crowned Wathnan Racing with Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy and National Day Trophy

Under the patronage of His Excellency Salah Bin Ghanem Al-Ali, Minister of Sports and Youth, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy Day at the Al Rayyan Racecourse turf track on Friday, 16 December. His Excellency the Minister crowned Wathnan Racing with the Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy following Sealine’s victory in the day’s final race and with the Qatar National Day Trophy) following Abbes’s victory in the penultimate contest of the bumper 10-race card, which included 6 trophy and cup races.

Abbes winner of Qatar National Day Trophy

In the penultimate race, Alban de Mieulle saddled an impressive winner in the form of the Wathnan Racing-owned Abbes (FR) (TM Fred Texas x Raqiyah), who pulled five lengths clear of the field in the 2000m contest to land the Gr2 PA Qatar National Day Trophy, doubling up for his trainer and giving jockey Ronan Thomas his fourth win on the day. It was a one-two for the winning owner and the winning trainer as the runner-up was Jabalah (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau) under jockey Soufiane Saadi. The Khalid Mohammed S Al-Harami-owned and Abdallah Said Al Balushi-trained Arion (FR) (Dahess) finished third as he was one a quarter lengths behind under jockey Marco Casamento.

Sealine winner of Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy

In the finale, Sealine (QA) (Amer x Jaljalah) gave owner Wathnan Racing and trainer Alban de Mieulle their third winner of the day as he stormed home to take the 1500m race for 3YO+ Local Purebred Arabians by three quarters of a length and win the Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Trophy. It was a day to remember for jockey Ronan Thomas, who wrapped up the day with his fifth winner. The Al Jeryan Stud-owned and M.H.K Al Attiyah-trained AJS Saaeq (QA) (AF AlBahar) was the runner-up under jockey Szczepan Mazur. The Sabhea Awad Ibrahim-owned and Mohamed Khaled Elahmed-trained finished a further half length behind in third under Alberto Sanna.

Lauderdale winner of Al Busayyir Cup

The first of the cup and trophy races of the day was in race give. The Mohammed Bin Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah-owned and trained Lauderdale (IRE) (Siyouni x Freedom’s Light) won the Al Busayyir Cup as he ran out a half-length winner of the 1600m Conditions for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds under jockey Szczepan Mazur. The Noora Racing Limited-owned and Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-trained Fuwayrit (IRE) (Gutaifan) was the runner-up under jockey JP Guillambert. The Mohammed Abdulhadi S Al-Hajri-owned and Hamad Al-Jehani-trained Stylish Performer (IRE) (Dandy Man) was just a further neck behind in third under jockey Hugo Besnier. QREC Racing Manager, Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, presented the trophies to the winners.

Taxiwala winner of Falcon Cup

In race six, the Osama Omer Al Dafea-owned and trained Taxiwala (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperor x It’s True) completed a double on his third start this term, winning the Falcon Cup. Ronan Thomas chalked up a double on the day as he powered the-five-year-old home to win by half a length in the 1200m Conditions for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds. The Onaiza Racing-owned and Hamad Al-Jehani-trained Tilaawah (GB) (Showcasing) was the runner-up under jockey Hugo Besnier. The Nasser Saeed M S Al-Eida-owned and Gassim Ghazali-trained Whittle Le Woods (GB) (Lethal Force) was a further quarter of a length behind in third under Lukas Delozier. Al Uqda Complex Manager, Abdulaziz Jassim Al Boenain, crowned the winners.

Equinoxe winner of Halul Island Cup (National Day Cup)

Jockey Ronan Thomas completed a treble on the day in race seven as he rode Equinoxe (QA) (Atlantic Air x Thurayya), in the colours of Wathnan Racing, to stretch clear and take the spoils by three and a quarter lengths for trainer Alban de Mieulle in the 2000m contest for 3YO+ Local Thoroughbreds, landing the Halul Island Cup (National Day Cup). The Al Jeryan Stud-owned and M.H.K Al Attiyah-trained Al Buraq (QA) (Nathaniel) was the runner up under jockey JP Guillambert. The Abdulatif Hussain M Z Al-Emadi-owned and Bader Al Balushi-trained Black Pearl (QA) (Footstepsinthesand) was only a further neck behind in third under jockey Alberto Sanna. Hassan Yousef Al Obaidly, Head of Programs Study and Evaluation of Daam, crowned the winners.

In The Night winner of Al Safliya Cup

In race eight, the Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki-owned and trained In The Night (IRE) (Shamardal x Surprise Moment) added his fourth straight victory to his impressive record as he won the Gr3 Al Safliya Cup, a 2350m race for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds, with one and a quarter lengths to spare under Tomas Lukasek. The Khalifa Bin Sheail KH J Al Kuwari-owned and Gassim Ghazali-trained King Pacha (IRE) (Acclamation) was the runner-up under Lukas Delozier. The Sharq Stud-owned and Owaida Salem Al Hajri-trained Usak (FR) (Al Kazeem) completed the frame as he finished a further quarter of a length behind in third under jockey Alberto Sanna.

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

Princesse Mourtajez

Earlier on the day, the opener, a 1600m Maiden for 3-6YO Purebred Arabian Fillies & Mares saw a stunning performance from the Salmeen Abdulla Al Jabri-owned Princesse Mourtajez (FR) (Al Mourtajez x Rivale Denfer), shedding her maiden status in good style as she stretched four lengths clear of the field under jockey Ronan Thomas for trainer Zuhair Mohsen.

Dance Acclaim

The Al Jasra Stud-owned Dance Acclaim (IRE) (Acclamation x Dutch Dream), on Qatar debut, shed his maiden status in race two, winning the 1400m Maiden for 2YO Thoroughbreds. The Tareq Essa Abdulla-trained gelding was ridden to a one and a quarter length success by Ivan Rossi.

Impedor De Bozouls

Having finished placed in his first start in Qatar, the Mohammed Abdulhadi Al Hajri-owned and Hamad Al Jehani-trained Impedor De Bozouls (FR) (Majd Al Arab x Amperora De Bozouls) won the second as he was guided by jockey Hugo Besnier to a half-length win in the third race of the day, a 2000m Handicap (65-85) for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians.

Al Kharaitiyat

Khalid Rashid Al Mohannadi’s homebred Al Kharaitiyat (FR) (Toronado x Identity Run Fast) was the victor in the fourth race, a 1850 Handicap (0-85) for 3YO Thoroughbreds, for trainer Rashid Al Jehani as he held on gamely under Jokcey Soufiane Saadi from the Al Rufaa Racing-owned and Gassim Ghazali-trained Flaming Lord (GB) (Zarak) by just a head. The runner-up was ridden by Lukas Delozier.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club