The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 10th race meeting in the 2022-23 season calendar of the Al Uqda Racecourse on Thursday, 26 January. The seven-race card day was run on turf. Closing out the day’s action, Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Al Matafi (FR) (Burning Sand x Ajdabya) took the Al Judhay Cup for trainer Eric Lemartinel as five-year-old mare` won the feature, the 2100m Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden for 4-6YOs, by a length and a half under an excellent ride from Jerome Moutard. The Al Rufaa Racing-owned and Mohammed Ghazali-trained Al Zaeem (FR) (Al Mourtajez) was the runner-up under jockey Marco Casamento. The Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned and Julian Smart-trained Eau Les Mains (FR) (General) was a further length behind in third under jockey JP Guillambert.
Abdulaziz Jassim Al Boenain, Al Uqda Complex Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
Ashwas
The trainer-jockey duo of Mohammed Ghazali and Marco Casamento continued their lucrative partnership with a fourth win since the day before as they teamed up with Ashwas (QA) (Mared Al Sahra x Vetlana De Faust), owned by Abdulla Bin Mohammed Al Attiya, to kick start the day with a half-length win in the 1400m Handicap (0-65) for 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians.
S K Shaheen
There was a thrilling three-way finish in the second race, the 1400m Handicap (0-65) for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds, with a head and another head separating the first three home, but it was the Jassim Bin Hamad Al Atteya-owned and Mohammed Hamad Al Attiya-trained S K Shaheen (QA) (Danadana x Oasis Spirit), ridden by Soufiane Saadi, who emerged on top with Elaaf (QA) (Domestic Fund) and Lehwaila (QA) (Coach House) finishing close second and third.
Union
Wathnan Racing’s Union (IRE) (New Approach x Shahnila) ran out a narrow winner for trainer Alban de Mieulle in the third race, the 2200m Handicap (65-85) for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds. Under the ride of Ronan Thomas, the 6YO just got the better of Seulomonde (GB) (Dubawi) by the smallest of margins in another thrilling finish.
Meelad
The Nayef Batal Al Otibi-owned and trained Meelad (FR) (Azadi x Al Dahma) stayed on gamely in the closing stages of the fourth race in the card, the Handicap (75-95) for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians to take the 2200m race by half a length under Prakash Akhade.
Irtiqaa
Meshaal Bin Ali Al Attiyah’s Irtiqaa (QA) (Kendargent x Too Marvelous) picked up her second win in a row in the fifth race, as the 7YO mare took the 1400m Handicap (0-95) for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds by a quarter of a length for trainer Gassim Ghazali and jockey Marco Casamento, who made it a double on the day.
Mystical Music
It was a quick-fire double for the combination of trainer Gassim Ghazali and jockey Marco Casamento in the penultimate race, as the Nasser Saeed Al Eida-owned Mystical Music (GB) (Al Kazeem x Midnight Dance) won the 1400m Handicap (70-90) for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds by a length and three quarters, giving them another winner. It was also another treble by Casamento and for the second day on a row.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club