Trainer Ibrahim al-Malki and jockey Saleem Golam combined well for their second victory on Wednesday when Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani owned Suhail Al Uraiq registered his first victory over six furlongs in the Doha Cup at the QREC dirt track.
Suhail Al Uraiq stayed on the heels of Al Aayar, trained by Mohamed Hussain and ridden by Alberto Sanna, before clawing his way into the lead and winning by half a length. Harry Bentley, who also won twice earlier in the day, guided Mohamed Al Sheeb schooled Kasser to a third place finish.
LOCAL PURE BRED ARABIAN CONDITIONS
Qatar Derby Trial winner Reda topped the 1700m race to give Julian Smart a one-two two weeks after his ward Ebraz won HH The Emir’s Sword (Gr1 PA). HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani owned colt had two third place finishes since his Trial win in December 2016. On Wednesday, Richard Mullen had the 5yo take the inside line in the final 100m and edge out stablemate and early leader Aaley Al Magam, while Harry Bentley rode Jassim Mohamed Ghazali trained Rassan to third place.
THOROUGHBRED CLASSIFIED STAKES (CLASS 2) (95 & below)
Jassim Mohamed Ghazali picked up a one-two in the 1900m run with Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari owned Generalship racing to his second victory this season under Harry Bentley. Hussain Ali Bukanan owned Emaad led the race early on under Marvin Suerland’s ride with Generalship and Ibrahim al-Malki trained First to Post on his heels. A furlong from the post, Bentley made his move and Generalship moved out and steadily surged ahead to edge out Emaad for the win. Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani owned gelding was third under Saleem Golam.
THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (CLASS 3) (81-95)
After two below par performances in 2017, Injaaz Stud’s Erroneous stepped picked up his fifth career win for trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali. Ridden by Pierantonio Convertino, the 6yo gelding tracked early leader Shaka Zulu, trained by Ibrahim al-Malki, for bulk of the six furlong sprint. As stablemate Polaris was overwhelmed coming off the bend, Erroneous stepped out away from the rails and steadily moved forward, edging out Saleem Golam’s mount Shaka Zulu at the post, with Faleh Bughanaim riding Alizoom to third place for Deborah Mountain.
THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (CLASS 4) (66-80)
Ibrahim al-Malki trained Millington registered his first victory in Qatar with a win in the six furlong run under British rider Saleem Golam’s ride. Having come close over the same course and distance twice before, the 6yo gelding won at the QREC dirt track at the seventh attempt, leaving behind Zuhair Mohsen’s Pipe Bomb (Acclamation x Dorelia), ridden by Stephan Ladjadj for the win. Another al-Malki ward, Munira eyes, was third under Alberto Sanna.
THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (CLASS 4) (DIV 2) (QATARI RIDERS) (66-80)
Injaaz Stud’s Town Crier, trained by Mohamed Jassim Ghazali, notched up his second win this season to keep up the momentum, which has seen the 5yo finish in top two for the third straight race. Ridden by Saleh Hamad al-Marri in the six furlong sprint, Town Crier swapped places with Mohamed Nasser al-Ramzani’s ward Second Life, who had won the last race the two horses ran together. Mohammed al-Mosallam rode the filly to a second place ahead of Abid al-Qathiri’s charge Queen Anne, who completed the podium with Meteb al-Marri at the helm.
LOCAL THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE
Darren Williams guided Cannon to the colt’s first career victory in the six furlong sprint. This was the first time Williams was riding Cannon, who was running on dirt for the first time since his debut in November 2016. Majed Seifeddine’s ward edged out Ali al-Marri trained Queen Maouya, ridden by Qatari rider Rashid al-Marri, by a short head, while Alberto Sanna was at the helm of Wasim Mohammed trained Al Thakhira, who completed the top three.
LOCAL THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE (DIV 2)
Running the shortest distance of his three-race career, Mohammed Hussain trained Jakom registered his first win of the career on Wednesday. Ridden by Gerald Avranche for the second time, the 4yo, owned by Dhafi al-Ardi al-Marri, took to the dirt track for the first time, and edged out Hussein Aashoor-schooled Heart of Lion by one and a half lengths. Marvin Suerland guided the 4yo to second place ahead of Tomas Lukasek’s mount Sharhan Azzam.
PUREBRED ARABIANS (90 & below)
Al Shahania Stud’s Aziznefs raced to his fourth straight victory this season for trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali, with Champion Jockey Harry Bentley riding the 5yo to his third straight win in the 1700m run. Running the distance for the first time, Aziznefs finished one and a half lengths ahead of Ibrahim al-Malki trained filly Afreetah, owned by Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. The top two finishers left the rest of the field way behind, with Falot Del Falot, trained by Hassan al-Matwi, in third 11 lengths behind.
PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE
Umm Qarn’s Kufoo went one better than his debut performance with the 4yo shedding his maiden status in the opening race of the 10 race card on Wednesday. Gaetan Faucon had ridden the Alban de Mieulle’s charge to a second place finish two months ago but on Wednesday he finished a dominant five lengths ahead of the rest of the pack in the nine furlong run. Jassim Mohamed Ghazali’s Diego Des Vialettes and Julian Smart’s Mohssn finished second and third respectively for their second straight outing.
