The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 11th race meeting in the 2021-22 season at the Al Rayyan Racecourse dirt track on Wednesday, 17 November. In the feature and seventh race, Umm Qarn’s homebred SEALINE (QA) (Amer x Jaljalah) continued his excellent form as he took the Doha Cup recording his ninth victory. Carlos Henrique was aboard the Alban de Mieulle-trained talented 7YO horse who has never been out of the first three places in all his 20 runs.
The feature race was a Local Purebred Arabian Conditions for three-year-olds and older. The 1700m contest had a field of 9 runners. Coming to the race as the hot favourite, Sealine broke from gate 7 and was kept by Henrique near the rear. It was Hazm Al Sulaimi (QA) (T M Fred Texas) who went straight to the lead. After the first bend, the lead was taken by Ishfaq (QA) (Asraa Min Al Barq) and Lekhraib (QA) (AF AlBahar) progressed to join Hazm Al Sulaimi in the second position. Sealine started to move forward before the final bend and Rajab (QA) (Harran ASF) moved also to be in the third position. Ishfaq was still leading and was tracked by Lekhraib when Hazm Al Sulaimi slowed to be fourth to be joined by Sealine at the bend. Lekhraib maintained his momentum to take the lead and let the runners into the home straight and once there, the pace became faster and stronger and the contenders started to battle harder. It seems as if Sealine was awaiting the 200m mark to show his real face as, once he went past it, he showed a superb turn of foot and came with a powerful sweep to go past Lekhraib. He went on to be alone in front and put the race into bed in the final strides by cosy 1½ lengths. In the final strides, too, the Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalid Bin Nasser Al Thani-owned Hazm Al Sulaimi came with a late attack to take the second place for trainer Jassim Ghazali and jockey JP Guillambert. The Abdullah Bin Mishal Bin Hamad Al Thani-owned Lekhraib was further two lengths behind in third for trainer Mohammed Ghazali and jockey Marco Casamento. Ishfaq, who took the lead for a long time, finished fifth.
Following the feature race, Mohammed Khalid Al Khalifa, Manager of QREC Equine & Riding Services Department, presented the trophies to the winners.
NIJINSKI AL MAURY
In the penultimate race, the 1900m Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-100) for four-year-olds and older, Mohammed Bin Fahad Al Attiya’s NIJINSKI AL MAURY (FR) (Amer x Nemosie Al Maury) recorded a comfortable 1½-length victory. The trainer-jockey duo Mohammed Ghazali and Qais Al Busaidi teamed up again to double up on the day following their success earlier in the second race in the cardBsheer (USA) (Amer) was the runner-up and Nakheel (FR) (General) finished third.
AL SHOMOS
The fifth race in the card was the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-95) for three-year-olds and older went to the way of Mubarak Bin Saeed Aljafai Al Naimi’s homebred AL SHOMOS (QA) (Shamardal x Gulbarg), who completed a double backing up her victory when she landed the Al Wukair Cup last week on the same course and distance. Faleh Bughanaim made it a double on the day as he guided the Ahmed Kobeissi-trained 6YO mare to take the 1700m run by two lengths. Mosayter (QA) (Country Reel) and Sarmad Bu Thaila (QA) (Soviet Secret) finished second and third respectively.
CLOAK AND DAGGER
Faleh Suwayed Al Ajami’s CLOAK AND DAGGER (IRE) (Lope De Vega x Redoutable) prevailed in a head-to-head battle for the 1700m Thoroughbred Handicap (0-85). Qais Al Busaidi was on board fighting off the challenge of his nearest rival to win by a short head for trainer Mohammed Ghazali. Deliberate Attack (IRE) (Vadamos) and Immoral (IRE) (Helmet) took the minor honours in this order.
ONAIZA
Sharq Stud’s ONAIZA (FR) (Vale Of York x Hermilia) won the third race in the card, the 1,200m Thoroughbred Handicap (0-70) for three-year-olds and older. Tomas Lukasek rode the 3YO filly to double her tally in her only fourth start giving trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki a 1-2 as he saddled the runner-up, Caidok (IRE) (Kodiac) as well. Owhatanight (GB) (Night Of Thunder) completed the frame.
HAFFIZ
Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani’s HAFFIZ (FR) (Nieshan x Ushamman De Carrere) won the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for four-year-olds. The Hamad Al Jehani-saddled gelding showed great courage in the last strides to prevail by a head under Lukas Delozier. Alhareth (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau) and Al Samriya (QA) (Khattaf) filled the second and the third places.
RANAN
The proceedings of the meeting started with Nasser Owaida Salem Al Hajri’s AIN JALOUT (QA) (Shamardal x Sharareh) opening his account on 2nd career-start when he comfortably won the opener, the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for three to six-year-olds. The Owaida Salem Al Hajri-trained 5YO gelding was ridden to a two-length success by Faleh Bughanaim. Shuroq Al Meydan (QA) (Trade Storm) and Doha Surprise (QA) (Zoffany) were second and third respectively.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club