Qatari rider Faleh Bughanaim helmed his eighth winner of the season when Osama Omer al-Dafea’s Taxiwala sprinted to the Ain Khaled Cup victory at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park yesterday.
The turf feature for Thoroughbreds saw the gelding make good use of his weight advantage as the three-year-old registered his first victory in Qatar and second overall.
Taxiwala beat Stefano Ibido-saddled Dominus and Jassim Mohamed Ghazali-trained Izzthatright for a victory in the six-furlong sprint.
Champion trainer Ghazali, however, had two straight winners with Al Shahania Stud’s Rajeh winning a Purebred Arabian Conditions event, and Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari’s Luchador leading a top-three sweep for the handler in a Thoroughbreds Conditions for fillies and mares.
Rajeh was helmed by Qatari apprentice rider Meteb Ali al-Marri to victory in the 2200m run, the jockey’s 10th win of the season, while Tomas Lukasek was astride Luchador in the seven-furlong run.
It was a good day in office for Qatari trainer Ibrahim al-Malki who saddled a trio of winners including a double for the colours of Abdulatif Hussain 
al-Emadi.
The day began with Hessdalen winning a Thoroughbred Handicap under Mustafa Manav, who rode a winner for the first time this season. 
The al-Malki ward had run the 2000m trip for the third time yesterday and improved well having finished 10th the first time last month, before hitting third in the feature a week ago, and a narrow victory by a head this time.
Two of his wards then topped Thoroughbred conditions events — Pazeer now going fifth straight season with a victory, and Black Pearl bouncing back from a 
blip that was his runner-up finish in an otherwise unbeaten season.
Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi-owned horses were ridden to victories by Soufiane Saadi and Leo Salles respectively.
Running the longest trip of her short career so far, Majed Seifeddine-schooled Al Shomos won for the second time this season yesterday. 
Carlos Henrique was astride Mubarak bin Saeed al-Jafai al-Naimi’s mare for the second straight time and the duo produced the same result, this time winning handsomely by six-and-a-half lengths.
In a mile-long Purebred Arabian Handicap, Al Shaqab Racing’s Meblish managed edge out the competition by a neck in a blanket finish yesterday. Alban de Mieulle-schooled five-year-old was not in the best of elements last time round in the Arabian feature in His Highness The Amir Sword Festival, but did well under Ronan Thomas yesterday to take a win with a neck to spare.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Hessdalen (Mustafa Manav), 2. More Than A Dream (Carlos Henrique), 3. Geno (Soufiane Saadi), 4. Wemyss Ware (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: Hd, ½, ½. Time: 2:04.20. Owner: Ibrahim al-Malki. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 2: 1. Al Shomos (Carlos Henrique), 2. Al Khor Surprise (Leo Salles), 3. Rawdat Al Khail (Meteb Ali al-Marri), 4. Look At Me (Anas al-Seyabi). Won by: 6 ½, 4 ¾, 6 ½. Time: 2:20.19. Owner: Mubarak bin Saeed al-Jafai al-Naimi. Trainer: Majed Seifeddine.
Race 3: 1. Meblish (Ronan Thomas), 2. AJS Moaddie (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Ateej (Ryan Curatolo), 4. Evolution Du Croate (Meteb Ali al-Marri). Won by: Nk, Hd, 1 ¼. Time: 1:45.05. Owner: Al Shaqab Racing. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 4: 1. Pazeer (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Es’hail (Leo Salles), 3. Veranda (Ronan Thomas), 4. Markhor (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 1 ½, 1, Hd. Time: 2:03.42. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 5: 1. Black Pearl (Leo Salles), 2. Shaman Bu Thaila (Anas al-Seyabi), 3. Mosayter (Saleh Salem al-Marri), 4. Qate’e (Meteb Ali al-Marri). Won by: 1 ¼, Nk, 1 ¼. Time: 1:24.97. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 6: 1. Luchador (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Festive (Luca Maniezzi), 3. Wayside Flower (Soufiane Saadi), 4. Che Bella (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 1, ½, Nk. Time: 1:24.32. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 7: 1. Rajeh (Meteb Ali al-Marri), 2. Bin General (Ronan Thomas), 3. Akmar (Ryan Curatolo), 4. She’ris (Leo Salles). Won by: 2, 2, ½. Time: 2:27.64. Owner: Al Shahania Stud. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 8: 1. Taxiwala (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Dominus (Luca Maniezzi), 3. Izzthatright (Ronan Thomas), 4. X Force (Anas al-Seyabi). Won by: ¾, 2 ½, ½. Time: 1:11.02. Owner: Osama Omer Al Dafea. Trainer: Osama Omer Al Dafea.