The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the fithh race meeting in the 2021-22 season at the Al Rayyan Racecourse dirt track on Wednesday, 27October. The owner Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi-owned ERNEST ALDRICH (GB) (Oasis Dream x Wallis) won the feature and eighth race in the card when he landed the Qatar Cup for trainer Bader Al Balushi with JP Guillambert in the saddle. It was a one-two for the owner and the trainer as the Al Balushi-saddled, in the colours of Al Emadi, JEWEL HOUSE (GB) (Dubawi) finished runner-up. Having bagged the Qatar Cup on Wednesday, ERNEST ALDRICH completed a double following his win two weeks ago and it is interesting that JEWEL HOUSE was also the runner-up on that occasion.
The feature race was a Conditions, 3YO+ Thoroughbreds over 1700m. ERNEST ALDRICH broke from barrier 2 and was settled by Guillambert in a mid-position in the early stages. ALWAAB (FR) (Toronado) was the early leader and there almost no change in the order of 10 runners in the back straight. Approaching the first turn, ERNEST ALDRICH started to improve and progressed to the third position and it was
MASSAM (GB) (Dubawi), who took the lead the that stage and looked a possible winner. However, approaching the 200m mark, JEWEL HOUSE came from behind and took the lead. Immediately, ERNEST ALDRICH made a similar sweep to be at his heels and the last stage of the race turned into a duel between the two stable mates with JEWEL HOUSE still taking the lead. However, ERNEST ALDRICH accelerated nicely in the last stride to snatch victory by a quarter of a length in front of the Alberto Sanna-ridden JEWEL HOUSE. The Mansoor Ebrahim Al Mahmoud-owned and Jassim Ghazali-trained was the nearest rival to the duo and was 3¼ lengths behind in third under Soufiane Saadi.
The winning trainer Bader Al Balushi elated with this win and the performance of the winner and the runner-up. “I’d like to congratulate the owner for this win”, he said, “Both horses ran in one race and made the same one-two a couple of weeks ago. Today, they repeated the same scenario to confirm their class as the finished the race far in front from their nearest rival. Today’s victory is very special as the cup bears the name of Qatar. Winning cup races motivates trainers and winning a feature race at the beginning of the season makes us optimistic.”
Following the feature race, Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
TILAAWAH
In the penultimate race, a Thoroughbred Handicap (0-95) for 3YO+, Onaiza Racing’s TILAAWAH (GB) (Showcasing x Lady Estella) proved on a roll as he completed a hat-trick within 3 weeks winning 1200m race. It was a double on the day and a 1-2 for trainer Hamad Al Jehani, who saddled the runner up, I Am Thunder (IRE) (Night Of Thunder) as well. It was Lukas Delozier who rode the 3YO winner to success by a ½-length. Unbutton (GB) (Cable Bay) finished third.
ROMAN MELODY
The sixth race in the card went the way of Injaaz Stud’s ROMAN MELODY (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor x Gift Of Music) who gave his owner and his jockey Marco Casamento a triplet on the day. It was also a double on the day by trainer Jassim Ghazali who saddled the 4YO gelding to a 1½-length win in the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-80) for 3YO+ over 1700m. Angelic Queen (IRE) (Anjaal) and Al Mujahaz (FR) (Dutch Art) finished second and third respectively.
STILVIO
Abdullah Bin Fahad Al Attiyah’s STILVIO (FR) (AF AlBahar x Sylia Du Cayrou) doubled his tally winning the Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-80). Mohammed Ghazali’s ward was ridden by Qais Al Busaidi to a head win in the 1900m run for 3YO+. Khattab De Faust (FR) (Mared Al Sahra) and Al Addaaj (QA) (Zaeem Al Shajaa) took the minor honours in this order.
WEMYSS WARE
WEMYSS WARE (IRE) (Dubawi x White Moonstone) gave owner, Injaaz Stud, and jockey Marco Casamento their double on the day in the Thoroughbred Novice Plate. Jassim Ghazali saddled the 5YO gelding to a neck win in the 1900m for 3YO+. Inherent (GB) (Dubawi) and Deliberate Attack (IRE) (Vadamos) completed the frame.
TAMIH
The third race in the card saw Ahmad Mubarak Al Kuwari’s TAMIH (FR) (Majd Al Arab x Tarabulus Al Wasmiya) completing a double with this season winning the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate. Pranil Arvind steered the Eng. Mohamed Rashid Seif Al Kuwari to 1½-length win in the 1200m for 3YO+. Salsabiel (FR) (AF AlBahar) and Ahzaab (QA) (Dahess) finished second and third respectively.
THAMINA
On her 2nd outing this season, Injaaz Stud’s THAMINA (QA) (Holy Roman Emperor x Clever Millie) went one better winning the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate in the second race in the card. Marco Casamento guided the 4YO filly to win the 1200m for 3-6YO fillies & mares by 3 lengths. Al Harqah (QA) (Storm Account) and Al Qamar (QA) (Footstepsinthesand) completed the frame.
QOOT
The Qatar Cup Day kicked off with Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani’s QOOT (QA) (Dahess x That Al Washah) winning the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate. Soufiane Saadi rode the Hamad Al Jehani-trained 5YO mare to a length win in the 1200m run for 3-6YOs. Mared Al Jasra (QA) (Mared Al Sahra) and Benghazi Al Naif (QA) (T M Fred Texas) finished second and third respectively.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club