Twenty-four hours following the start of the 2022/23 racing season at the dirt track of Al Rayyan Racecourse, the turf track was the focus of attention for the season’s second race meeting with an eight race card featuring Al Hamla Cup on Thursday, 13 October. In the meeting’s feature race, the Mubarak Bin Saeed Aljafai Al Naimi-owned Al Shomos (QA) (Shamardal x Gulbarg), under the talented Faleh Bughanaim, did well enough to win the cup for her trainer Ahmed Kobeissi, who made it a quick-fire double, completing a treble on the day.
Mahma Ygoloon (QA) |(General) was the first to take the lead in the 11-runner Conditions run over a mile for 3YO+ Local Thoroughbreds. At the first bend, Al Adheed (QA) (Footstepsinthesand), who was following the early leader, made his way to the front. Mosayter (QA) (Country Reel) and Black Pearl (QA) (Footstepsinthesand) were tracking the duo in front. Al Adheed (QA) was still taking the lead in the home straight, but in the final 300 metres, Al Shomos (QA) started to progress and dashed from behind with an impressive turn of foot to take the lead 200 metres before the line. The 7YO mare succeeded to keep all challenge at bay until she won by a length. Last year’s winner, Equinoxe (QA) (Atlantic Air) progressed nicely in the final strides to finish second under Soufiane Saadi for trainer Alban de Mieulle in the colours of Wathnan Racing. The Abdulatif Hussain Al-Emadi-owned finished third as she was 1¼ lengths behind the runner-up. The Bader Al Balushi-trained 6YO gelding was ridden by Alberto Sanna. The race was a new encounter for several runners who took on each other in the same race last year. In the 2022 edition, Al Shomos (QA) finished third behind the winner Equinoxe (QA) and the runner-up Al Adheed (QA) (Footstepsinthesand), but she managed to exchange places and prove the best this time around.
QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi crowned the winners.
Battash De Faust
In the penultimate race of the day, Abdulla Bin Mohammed Al-Attiya’s Battash De Faust (FR) (AF AlBahar x Ayisha De Faust) snatched a short-head win in a 1400m Conditions for 3YO+ Purebred Arabians, completing a double on the day for both trainer Ahmed Kobeissi and jockey Jefferson Smith.
Al Shaman
In Race 6, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Al Shaman (USA) (War Front x Communique) exceled in a Thoroughbred Handicap (75-95). Under Lukas Delozier, the Rudy Nerbonne-trained 8YO horse won the 1600m race for 3YO+ cosily by 1¾ lengths.
Deliver The Dream
Thirty minutes earlier, Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s Deliver The Dream (USA) (Kantharos x Bellarada) doubled his tally with his first win in Qatar in a Thoroughbred Handicap (60-80). Jefferson Smith rode the Debbie Mountain-trained 4YO colt to a ¼-length win in the 1200m run for 3YO+
Huit De Faust
In Race 4, Jassim Ali Bu-karbal’s Huit De Faust (FR) (AF AlBahar x Nireiss) broke his duck, winning a Handicap (0-75) for 3YO+ Purebred Arabians. Soufiane Saadi was the man in the saddle as the Mohammed Ghazali-trained 5YO horse won the 1400m run by ¾ of a length.
Lahessar
Rashid Ali Al Saaq’s Lahessar (GB) (Exceed and Excel x Burlesque Star) opened his account in a Thoroughbred Handicap (0-70). The owner rode his own horse to a ¼ of a length success in the 1400m race for 3YO+ for trainer Ali Al Saaq.
Hardan
In the second race in the card, Hamad Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehani’s Hardan (QA) (Assy x Baldora De Brugere) went one better than when he was last seen to win a Local Purebred Arabian Maiden. The Hamad Al-Jehani-trained 4YO colt was ridden by Szczepan Mazur to win the 1600m run for 3-6YOs by 1¼ lengths.
Saqr
Hamad Nasser Al-Naimi’s Saqr (FR) (Dahess x Melusinne) won the opener as he got off the mark in a Maiden for 3-6YO Purebred Arabians by 2¼ lengths under Carlos Henrique for trainer Ahmed Kobeissi.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club