The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 19th race meeting in the 2022-23 season at the Al Rayyan Racecourse sand track on Thursday, 15 December. The eighth and feature event was the Zekreet Cup, a Conditions for 3YO+ Local Purebred Arabian. It was Al Jasra Stud’s Mared Al Jasra (QA) (Mared Al Sahra x Horan) who landed the spoils in the 1200m contest. The five-year-old saw off his rivals by two lengths under jockey Ivan Rossi for trainer Mohammed Ghazali. AJS Al Aredh (QA) (Majd Al Arab), in the colours of Al Ghazali Stud, finished second under jockey Lukas Delozier for trainer Gassim Ghazali. The Abdulaziz Saleh Al Jaber-owned and Hadi Al Ramzani-trained Habes (QA) (Harran ASF) finished third as he was further two and a quarter lengths beind under jockey Ebrahim Nader.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
Raghad H.S
To start the proceedings of the day, victory went the way of the Al Meqdam Stud-owned and Jabor Nasser Al Naimi-trained Raghad H.S (OM) (Raihan x Deelyghtful MHF), ridden by Giuseppe Cultraro, who got off the mark and won by half a length in the opener, a 1900m Handicap (0-65) for 3YO+ Purebred Arabians.
War Effort
In the second race, the Hamad Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani-owned War Effort (IRE) (Mehmas x La Cuvee) held off his rivals to break his duck by half a length in the 1200m Handicap (0-65) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds to give trainer Hamad Al Jehani and jockey Hugo Besnier a winner on the card.
Nablus
On an impressive debut, the Rashid Mohammed Alathba-owned and Bader Al Balushi-trained Nablus (QA) (Alam Al Khalediah x Sabera D’aroco) won the third race, a 1200m Novice for 3YO+ Local Purebred Arabian Fillies and Mare,s as she stormed to an almost two-length win under jockey Meteb Ali Al Saaq.
Kaswara
The Saeed Mohammed Shafi Al Shafi-owned and trained Kaswara (QA) (Pivotal x Psiloveyou) picked up his second win in a row, as the five-year-old took the fourth race, a 1200m Handicap (0-75) for 3YO+ Local Thoroughbreds, by one and a half lengths with jockey JP Guillambert on board.
Al Moataz
The Hamad Nasser Al Naimi-owned Al Moataz (IRE) (Rock Of Gibraltar x Amwaj) stretched one and three quarter lengths clear to score an easy win for trainer Ahmed Kobeissi and jockey Prakash Akhade in the fifth race, a 1900m Handicap (0-75) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds.
Venedegar
The 1900m Graduation Plate for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds saw the Al Ghazali Stud-owned and Gassim Ghazali-trained Venedegar (IRE) (Dubawi x Cara Fantasy) show a nice turn of foot in the last 200m under jockey Lukas Delozier and draw two lengths clear of the field by the winning post in the sixth race.
Majd’or
After two placed finishes, Injaaz Stud’s Majd’or (FR) (Majd Al Arab x Case D’or), trained by Jihad El Ahmad and ridden by Ronan Thomas, won the seventh race in the card, a 1700m Handicap (75-95) for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians, in good style as he cruised to a half-length victory.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club