Angelic Queen produced a blistering run under jockey Lukas Delozier to claim the season-opening Al Ghariya Cup in on Wednesday's feature race on the Al Rayyan Racecourse dirt track at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).
Al Azraq Stable-owned and Mohamed Ghazali-trained Angelic Queen took the lead halfway through the race before storming to an easy victory in the race for the Thoroughbreds - Fillies and Mares.
Angelic Queen finished a good three lengths ahead of Keel Bay, piloted by Tomas Lukasek in the QR100,000 race. Defending champion, Unbutton, helmed by JP Guillambert, finished third in the 1,200m race.
In the Thoroughbred Open Race, Roman Melody ridden by jockey Hugo Besnier emerged fastest. The five-year-old, owned by Injaaz Stud, was comfortable in the straight as it cruised into half a length victory. Roman Melody’s win gave Besnier second win of the day, having also won the first race earlier.
In Purebred Arabian Handicap, Shaweesh emerged victorious by a neck, giving trainer Hamad al-Jehani his second victory of the opening day of the season. Arnaud De Lepine rode the seven-year-old in 1,700m race.
The horse racing season will include many race meetings at both Al Rayyan and Al Uqda Racecourses and will conclude with the End Of Season Cup meeting on April 24, 2023.
The new season racing programme includes 52 race days at Al Rayyan Racecourse and 17 at Al Uqda, making a total of 69 days to be run on both turf and sand over six months and 12 days.
Races at Al Uqda will start on November 19 with the Umm Swayya Cup Day and the last race meeting in the season there will be the Local Thoroughbred Trophy Day and will be held on February 24.
The 2022/23 official racing programme sees a rise in the number of races with 548 races compared to 533 last season. This increase accommodated more races for local Purebred Arabians.
The HH The Amir Sword Festival will be the season’s most important event and will be held at Al Rayyan Racecourse from February 16-18, 2023
The racing programmes includes other top-quality race meetings as well. These include the Late Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy and the National Day Trophy on December16.
Thirteen days later, the Qatar International Derby will take place. January 5 will be the date of the HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy Day and January 21 will be for HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day. HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy Day will be held on March 16.
The last of the big days in the coming season will be the Qatar Gold Sword and Trophy Day on April 6.

WINNERS
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1. Al Ghariya Cup - Thoroughbreds (Fillies & Mares) (Class 2)
Angelic Queen, Mohamed Ghazali, Lukas Delozier
2. Thoroughbred Open Race (Class 2)
Roman Melody, Gassim Ghazali, Hugo Besnier
3. Purebred Arabian Handicap 70-90
Shaweesh, Hamad al-Jehani, Arnaud De Lepine
4. Purebred Arabian Novice Plate
Hazzam, Eric Lemartinel, Faleh Bughanaim
5. Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Fillies & Mares)
Alzubarah Katara, Hadi al-Ramzani, Giuseppe Cultraro
6. Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate
Aziza Al Zaeem, Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki, Tomas Lukasek
7. Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6)
Silks Dream, Hamad al-Jehani, Hugo Besnier