Qatari trainer Ibrahim al-Malki celebrated a double yesterday as Al Sakab Stud’s Al Faisaliya topped the Al Britha Cup, the feature for local Thoroughbreds, at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park on Thursday.
In the seven-furlong run, the homebred mare was guided to an exciting victory by Ronan Thomas as the five-year-old edged out al-Malki’s own Shaman Bu Thaila, with Anas al-Seyabi astride, by half-a-length.
Half-an-hour earlier, in the penultimate race, al-Seyabi was involved in another thrilling finish when he rode al-Malki-schooled Balmari to a quarter-of-a-length victory in the colours of Al Bida Racing. It was the four-year-old chestnut’s second straight Thoroughbred Handicap win.
Experience Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim helmed Al Jasra Stud’s My Kinda Day to the gelding’s first career win in 17 starts. The Ahmed Kobeissi-saddled gelding had missed out on his first win at Al Uqda a week ago, but yesterday did well to beat Alberto Sanna-ridden The Singer by a length-and-a-quarter in the Thoroughbred Handicap.
The Italian too celebrated a handicap winner, guiding Wasim al-Sahn’s ward Mahaarat to her first win in Qatar in 16 starts. Layla Sophia Kalach-owned chestnut mare topped the 2,000m run by a head, edging out Soufiane Saadi-ridden Ethic at the post.
Earlier yesterday veteran trainer Alban de Mieulle celebrated three winners, including two in maidens and one in a novice.
First up for the Frenchman was Noora Racing Limited’s Al Ghariyah, who was helmed to a fine one-length victory in the mile-long Thoroughbred Maiden Plate event under Saadi. Umm Qarn’s Al Balagh topped the local Arabian maiden over 2,200m with Carlos Henrique partnering well with the filly as the four-year-old registered her first win in only her second outing.
Saadi rode another winner for compatriot De Mieulle with Al Shaqab Racing’s Mwarid making lightweight of his 60 kilos in the Arabian novice run over 2,000m, winning by a little more than a length.
In the other Arabian novice run, Al Shahania Stud’s Alf Lyla gave her handler Julian Smart his only victory as Tomas Lukasek helmed her to a thrilling half-a-length win.
In the card’s first race, a local Thoroughbred maiden, Qatari apprentice rider Rashid Ali al-Marri helmed his 14th winner of the season as Ali al-Marri-schooled War Man won for the first time in his three starts.

RESULTS
Race 1: LOCAL THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE (1,600m)
1. War Man (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 2. Al Harqah (Carlos Henrique), 3. Al Qamar (Alberto Sanna), 4. Mutamarrid (Marco Casamento). Won by: Hd, 2 ½, Shd. Time: 1:40.06. Owner: Antar Rashid al-Marri. Trainer: Ali al-Marri.
Race 2: THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE (3 Year Olds) (Class 6) (1,600m)
1. Al Ghariyah (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Release The Beast (Alberto Sanna), 3. Deliberate Attack (Khalid al-Balushi), 4. Maybe One Day (Francois Herholdt). Won by: 1, ½, 1 ½. Time: 1:37.06. Owner: Noora Racing Limited. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 3: LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN NOVICE (FILLIES & MARES) (1,600m)
1. Alf Lyla (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Khanoor (Ronan Thomas), 3. Monati (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Tabouk (Soufiane Saadi). Won by: ½, 3, 10 ½. Time: 1:46.53. Owner: Al Shahania Stud. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 4: LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE (Far bend) (2,200m)
1. Al Balagh (Carlos Henrique), 2. Ranan (Marco Casamento), 3. AJS Sarhan (Soufiane Saadi), 4. Benghazi Al Naif (Saleh Salem al-Marri). Won by: 2 ¼, Hd, 5 ½. Time: 2:37.01. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 5: PUREBRED ARABIAN NOVICE PLATE (Far bend) (2,000m)
1. Mwarid (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Ragdan (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Bin Al Tair (Ronan Thomas), 4. Dawi (Francois Herholdt). Won by: 1 ¼, Hd, ¾. Time: 2:16.85. Owner: Al Shaqab Racing. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 6: THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 4) (Far bend) (85 & below) (2,000m)
1. Mahaarat (Alberto Sanna), 2. Ethic (Soufiane Saadi), 3. Hessdalen (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Hakeem (Ghofrane Ghrissi). Won by: Hd, 2, Hd. Time: 2:08.02. Owner: Layla Sophia Kalach. Trainer: Wasim al-Sahn.
Race 7: THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 4) (Far bend) (1,200m)
1. My Kinda Day (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. The Singer (Alberto Sanna), 3. Lightning Boltz (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Alrahaal (Meteb Ali al-Marri). Won by: 1 ¼, 1 ¼, ½. Time: 1:12.90. Owner: Al Jasra Stud. Trainer: Ahmed Kobeissi.
Race 8: THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 4) (Far bend) (70-90) (1,400m)
1. Balmari (Anas al-Seyabi), 2. Fuwayrit (Soufiane Saadi), 3. Gangland (Francois Herholdt), 4. Cool Exhibit (Khalid al-Balushi). Won by: ¼, 1 ¼, ½. Time: 1:25.14. Owner: Al Bida Racing. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 9: AL BRITHA CUP (Far bend) (LOCAL THOROUGHBREDS) (1,400m)
1. Al Faisaliya (Ronan Thomas), 2. Shaman Bu Thaila (Anas al-Seyabi), 3. Al Adheed (Soufiane Saadi), 4. Bab Al Rayyan (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: Hd, 2 ¼, 5. Time: 1:26.24. Owner: Al Sakab Stud. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.