Umm Qarn-owned Mehdi won the Al Zubara Trophy on the first day of HH The Amir Sword Festival at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park on Thursday. Mehdi, guided by jockey Soufiane Saadi, edged out Al Balagh for a thrilling victory in Thursday's feature race –Al Zubara Trophy for Local Purebred Arabians, which offered a prize purse of $150,000.
It was Alberto Sanna-helmed Muale’m, who took the lead in the beginning but Ghali al-thman – piloted by JP Guillambert – snatched the lead at the 500m-mark. Keeping the pace with the pack, Alban Elie De Mieulle-trained Mehdi made a surge in the final 100m to overcome a swift move from Olivier Peslier-led Al Balagh, and complete a close win to secure the winners’ prize of $85,500.
Sealine with Ronan Thomas in the saddle finished third, with Ghali al-Athman and Muale’m finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
The three-day event, which is also featuring 15 international horses besides the GCC formidables, started with exciting races with eight titles being decided on the inaugural day. Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani also watched the action on the opening day, which also featured many activities off the race course for fans.
HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Khalifa al-Thani presented the Thoroughbred Sprint Cup to Sheikh Joaan following the victory of Al Shaqab Racing’s Lauded under Faleh Bughanaim. With the four-year-old’s win, Bughanaim also completed a hat-trick of victories for trainer Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki, in the 33rd race meeting, yesterday.
Meanwhile, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s homebred Hameed continued the fine run, clinching the 1600m Purebred Arabian Cup title. The Rudy Nerbonne’s trainee was ridden by Alberto Sanna to a 1½ length victory. Sheikh Mohamed received the Cup from acting QREC CEO Bader Mohamed al-Darwish.
Earlier, Al Bida Racing’s Balmari stormed to 1600m Thoroughbred Handicap Cup victory by 1½ length under Lukas Delozier. It was second win of the day for trainer Al-Malki.
Also yesterday, Marco Casamento guided Jassim al-Ghazali-trained Saoud al-Sulaimi to win the Purebred Arabian Handicap Cup while Semper Augustus, ridden by Maxime Guyon, claimed victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap Cup.
In the first two races on the inaugural day, Irtiqaa and Meteb Ali al-Marri teamed up to take the Local Thoroughbred Handicap Cup title while Caidok and Dylan Browne McMonagle combined to give yesterday’s first win to trainer Al-Malki by claiming the Thoroughbred Maiden Cup.

RESULTS (WINNERS)
Horse, Trainer, Jockey
1. Al Zubara Trophy - Local Purebred Arabians
Mehdi, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi
2. Thoroughbred Open Sprint Cup (Class 2)
Lauded, Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki, Faleh Bughanaim
3. Purebred Arabian 4-Year-Old Open Cup
Hameed, Rudy Andre Nerbonne, Alberto Sanna
4. Thoroughbred Handicap Cup (Class 3)
Balmari, Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki, Lukas Delozier
5. Purebred Arabian Handicap Cup
Saoud al-Sulaimi, Jassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento
6. Thoroughbred Handicap Cup (Class 4)
Semper Augustus, Jassim Ghazali, Maxime Guyon
7. Local Thoroughbred Handicap Cup
Irtiqaa, Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, Meteb Ali al-Marri
8. Thoroughbred Maiden Cup (Class 6)
Caidok, Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki, Dylan Browne McMonagle