The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 23rd race meeting in the 2022-23 season at the Al Rayyan Racecourse turf track on Wednesday, 28th December, 24 hours before the Qatar International Derby meeting kicks oof. The bumper 10-race day was rich with excitement, especially in races from the fifth race to the 10th where fillies and mares took on each other as they contested for the five Oaks titles, including a listed one in the final race of the meeting.
Subahiyah wins Listed Oaks
Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Subahiyah (IRE) (Le Havre x Gherdaiya), on her first start in Qatar, landed the Listed Qatar Oaks for 3YO Thoroughbred Fillies in the day’s final race. Jean-Claude Rouget’s trainee produced a stunning performance as she stretched clear, winning the 2000m contest easily by over two lengths under jockey Faleh Bughanaim, who chalked up his double on the day. The Mohammed Rashid Abdullah Al Naimi-owned and Hadi Al Ramzani-trained Muneerah (FR) (Shalaa) was the runner-up under jockey Hollie Doyle. The Nasser Saif A R Al-Kubaisi-owend and Mohammed Ghazali-trained Midheaven (IRE) (Elzaam) finished a further length behind in third under jockey Lukas Delozier.
Ahmed Amanalla Al-Sheebani, Manager of QREC Support Services Department, presented the trophies to the winners.
Image Du Croate wins 4YO PA Oaks
The Al Shahania Stud-owned Image Du Croate (FR) (Munjiz x Beanie Du Croate) finished third in the Oaks Trials and returned to take the 2000m Qatar Oaks for 4YO Purebred Arabian Fillies itself by half a length in the penultimate race, completing a double for trainer Rudy Nerbonne and a treble for jockey Maxime Guyon on the day. The Wathnan Racing-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained Hazal (FR) (Dahess) finished second under jockey Soufiane Saadi. The Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Eric Lemartinel-trained Al Wakrah (FR) (TM Fred Texas) was only a further nose behind in third under Faleh Bughanaim.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners.
Al Warkah wins 3YO Local TB Oaks
Sheikh Faisal Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani’s homebred Al Warkah (QA) (Trade Storm x Super Moment) scored for the second straight time, winning the 2000m Qatar Oaks for 3YO Local Thoroughbred Fillies, as she took the spoils by two lengths in the eighth race in the card, completing a double on the day for trainer Mohamed Khaled Elahmed and jockey Alberto Sanna. The Wathnan Racing-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained Messaouda (QA) (Migwar) was the runner-up under jockey Ronan Thomas. The Mohammed Abdulhadi S Al-Hajri-owned and Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-trained Achika (QA) (Migwar) finished further length and a quarter behind in third under jockey Tomas Lukasek.
Brigadier-General Abdulrazak Bin Abdulqader Alshahwarzi presented the trophies to the winners.
Osaila wins 4YO Local PA Oaks
Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Osaila (QA) (Amer x Redjila), having finished placed in the Oaks Trial, returned to win the Qatar Oaks, itself, for 4YO Local Purebred Arabian Fillies over 2000m, cosily by two lengths in the seventh race for trainer Eric Lemartinel and jockey Faleh Bughanaim. The Adil Abdelaziz M S Alali-owned and Hamad Al-Jehani-trained Haraiqu (QA) (Assy) finished second under jockey Hugo Besnier. The Salman Mohammed A S Alemadi-owned and Mohammed Ghazali-trained Manakel (QA) (Amer) finished a further half a length behind in third under jockey Jefferson Smith.
Meshaal Bin Ali Al Attiyah crowned the winners.
No Tear Al Maury wisn 3YO PA Oaks
The Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned and Thomas Fourcy-trained No Tear Al Maury (FR) (Jaafer ASF x Nemosie Al Maury), on Qatar debut and fourth career start, scored her third victory as she was ridden to a half-length win in the 1600m Qatar Oaks for 3YO Purebred Arabian Fillies, in the sixth race, by Mickael Barzalona, who doubled up on the day. The Al Shahania Stud-owned and Rudy Nerbonne-trained Nazwa (FR) (Jaafer ASF) was second under jockey Maxime Guyon. The Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Eric Lemartinel-trained Felowah (FR) (Dahess) was further nose four and a half lengths behind in third under Faleh Bughanaim.
Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, presented the trophies to the winners.
Roma wins 3YO Local PA Oaks
In the fifth race in the card, the Noora Racing Limited-owned Roma (QA) (Al Mourtajez x Niriam) won the first of day’s Oaks titles as Mohamed Khaled Elahmed’s trainee was an easy winner of the 1600m Qatar Oaks for 3YO Local Purebred Arabian Fillies, drawing three lengths clear of the field under jockey Alberto Sanna. The Wathnan Racing-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained Aziza (QA) (Amer) finished second under jockey Ronan Thomas. The Sheikh Ahmad Bin Mohamed F N Al-Thani-owned and Zuhair Mohsen-trained Rowaah Zakhir (QA) (Ain Jalout) was further one and a half lengths behind in third under jockey Lukas Delozier.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners.
Djalco
The first of the Qatar Oaks 10-racce card, the 1400m Maiden for Purebred Arabians, was taken in impressive style by the Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned and Julian Smart-trained Djalco (FR) (Josco Du Cayrou x Djalmina), who drew three and a half lengths clear under jockey Jim Crowley.
Latifolia
Int the second race, the Al Ghazali Stud-owned Latifolia (IRE) (Camacho x Lavande) ran out a winner of the 1400m Maiden for 2YO Thoroughbred Fillies by a length and a quarter under jockey Maxime Guyon, getting off the mark and giving trainer Gassim Ghazali a winner on the day.
Fedwah
In the third race, jockey Maxime Guyon made it a double on the day as he partnered Fedwah (FR) (Amer x Arc De Ciel), in the colours of H.E. Sheikha Reem Bint Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, to a quarter of a length victory for trainer Rudy Nerbonne in the 1600m Novice for 3YO+ Purebred Arabians.
Porsche Cavalier
It was a close contest in the fourth race, a 1600m Novice for 3YO+ Thoroughbred Fillies & Mares, but it was the Injaaz Stud-owned Porsche Cavalier (IRE) (Cotai Glory x Silca Boo) who passed the post first under jockey Mickael Barzalona, edging Hungry For Fashion (IRE) (Markaz) by a head and completing a double on the day for trainer Julian Smart.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club