Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s SHAKOUR (Declaration Of War x Another Storm) won a feature in Qatar for the first time in 13 starts when the Zuhair Mohsen Zuhair Maki trained 5yo topped the WATHNAN CUP (THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 3) 70 – 90) in comfortable fashion on Wednesday. In the 1800m feature on dirt, JP Guillambert was striding the colt for a victory for the second time this year as they won by two and three-quarter lengths. ERNEST ALDRICH (Oasis Dream x Wallis), ridden by Soufiane Saadi for trainer Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki, and STAR OF WAR (Declaration Of War x Sunshine For Life), helmed by Alberto Sanna for Georges Mikhalides, extended their wait for their first victories in Qatar after finishing second and third respectively.
Al Shaqab Racing’s MAIUF (TM Fred Texas x Mayada) picked up from where he left off last season racing to his third victory since his arrival in Qatar late last year. Stepping up in distance from a mile and switching surfaces to dirt seemed no problem for Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle’s charge in the 1900m PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (105 & below) as Ronan Thomas and his partner held off a thrilling pursuit from Alberto Sanna ridden Baker De Saularie and Carlos Henrique helmed Winne Taouy to win by half a length.
After two disappointing C&D handicap runs on her last two starts, Saif Rashid Said Al Khayarin’s WADHAH (Abide With Me x Viola D’Amore) entered the winner’s enclosure for the third time. Saddled by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, the 4yo had Luca Maniezzi for company in the LOCAL THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (80 & below) and the duo did well to go past the post four and a quarter lengths in front of the competition to win the six-furlong sprint.
Al Wasmiyah Farm’s JOUDY (Seraphin Du Paon x Tarabulus Al Wasmiya) rode the momentum she gathered in a C&D maiden last week to register her first career win on Wednesday. After Alberto Sanna guided the Georges Mikhalides ward to third place on the opening day of the season, the 4yo lined up with the Italian in the saddle again for the six-furlong PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (75 & below). The grey filly raced to a memorable four and a quarter length victory at the post in the sprint.
Abdullah Mohammed Al Kuwari & Sons’ SHELLBROOK (Shamardal x Ownwan) made it two in two with a victory in the THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 5) (QATARI RIDERS ONLY) (75 & below) on Wednesday. Gassim Mohammad Ghazali’s ward shed his maiden status on the opening day of the season last week and made a successful handicap debut in the 1100m run on Wednesday. The dominant four and a half-length victory was Qatari rider Rashid Ali Al Marri’s second win of the season.
Qatar bred MUTHHIL (Amer x New Princess) made a fantastic debut on dirt on Wednesday winning the PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE in a comfortable fashion. Ridden by Qatari rider Saleh Salem Al Marri in the colours of Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari, the 5yo, who had been largely unexposed in Qatar since arrival from France, started wider than most in Gate 6 and did well to finish a length and a half in front of rivals in the 1700m run. It was Muthhil’s sixth career outing and Al Marri’s second win of the day.
Nasser Saeed Al Eida owned filly, GOLD FLEECE (Nathaniel x Conquete), beat a host of boys to bounce back in impressive fashion in the THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE (Class 6). After a promising third over C&D in February, the Jassim Mohamed Ghazali trained 4yo had a forgettable finish in a handicap the next month. However, the bay filly had no trouble on Wednesday when Qatari rider Saleh Salem Al Marri guided her to a fine three-length victory in the 1700m run on dirt.
Umm Qarn has a new winning debutant in ABAHAT (Al Mamun Monlau x Al Anqa). The 4yo led a one-two for the colours and trainer Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle in the PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE (4-YEAR-OLDS ONLY) in the first race of the day on Wednesday. In the 1700m run, Ronan Thomas was in the saddle on the grey colt as he beat stablemate and fellow debutant Bakir, helmed by Soufiane Saadi, by half a length for a fine victory.