The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 43rd race meeting in the 2021-22 season, Loyalty Cup day, at the Al Rayyan Racecourse turf track on Thursday, 24 March. In the final event of the nine-race card, the feature race of the meeting went the way of owner and trainer Abdulaziz Ali Al Kathiri with INHERENT (GB) (Dubawi x Integral) winning the Loyalty Cup, having topped the 2200m Class 4 Graduation race for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds by a length under JP Guillambert, who wrapped up the day with a double. The Layla Sophia Kalach-owned and Wasim Al Sahn-trained SULTANHON (FR) (Scissor Kick) finished second under Ronan Thomas. The Abdulatif Hussain M Z Al-Emadi-owned and Bader Al Balushi-trained JEWEL HOUSE (GB) (Dubawi) was a further half length behind in third under Lukas Delozier.
QREC Racing Manager, Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, presented the trophies to the winners after the final race of the day.
BIN AL TAIR
In the penultimate race, Trainer Alban de Mieulle got his name on the scoresheet as the 1750m race for Purebred Arabians, Weight for Age Plate, saw Umm Qarn’s BIN AL TAIR (FR) (Al Tair x Al Yzea) stay on well to win by a half length under Soufiane Saadi.
SEMPER AUGUSTUS
In the seventh race, Mansoor Ebrahim Al Mahmoud’s SEMPER AUGUSTUS (GB) (Dutch Art x Pink Flames) returned to winning ways quickly as the 4YO gelding took the 1750m Class 2 Conditions for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds by two lengths under Marco Casamento recording a double on the day for trainer Gassim Ghazali.
BALMARI
In the sixth race, Al Bida Racing’s BALMARI (IRE) (Mukhadram x Baliyana) continued his good run of form to win the 1400m Class 2 Handicap (0-100) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds by a half length under Lukas Delozier for trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki.
IRTIQAA
In the fifth race, trainer Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, having won the previous race, recorded a quick-fire double as he saddled Sabhea Awad Ibrahim’s IRTIQAA (QA) (Kendargent x Too Marvelous) to win the 2000m Handicap (0-95) for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbred by one and a quarter lengths under Meteb Ali Al Saaq, who doubled up on the day.
ROGUE NATION
In the fourth race, Sheikh Faisal Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani’s ROGUE NATION (IRE) (Acclamation x Xema) doubled his tally as he got back to winning ways returned to the same distance on which he had go off the mark. The Mohamed Khaled Elahmed-trained 4YO colt won the 1500m Class 4 Handicap (0-85) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds by one and a quarter lengths under Qais Al Busaidi.
Hapap
In the third race, Trainer Gassim Ghazali and Jockey Meteb Ali Al Saaq teamed up for the success of Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s Hapap (IRE) (Dark Angel x Apphia) in the Class 6 Thoroughbred Maiden. The 3YO colt won the 1500 race for 3-6YOs by one and a half lengths.
ASTROLABE
In the second race, Al Ghazali Stud’s ASTROLABE (FR) (Majd Al Arab x Colette) got off the mark on his third career start, winning the 1500m Maiden for 4-6YO Purebred Arabians. The Mohammed Ghazali-trained 4YO colt was ridden to a two and a half-length win by JP Guillambert. This was the colt’s second start in Qatar having finished mid-placed in the first while his debut was in France. He should be watched closely in his next starts as he seems very promising.
AJS SAAEQ
In the day’s opener, and having been placed in all his previous four starts, Al Jeryan Stud’s homebred AJS SAAEQ (QA) (AF AlBahar x Sahab Al Zaeem) broke his duck in the fifth, kicking off the meeting with a bang as he took the 1500m Maiden for 4YO Local Purebred Arabians by impressive seven lengths for trainer M.H.K Al Attiyah and jockey Szczepan Mazur. The 4YO colt looks a very good horse in the making, who should have more to offer.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club