Mohamed Saad
In presence of His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Bin Ahmed Twar Al Kuwari, First Vice-Chairman of Qatar Chamber, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 13th race meeting in the 2021-22 season at the Al Rayyan Racecourse dirt track on Wednesday, 24 November. In the feature and seventh race, Al Gaiah Racing’s RIDICULE (IRE) (Dandy Man x Rouge Noir) impressed on her Qatar debut. Under a brilliant ride by Marco Casamento, Mohammed Ghazali’s ward was a runaway winner of Al Ghashamiah Cup as she flew home to win the 1200m race for 2YO fillies by 5¾ lengths. The bay filly caught the eye with her post-to-post victory in her first appearance in Qatar and fourth career start. Ridicule was placed in all her earlier three starts, which were in the UK where she was trained by William Haggas. Here debut was in mid-September this year in a 1000m maiden at Beverley where she finished runner-up. Eight days later, she headed to Wolverhampton to finish third in a novice stakes over the same distance. Her third and last outing in the UK was at Bath where she finished fourth in another novice stakes and also over 1000m. With this successful start with her new trainer in Qatar, Ridicule will certainly be one to follow in sprints.
Five fillies were in the fray in the feature race of the day and Ridicule broke from gate 4. Once out of the barrier, she went directly to the front and lead the field with a fast strong pace. She was tracked by Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari’s Halawat Al Rouh (FR) (Zarak) and Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Wakrah (FR) (Al Wukair). However, Ridicule did not give them any chance to take the lead from her throughout the race. Once inside the home straight, she accelerated further to increase the margin to almost six lengths at the line. In the battle over the runner-up place, it was the Zuhair Mohsen-trained and Soufiane Saadi-ridden Halawat Al Rouh who ended the duel to her benefit with another large margin of four lengths in front of the Eric Lemartinel-trained and Faleh Bughanaim-ridden Al Wakrah.
His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Bin Ahmed Twar Al Kuwari, First Vice-Chairman of Qatar Chamber, presented the trophies to the winners following the feature race.
“Marco followed the instructions well”, said the winning trainer Mohammed Ghazali, “The filly has just arrived from the UK as she’s been here for nearly a week. The owners, the team and I agreed to run her in this race, especially as the next races would be stronger for her. The race was actually suitable for her, being one for two-year-old fillies and on her first start in Qatar and on dirt. I know the race wasn’t strong enough, but she ran with fillies of her generation and beat them, which is good. The distance was also suitable for her and I think the ground helped her as well.”
Al Shaman
In the penultimate race, the Thoroughbred Conditions for 3YO+, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Al Shaman (USA) (War Front x Communique) provided trainer Rudy Nerbonne with a victory as he took the 1700m by a ¼ of a length. It was a double on the day for jockey Alberto Sanna. Massam (GB) (Dubawi) was the runner-up and Ernest Aldrich (GB) (Oasis Dream) was further 5¼ lengths behind in third.
HESSDALEN
The fifth race in the card was the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-90) for 3YO+ and it went to the way of The Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki-owned and trained HESSDALEN (GB) (Sea The Stars x Moonlight’s Box), who recorded his first win of the season. Tomas Lukasek guided the 5YO gelding to a half-length win in 1700m contest. Immoral (IRE) (Helmet) and Suprematism (USA) (More Than Ready) finished second and third respectively with further 3 lengths separating them.
DRAMATIC SANDS
Eng. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s DRAMATIC SANDS (IRE) (Footstepsinthesand x Melodrama), under Eduardo Pedroza, made a fantastic rally in the last strides of the 1900m Thoroughbred Handicap (0-80) for 3YO+ to win by a neck for trainer Debbie Mountain. Gold Fleece (GB) (Nathaniel) and Wemyss Ware (IRE) (Dubawi) took the minor honours in this order with the former ¾ of a length in front of the latter.
MATER
Following two placed finishes this season, Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani’s MATER (QA) (Footstepsinthesand x Golden Mask) won the 1700m Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate for 3YO+ under Lukas Delozier. The Hamad Al Jehani-trained 4YO gelding streaked clear of the field to win by very comfortable 3½ lengths. Qawaafi (QA) (Mukhadram) finished second 5½ lengths in front of and Maksab (QA) (Toast Of New York)
SAOUD AL SULAIMI
Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalid Bin Nasser Al Thani’s homebred SAOUD AL SULAIMI (QA) (T M Fred Texas x Hasna) prevailed in a head-to-head battle for the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 3-6YOs. Qais Al Busaidi rode the Gassim Ghazali-saddled 5YO horse to win the 1900m by a short head. Omran (QA) (Al Bashtoon) and, 1¼ lengths behind him, Valentina (QA) (M Fred Texas) completed the frame.
HE’S A DREAM
The day opened with the Abdulaziz Ali Al Kathiri-owned and trained HE’S A DREAM (GB) (Oasis Dream x Deveron), ridden by Alberto Sanna, producing a flying finish to take the 1900m Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for 3-6YOs by 4¼ lengths. Hafez (IRE) (Dark Angel) and Lucipherus (IRE) (Dark Angel) were second and third respectively and the margin between them was a length.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club
