The Title Show at the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival saw some top quality field strutting around on the beachfront on the final day of qualifying classes yesterday.
The Festival was yesterday visited by HE the Minister of Justice and Acting Minister of State for the Cabinet Affairs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi, HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi, and a number of envoys to Qatar. Prof. Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, honoured the sponsors of the festival.
With a total prize money of QR13mn, the show, which will conclude with the championship round today, is of the highest quality with contenders from as many as 12 countries participating over the course of four days. The Title Show is being conducted and organised by Katara, together with Qatar Equestrian Federation, and Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).
Yesterday, as many as 69 Arabian horses participated in the five qualifying classes for mares and stallions.
Top three from the qualifying classes across yearling, junior and senior categories will reach the championship round for the respective categories.
HE Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa al-Thani-owned horses continued to shine yesterday with Noft Alnayfat impressing the judges enough to amass 94.17 points, the biggest points haul yesterday, in class 8B for seven-ten-year-old mares. Sheikh Jassim’s contenders had topped three qualifying classes on Thursday.
Yesterday, HE Sheikh Al Qaqa bin Hamad al-Thani’s Baviera HVP and Aijana, owned by Al Shaqab — Member of Qatar Foundation, were second and third respectively. The former was ranked higher on move after both the horses tied on overall points and type.
Sheikh Jassim had another qualifying class topper in Sundown KA. With 94 points from the judges, the grey horse topped class 11 for seven-ten-year-old stallions. The gold champion at the Qatar National Arabian Show in December 2019, Falah Al Shaqab (92.17), owned by Al Shaqab — Member of Qatar Foundation, was second. Al Shahaniya Stud’s EKS Mansour, champion in Deauville in 2016, was third with 91.92 points.
The 2018 Polish national champion, Galerida, owned by Al Dana al-Meslemani (Al Thumama Stud) won the first qualifying class of the day, 8A for seven-ten-year-old mares with 92.75 points. In second spot was Al Asayel Stud’s Fattam Al Nasser, bronze winner in the 22nd Qatar National Arabian Horse Show, with 92.42 points, while Kaheel Stud’s Mouniraj too made it today’s medal round with 91.75 points.
Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani’s (Al Nasser Stud) Rihab Al Nasser, mares champion at the 2018 AHO World Cup in France, earned 93.17 points for the win in class 9 for 11-plus-year-old mares. Al Shahaniya Stud’s Piacenza, bronze winner at last month’s Qatar National Arabian Horse Show, reached the championship round yet again with 92.83 points. Nasser Mohamed al-Hajri’s Wasa (92.17), the 2018 mares champion in the Qatar national show, rounded out the top three.
In the final qualifying class of the Title Show, class 12 for 11-plus-year-old stallions, Al Shaqab’s Fadi Al Shaqab took the win after being rewarded 91.75 points. Nasser Mohamed al-Hajri’s Al Milan was second with 90.83 points. Al Reeh Stud’s Om El Sanadeed edged out al-Hajri-owned Gazwan Al Nasser, bronze winner last month, on type for third place in the class after the two were tied at 90.50 points.
The Title Show will conclude today with the championship rounds for yearling fillies, yearling colts, junior fillies, junior colts, senior mares and senior stallions.
HE the Minister of Finance Ali Sherif al-Emadi (right) and Prof. Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, General Manager of Katara, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, at the Festival yesterday.
