Injaaz Stud’s LEKHRAIB (AF AlBahar x Grace T) had narrowly missed out on a victory on his last outing but the Mohammed Gassim Ghazali saddled horse made amends on dirt on Thursday, landing the DOHA CUP (LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN CONDITIONS) at Al Rayyan Park. Having finished runner up last month over C&D, the 6yo chestnut had Marco Casamento for company in the six furlong sprint, and despite a threatening challenge by a duo saddled by Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle – Patrice Alexandre Nicolet’s BARRA (Munjiz x Daniah) and Umm Qarn’s SEALINE (Amer x Jaljalah) – in the final few metres of the race, a timely lunge of the head at the post handed Lekhraib a short head victory.
Soufiane Saadi ridden Barra edged out Ronan Thomas and his partner Sealine by half a length for the runner up spot.
Osama Omer Al Dafea’s BAKER DE SAULARIE (Kerbella x Babiche De
Saulari) built on the momentum he built in the first two races of his season to win the PUREBRED ARABIAN CONDITIONS. Having finished in the frame on the first two outings, all on dirt, Mickael Berto partnered the horse in the 1800m run on Thursday. After staying midfield for the bulk of the race, Berto let his mount go and Baker De Saularie took the advantage 300m out and eventually won by a length and three quarters. It was the 6yo’s fourth win overall.
Shaheen Bin Khalid Shaheen Al Ghanim’s YAARMEN (Nayef x Haamaat) led a one-two for trainer Gassim Mohammad Ghazali when the 6yo topped the THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 3) (80-100) in dominant fashion on Thursday. The 1700m run on dirt saw JP Guillambert keep his mount within striking distance of the leader, Roman Legend, also a Ghazali ward. As the race turned on to the home straight, the two managed to put some distance between them and the rest of the field, with Yaarmen pulling away further, winning by 5 lengths.
After being well held behind Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki’s Zyzzyva, Injaaz Stud’s SIR COMMANDER (Lethal Force x Ronja) struck back on Thursday with a fine win in the THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 4) (85 & below). Ridden by Marco Casamento for trainer Gassim Mohammad Ghazali in the six furlong sprint, gelding put up a determined run to stay ahead of Ronan Thomas ridden Zyzzyva and then held him off to win by a length and a quarter at the post.
Rashid Bin Mubarak Aljafali Al Naimi’s BETTER THAN EVER (Mainsail x Better Chance) has been improving this term with Alberto Sanna in the saddle. Majed Mahadi Seifeddine trained gelding went from third place in the season opener on turf to a runner up in a six furlong sprint on dirt. On Thursday, he entered the winner’s enclosure for the first time with Sanna guiding the 4yo to a fantastic win in the THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 5) (70 & below). A determined run by the horse saw him stay ahead of the competiton throughout before stretching his lead to win by five lengths and a quarter.
Running his shortest distance so far 1000m, Fahad Rashid Al Hajri’s DOHA INCANTO (Per Incanto x La Serenissime) held his own to shed his maiden status on Thursday. In the THOROUGHBRED NOVICE PLATE (Class 5), the Owaida Salem Mohammed Al Hajri trained 6yo had Qatari apprentice rider Meteb Ali Al Marri in the saddle and the duo stayed on the heels of the leader before making the move in the final two furlongs. Doha Incanto then took the lead almost a furlong out before holding off the rivals for a win by a length and three quarters.
Al Ezz Stud’s SHEIKHA (Leroidesanimaux x Soiree D’ete) went one better than her C&D season opener two weeks ago to shed her maiden status on Thursday. Lining up from Gate 2 on her ninth start, the Saeed Mohammed Shafi Al Shafi trained 4yo had Qatari rider Rashid Ali Al Marri for company in the saddle, and the two led the LOCAL THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE throughout the six furlongs. Surging away from the rest of the field coming off the final bend, Al Marri eased the filly to victory as Marco Casamento ridden Qatar Gold finished second three lengths and three quarters behind.
Saeed Bin Mubarak Saeed Aljafali Al Naimi’s SAFAE (Majd Al Arab x Tidja D’ibos) brushed aside her forgettable debut in February to top the PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE (Fillies & Mares) in a thrilling finish on Thursday. Alberto Sanna had the Majed Mahadi Seifeddine trained filly move up front early on in the 1700m run. Coming off the final bend, the 4yo began building a gap, but had Tomas Lukasek ridden Monati in pursuit. Monati ran out of real estate as Safae won by a head.
Qatari rider Meteb Ali Al Marri guided his third winner of the season with Injaaz Stud’s FAADI (Burning Sand x Hareq ASF) entering the winner’s enclosure for the second time in his career on Thursday. In the LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN NOVICE PLATE, the Ali Yousuf Al Kubaisi-saddled colt, a maiden winner a little over a year ago over C&D, won handsomely, going past the post five lengths ahead of the competition.