The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 3rd race meeting in the 2021-22 season at the Uqda Racecourse turf track on Saturday, 27 November. The six-race card day was wrapped up with the feature event, Al Rakayat Cup, a Thoroughbred Handicap (0-80), for three-year-olds and older. Al Azraq Stable’s ANGELIC QUEEN (IRE) (Anjaal x Candlelight) landed the 1400m contest. The four-year-old filly booked her trainer Mohammed Ghazali and her jockey JP Guillambert the main place in the winners’ enclosure as she won the day’s feature event by three quarters of a length. Angelic Queen with this victory under regained her good efforts after she finished sixth last time before which she had had three runs and she won one of them and finished runner-up in the other two. She had also ended her last season campaign with a win last season. She looks to have more to offer.
The final race of the had almost a full field with 13 runners lining in the starting gates. While Angelic Queen was wide drawn at barrier 12, Guillambert pushed her to go immediately to the front beside Maybe One Day (FR) (Acclamation) who was leading against the rail with Selected (IRE) (Mehmas) completing the lead to Angelic Queen’s outside. The trio maintained the lead until the final bend. In the home straight, Angelic Queen showed a nice turn of foot to take the lead in the final 550m and increase the gap with her two rivals. In the meantime, Maybe One Day started to fade and give ground with a strong progress from behind made by
Al Jeryan Stud’s Saeiqa (GB) (Shalaa) in the final 200m to be the nearest runner to Angelic Queen, but the latter stayed on gamely to score. The Mohammed Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah-trained Saeiqa finished second under Szczepan Mazur two lengths in front of the Shaheen Bin Khalid Shaheen Al Ghanim-owned and Jassim Ghazali-trained Hillside Dream (IRE) (Dream Ahead), who made a late sweep to snatch the third place under David Allan.
“We weren’t lucky enough with Angelic Queen at Al Uqda last season”, said winning trainer Mohammed Ghazali after the race, “But she was excellent in her runs at Al Rayyan. Today, was her second test at Al Uqda and over a good distance. She did very well and JP Guillambert give her a superb ride, especially as she was wide drawn. He managed to take her to the lead from the very early stages. In fact, the distances between 1200 and 1700 metres are the most suitable for Angelic Queen, particularly as she does have the speed to excel at these distances and she had already had good results over such distances on turf at Al Rayyan. I’d like to congratulate Mohammed Khalid Al Khalifa and Al Al Azraq Stable that they have such an excellent filly.”
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners after the final race of the day.
IN THE NIGHT
IN THE NIGHT (IRE) (Shamardal x Surprise Moment) was back to winning ways as he was a very easy winner of the 2300m Handicap (0-90) for three-years-old and older Thoroughbreds and won by four and a quarter lengths. His owner and trainer Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki and jockey Tomas Lukasek had an excellent day as they recorded together their second winner on the card. It is first win this season for the four-year-old gelding who ended the last season on a high tone with two wins and finished placed in several earlier runs. Quelindo (GER) (Aussie Rules) and More Than A Dream (IRE) (Halling) completed the frame.
CRUELLA DOVIL
Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani’s CRUELLA DOVIL (IRE) (Clodovil x Pale Light) scored again on her third start this term. Meteb Ali Al Saaq rode the Hamad Al Jehani-trained five-year-old mare to prevail by a quarter of a length in the 1200m Handicap (0-70). In three runs this season, she won two and was placed in one. Forced (GB) (Lethal Force) and Show Of Strength (IRE) (Dark Angel) finished second and third respectively.
KARBASANN
Abdullah Bin Ali Bin Khalifa Al Attiya’s KARBASANN (IRE) (Siyouni x Karawana) won the 2100m Novice Plate for three-years-old and older Thoroughbreds. Tomas Lukasek quickly put the others in the race behind him when winning by three and a quarter lengths for trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki. The four-year-old gelding doubled his tally in 11 runs. However, he finished placed, including the second place, in six runs. The winner and the runner-up, Harry Hotspur (IRE) (Dubawi), were far in front of the rest of the field as the third-placed Dkhaan (The Gurkha) was further 12 lengths behind.
NIROND
Eng. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s NIROND (FR) (TM Fred Texas x Nirondelle) on second time of asking and Qatar debut won the 2100m Maiden Plate for three-six-year-old and older Purebred Arabian. Pranil Arvind teamed up with trainer Debbie Mountain to ride the wide drawn three-year-old colt to just hold on by a short head at the line. NIROND will surely be the focus of attention in this next run after he has opened his account at such an early stage of his career. Al Malhouf (FR) (Dahess) finished second, a neck in front of Khattab De Faust (FR) (Mared Al Sahra). The final margins between the winner, the runner-up and the third placed reflect the tough competition in the last strides of the race.
IJTIHAAD
The Mohammed Nasser Al Ramzani’s-owned and trained IJTIHAAD (QA) (Bated Breath x Iwunder) got off the mark with Szczepan Mazur in the saddle in the meeting opener. The five-year-old mare proved dominance in 1400m Local Handicap (0-65) for three-six-year-old and older Thoroughbreds and went on to score by a wide margin of four and three quarter lengths, which was the largest winning margin of the day. It was also a one-two for Mohammed Nasser Al Ramzani as his other owned and trained runner, Lawainah (QA) (Leroidesanimaux), finished second ahead of the third placed Hazm Al Uraiq (QA) (Mandour).
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club