The final meeting of the 2021/2022 racing season at QREC was concluded at the Al Rayyan turf racecourse in the evening of Thursday, 5 May with the 55th race day, which included three feature races: End Of Season Cup, Al Utouriya Cup and Al Mafiar Cup as part of the nine-race card. The evening saw dazzling performance by the champion trainer Alban de Mieulle, who not only racked up successive victories in the three cup races, but also recorded 1-2s in two of feature contest. Abdulaziz Jassim Al Boenain, Manager of Al Uqda Complex Department, crowned the winners of the three cup races.
KING SHALAA lands End Of Season Cup
The Champion trainer Alban de Mieulle scored his third successive victory in the season’s finale as he saddled Umm Qarn’s KING SHALAA (FR) (Shalaa x Baki) to land the End Of Season Cup. Soufiane Saadi recorded a quick-fire double as he steered the 4YO gelding to a two-length win in the 1600m race for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds. The Al Wasmiyah Farm-owned and Mohammed Ghazali-trained PERFECT EMPIRE (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor) was the runner-up under Tadgh O’Shea. The Mohammed Abdulhadi S Al-Hajri-owned and Hamad Al-Jehani-trained STYLISH PERFORMER (IRE) (Dandy Man) only a further neck behind in third under Lukas Delozier.
QUEPO takes Al Utouriya Cup
Noora Racing Limited’s QUEPOS (FR) (Al Tair x Bonnett) won the Al Utouriya Cup. It was another quick-fire one-two for trainer Alban de Mieulle who saddled the first two home in the 1600m race for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians with the 5YO, under Soufiane Saadi, edging his stablemate the Umm Qarn-owned and Carols Henrique-ridden BIN AL TAIR (FR) (Al Tair) by a head. The Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Eric Lemartinel-trained Algrain (FR) (Dahess) finished third under Lukas Delozier as he was one and a half lengths behind the runner-up.
SEALINE wins Al Mafiar Cup
The Al Mafiar Cup race saw a one-two for Umm Qarn and trainer Alban de Mieulle. It was SEALINE (QA) (Amer x Jaljalah) who came out on top for jockey Carols Henrique getting the better of his stablemate the Soufiane Saadi-ridden ABIDA (QA) (Dahess) by half a length in the 1600m run for 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians. The Al Jeryan Stud-owned and M.H.K Al Attiyah-trained AJS Saaeq (QA) (AF AlBahar) was only a further neck behind in third under Tadgh O’Shea.
AL LUSAIL
Al Jeryan Stud’s AL LUSAIL (QA) (Footstepsinthesand x Gooey) recorded his 15th victory in the 1600m Conditions for 3YO+ Local Thoroughbreds. The M.H.K Al Attiyah-trained 8YO won by half a length with Tadgh O’Shea doing the steering.
SWIFT ONE
Alberto Sanna made it back-to-back wins in the fifth race as he was onboard the Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah-owend SWIFT ONE (IRE) (No Nay Never x Flavia Tatiana) in the 2000 Handicap (0-90) for 3YO Thoroughbreds. The Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-trained colt did well to score a one and a half-length victory.
COME QUICK
Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s COME QUICK (IRE) (Es Que Love x In Seconds) regained winning ways in the 1100m Handicap (0-90) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds. The Bader Al Balushi-trained 3YO gelding managed to see off his rivals by a head under Alberto Sanna.
BOLTON ABBEY
Mohammed Jaber Al Khayarin’s BOLTON ABBEY (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperror x In The Lurch) won the 1400m Handicap (0-75) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds. The Hamad Al Jehani-trained 3YO gelding flew home late under Szczepan Mazur with the winning margin half a length in the end.
MOUNT SNOWDON
Saeed Nasser Al Qadi’s MOUNT SNOWDON (IRE) (War Front x Christmas Joy) got off the mark in the Novice Plate for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds. Meteb Ali Al Saaq rode the Ali Al Kubaisi-trained 3YO colt to win the 1600m race by a length.
HAMDI
Having finished placed last twice, Al Gaiah Racing’s HAMDI (QA) (Assy x Hemma) opened his account, winning the 1850m Maiden Plate for 4-6YO Local Purebred Arabians by a quarter of a length for trainer Abdallah Said Al Balushi and jockey Qais Al-Busaidi.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club