The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the first race meeting of the 2021-22 Al Uqda season on the turf track of the brand new racecourse on Saturday, 13 November. Five of the six races in the card had full fields of 14 runners each and only the third race of the day had 13, which highlights the success of the races run at Al Uqda for the second season following the trials held there during the last season. In the feature and sixth race, Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s homebred AL KHOR SURPRISE (QA) (Abide With Me x Arabian Art) gave a confident performance and landed the Al Thakhira Cup. Ronan Thomas guided the Bader Al Balushi-trained 5Yo gelding to finish best of all.

The feature race was a Local Thoroughbred Maiden for 3-6YOs. Al Khor Surprise broke from barrier 4. Jadeed (QA) (Joshua Tree) was the early leader and he took the lead approaching the 1,100m mark while Al Khor Surprise was settled in a mid-position with confident performance during that early stage of the race. Round the first bend, Al Sareh (QA) (Namid ) progressed to take the lead with a strong pace, but started to fade approaching the 300m pole. Both Al Harqah (QA) (Storm Account) and Al Khor Surprise showed a different attitude and progressed well to the lead. They battled head-to-head for several metres until Al Khor Surprise showed an excellent turn of foot in the final strides and won by a length. Abdulaziz Saleh Al Jaber’s Al Qamar (QA) (Footstepsinthesand) came with a late attack and managed to snatch the runner-up place for trainer Hadi Al Ramzani and jockey Alberto Sanna. The Alanoud Khalifa Al Malki-owned and trained had to settle for third under Ivan Rossi as she was behind the runner-up with the smallest of margins.

“The horse had had an injury which prevented him from running for a while”, said the winning owner Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi after the race, “He finished third over 1750m at Al Rayyan last month in his first run after his return and this is his second run. I was concerned with the distance of today’s race (1,400m), but trainer Bader Al Balushi confirmed that it wasn’t going to be an issue as the straight here, at Al Uqda, is longer. And we won!”

Following the feature race, Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.

KADUPUL

In the penultimate race, the 1400m Thoroughbred Handicap (0-85) for 3YO+, Al Wasmiyah Farm’s homebred KADUPUL (FR) (Dark Angel x Cup Cake) continued her improvement in her second straight outing. She had finished second in her previous run and returned to stay on strongly to win by ½ a length. The Georges Mikhalides-schooled 3YO filly was ridden by Alberto Sanna. The Singer (FR) (Charm Spirit) was the runner-up and Lightning Boltz (IRE) (Clodovil) finished third.

AL MODAJAL

The fourth race in the card was the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-80) for 3YO+. Jassem Mohammed Al Badi’s AL MODAJAL (FR) (Dawn Approach x Bush Cat) won the 2200m contest by 1½ lengths, giving trainer Jassim Ghazali. JP Guillambert was the man in the saddle. The curve of the 6YO horse is on the rise as he finished fourth only 10 days ago. The sons of Dubawi, Harry Hotspur (IRE) and Wemyss Ware (IRE) finished second and third respectively.

BACHRA

Umm Qarn’s 4YO filly, BACHRA (FR) (Munjiz x Al Anood) made it third time lucky on her Qatar debut as she came out on top of a head-to-head battle in the 1400m Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 3-6YOs with a nose win for trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Carlos Henrique. Salsabeel (FR) (Burning Sand) and Al Malhouf (FR) (Dahess) took the minor honours in this order.

HUNGRY FOR FASHION

Abdullah Mohammed Al Kuwari & Sons’ HUNGRY FOR FASHION (IRE) (Markaz x Vera Lilley) went one better in a span of 9 days to win the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Jockey David Allan helped the 3YO filly land the spoils by 2¼ lengths for trainer Jassim Ghazali in the 1400m run for 3-6YOs. Bercheny (IRE) (Oasis Dream) and Shijin (IRE)

(Holy Roman Emperor) completed the frame.

AJS AL MARED

Earlier on the day, Al Jeryan Stud’s homebred AJS AL MARED (QA) (AF Al Bahar x Gabie De Carrere) sheds his maiden tag by finishing powerfully under Szczepan Mazur in the 1400m Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-65) for trainer Mohammed Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah in the opening event of the season at Al Uqda. The 4YO colt won the contest for 3YOs by 1½ lengths. Shams Al Nahar (QA) (AF AlBahar) and Ietibar (QA) (Al Mamun Monlau) finished second and third respectively.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club