His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani crowned the winners of His Highness’s Cups and Trophy in the 26th race meeting of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) 2022/23 racing season at Al Rayyan turf racecourse on Thursday, 5th January 2023. The nine-race card was wrapped up with the HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy race, which was preceded by the Gr2 PA HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup and the HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Silver Cup. His Excellency Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi was present during the trophy presentation ceremony.
AJS Saaeq Trophy winner
Trainer M.H.K Al Attiyah made it double on the night for Al Jeryan Stud, having won the second race earlier in the meeting, as AJS Saaeq (QA) (AF AlBahar x Sahab Al Zaeem) got the better of Sealine (QA) (Amer) in the final stages of the HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy for 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians. Under a well-timed drive, Szczepan Mazur rode him to stay on best and win the day’s final race by a neck. The Wathnan Racing-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained Sealine (QA) (Amer) was the close runner-up under jockey Ronan Thomas. The third place was also for Wathnan Racing and Alban de Mieulle with Abida (QA) (Dahess) finishing further three quarters of a length behind under jockey Carlos Henrique.
Jabalah won Gr2 Cup
Trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Soufiane Saadi, having won the fourth race earlier on the day, were back into the winners’ enclosure after the penultimate race, as Wathnan Racing’s Jabalah (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Kouthar) continued his good run of form this season, landing the Gr2 HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians as he bolted up by almost three lengths in the 1600 contest. The Al Ghazali Stud-owned and Gassim Ghazali-trained Sayaad (FR) (Dahess) was the runner-up under jockey Marco Casamento. The Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Eric Lemartinel-trained Shalaa (FR) (Dahess) was a further half a length behind in third under jockey Jerome Moutard.
Princesse Mourtajez
Princesse Mourtajez (FR) (Al Mourtajez x Rivale Denfer) gave owner Salmeen Abdulla Al Jabri and trainer Zuhair Mohsen a nice winner of the HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Silver Cup for 4YO Purebred Arabians as she took the 1600m contest cosily by almost two lengths under jockey Ronan Thomas, who chalked up a double in the seventh race. The Abdullah Saeed Abdullah Al Mesnad-owned and Wasim Al Sahn-trained Hadlan (QA) (AF AlBahar) was the runner -up under jockey Jefferson Smith. The Al Ghazali Stud-owned and Gassim Ghazali-trained Bahar Al Jasra (FR) (AF AlBahar) finished third as he was a further head behind under jockey Marco Casamento.
Shgarde black-type victor
Sharida Bin Nasser Bin Sharida Al Kaabi’s Shgarde (USA) (AF AlBahar x Dormania CS) continued his good run of form with a black-type victory in the sixth race as he won the Gr3 Majd Al Arab Sprinter Championship for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians, run over 1100m, comfortably by two and a half lengths under jockey Alberto Sanna for trainer Mohamed Khaled Elahmed. The Al Jeryan Stud-owned and M.H.K Al Attiyah-trained AJS Berline (QA) (AF AlBahar) was the runner-up under jockey Szczepan Mazur. The H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani-owned and Rudy Nerbonne-trained Salsabeel (FR) (Burning Sand) was further three and a half lengths behind in third under jockey Lukas Delozier.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
In The Night
The Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki-owned and trained In The Night (IRE) (Shamardal x Surprise Moment) racked up his fifth straight victory in the fifth race in the card, winning the Umm Qarn Trophy. The 2000m contest for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds saw an exciting finish, with three horses battling right the way to the line, but it was In The Night, under Tomas Lukasek, who held off the charge of Pedro Cara (FR) (Pedro The Great) and King Pacha (IRE) (Acclamation) by a head and a further head.
Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, crowned the winners.
Queen Storm
Wathnan Racing’s Queen Storm (QA) (Trade Storm x Yasmeen) stretched clear to win the French King Cup for trainer Alban de Mieulle in the fourth race. Settled behind the leaders for the most part of the 1600m race for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds, jockey Soufiane Saadi waited until the final furlong to unleash her turn of foot and score by almost three lengths.
Abdulaziz Jassim Al Boenain, Al Uqda Complex Manager, crowned the winners.
Three Diamonds
Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani’s Three Diamonds (GB) (Night of Thunder x L’Eglise) led from start to finish in the third race under jockey Ronan Thomas for trainer Hamad Al Jehani, holding on from charging rivals to take the Yasmeen Cup, a 1850m Handicap (70-90) for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds, by two lengths.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
Arabic Channel
A relentless charge in the final stages of the second race, a 1400m Handicap (70-90) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds, enabled Al Jeryan Stud’s Arabic Channel (USA) (English Channel x Mahogany Lane) to win the Charm Spirit Cup for trainer M.H.K Al Attiyah. Under jockey JP Guillambert the 7YO kicked clear in the final strides to win by a length and three quarters.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
Nuvolari
The meeting opened with a great display of front running from jockey Ivan Rossi on Nibras Racing Syndicate’s Nuvolari (GB) (Time Test x Luang Prabang), trained by Tareq Essa Abdulla. The pair led all the way, taking the Very Nice Name Cup, a 1600m Novice for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds cosily by a length and a quarter. Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club