On The Front Line (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Binzart (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Primitorio (Nathan Kasztelan). Won by: 1, 1 ¼, ½. Time: 1:10.50. Owner: Al Jeryan Stud. Trainer: Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani.
Race 6: 1. Yvanlend (Anas al-Seyabi), 2. Off He Goes (Asad al-Seyabi), 3. Tremendous Leap (JP Guillambert), 4. Rich History (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 1 ¼, Hd, No. Time: 2:15.67. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 7: 1. Bab Al Rayyan (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Sly Fly (Jimmy Quinn), 3. Al Uraiq Weapon (Meteb Ali al-Marri), 4. Khoud (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 1 ¼, 1 ¾, 1 ½. Time: 1:24.44. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 8: 1. Dabaab (Mathieu Pelletan), 2. Al Naama (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Al Dawoodea (Sylvain Ruis), 4. Rajeh (Al Moatasem al-Balushi). Won by: 2, 1 ¾, ½. Time: 1:43.42. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 9: 1. Darkanna (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 2. Anima Rock (Al Moatasem al-Balushi), 3. Shobrom (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Top Face (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: ½, 1 ¾, 1 ½. Time: 1:23.02. Owner: Al Thumama Racing. Trainer: Mohamed Hussain Afroz.