Al-Kuwari’s Saqr clinches Al Jumayliyah Cup

The Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned Saqr won the Al Jumayliyah Cup, the feature race of the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 51st Race Meeting, at the Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday. The Gassim Ghazali-trained five-year-old stayed on well, keeping his rivals at bay in the closing stages to record a one and a quarter length win under jockey Alberto Sanna, who got his name on the scoresheet in the 1,700m contest for three-year-old+ Thoroughbreds. QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi crowned the winners.Al Thumama Racing’s X Force regained the winning thread with a dominant victory in the 1,200m Conditions for three-year-old+ Thoroughbreds. The six-year-old produced an impressive effort, clearing away by six lengths and completing a double on the day for the trainer-jockey combination of Hadi al-Ramzani and Faleh Bughanaim.Earlier in the day, the Mansoor Mesfer al-Shahwani-owned and trained Shaleesh produced a superb performance in the 1,200m Local Thoroughbred three-year-old Open Race. Once in the straight, the bay colt did not look back and bolted seven and a half lengths clear of the field under jockey Meteb Ali al-Saaq, adding a second win to his three-start career. The 1,900m Handicap (0-90) for four-year-old+ Purebred Arabians was taken by the Faisal Salem al-Shahwani-owned and Dr Fahad Salman al-Hajri-trained Mountasir in good style, as the seven-year-old horse responded nicely to jockey Mohamed Moussa in the last furlong and kicked on to win by two and a half lengths.The 1,900m Handicap (65-85) for three-year-old+ Thoroughbreds saw Soufiane Saadi ride his second winner of the day, as the Rashid Awajan al-Khayarin-owned and Hamad al-Jehani-trained Toromona galloped four lengths clear of the field.A thrilling finish to the Handicap (0-80) for four-year-old+ Local Purebred Arabians saw the Al Meqdam Stud-owned and Abdulrahman Abdulwahed-trained Khaldoun edge out Nomas Al Shajaa and Hardan to take the 1,900m race by a short head and a head under jockey Trevor Patel.In the second race of the day, Dhi Qar, carrying the colours of Mohamed Abdulla al-Attiya, enhanced his highly promising record with a second straight win in his fourth career start.Under Faleh Bughanaim, the Hadi al-Ramzani-trained three-year-old colt waited until the final furlong and then showed a brilliant turn of foot to come from off the pace and win by five lengths in the 1,700m Handicap (0-70) for three-year-old+ Thoroughbreds.Having finished runner-up in her last two starts, the Mohamed bin Fahad al-Attiya-owned Al Zain went one better to win the 1200m Maiden for four-six-year-old Purebred Arabians.The four-year-old filly was given a confident ride by Soufiane Saadi and once in the straight, she quickened up smartly and stretched clear to win with three and a half lengths to spare for trainer Gassim Ghazali.