The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 54th race meeting in the 2021-22 season, Al Jumailiya Cup Day, at the Al Rayyan Racecourse sand track on Wednesday, 4 May. It was Sharq Stud’s USAK (FR) (Al Kazeem x Qatari Elegance), who came out on top in the feature race, winning the Al Jumailiya Cup for trainer Owaida Salem Al Hajri. The 5YO came home strongly to win the 1700m Thoroughbreds Confined Plate for 3YO+ by one and a quarter lengths and give jockey Alberto Sanna his second win on the day. The Injaaz Stud-owned and Gassim Ghazali-trained SAM LANGFORD (IRE) (Footstepsinthesand) was second under Marco Casamento. The Al Jeryan Stud-owned and M.H.K Al Attiyah-trained VENEDEGAR (IRE) (Dubawi) was further six and a half lengths behind in third under Tadgh O’Shea.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
SHGARDE
In the penultimate race, Sharida Bin Nasser Bin Sharida Al Kaabi’s SHGARDE (USA) (AF AlBahar x Dormania CS) completed a double winning the 1200m Purebred Arabian Weight For Age Plate. The Mohamed Khaled Elahmed-trained 4YO colt stayed on strongly for jockey Szczepan Mazur to win by three quarters of a length.
I AM THUNDER
In the sixth race, trainer Hamad Al Jehani gained his third win in a row in the 1200m Conditions for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds as Yousuf Mubarak Al Kuwari’s I AM THUNDER (IRE) (Night Of Thunder x Martine’s Spirit) ran out a one and a half-length winner under Alberto Sanna.
MATARA KING
In the fifth race, trainer Hamad Al Jehani recorded a quick-fire double as he saddled the Khaled Ali Al Shahwani-owned MATARA KING (QA) (Migwar x Matara) at his second time of asking to win the 1200m Open Race for 3YO Local Thoroughbreds by half a length with Lukas Delozier in the saddle.
AHZAAB
After the fourth race, there was another wide margin win in the 1900m Handicap (0-80) for 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians as Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani’s AHZAAB (QA) (Dahess x Almeliha) prevailed by four and a half lengths for trainer Hamad Al Jehani and jockey Khalid Al Balushi.
ANNAB
In the third race, Khalid Bin Ghanem Al Kuwari’s ANNAB (FR) (Amer x Arc De Ciel) was an impressive winner of the 1700m Handicap (0-85) for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians. The Zuhair Mohsen-trained 8YO had too much for his rivals to score by four and a half lengths under Abdul Aziz Fahad Al Balushi who doubled up quickly.
THREEBAGSFULL
In the second race, the 1200m Handicap (0-80) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds went to Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s THREEBAGSFULL (IRE) (Requinto x Pavlopetri). Marco Casamento was in the saddle and never looked worried as the Gassim Ghazali-trained 3YO colt took the race by two and three-quarter lengths.
OWHATANIGHT
The Osama Omer Al Dafea-owned and trained OWHATANIGHT (GB) (Night Of Thunder x White Wedding) won the opener of the day, a 1100m Handicap (0-70) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds. Abdul Aziz Fahad Al Balushi took his mount to the lead to get the verdict by a head edging BURSCOUGH (GB) (Garswood).
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club