Amir Sword Festival: Bowerman, features scoring Ghannam on Day 2

Doha: Bowerman, the only overseas runner in the region, won the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (QA Gr 2) yesterday, on the second day of the Amir Sword Festival in Al Rayyan Park.

The Adrian McGuiness-schooled gelding had Ronan Whelan in the Max Recall Racing Club colours in the saddle, starting big from Gate 13, and the pair had to deal with traffic early on. They continued going up the order, before racing for the end on the home stretch, as Whelan settled his mount on the outside on the back straight in the miler.

The pace coming off the final bend was also improved by Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri’s Dominus and the two 5yos were left to work the affair out in the final 50m, one won by the Irish raider by a neck.

Sir Arthur Dayne of Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari, saddled by Gassim Ghazali, was rode by Maxime Guyon in eighth.

Earlier, the Ghannam (AF AlBahar x Bedur ASF) of Abdullah Saeed Abdullah Al Mesnad put up some late pace to good use, picking up a surprising victory in the Gulf Cup (4 Year Olds & Older For Purebred Arabians Bred in the GCC). For Wasim Al Sahn’s ward, going up to a mile was a major step up when coming off a promising victory in a six furlong handicap. The 5yo tracked leaders Aahil and Barra before going neck and neck 100m out under a gorgeous ride by Alberto Sanna, however, and then kicked up a notch to take the advantage and win.

Umm Qarn’s Aahil, trained by Alban de Mieulle, was rode a long way behind by Ronan Thomas to runner up position, while under Faleh Bughanaim, Mohammed Jaber Al Khayarin’s Barra, saddled by Hamad Al Jehani, finished the top three.

Meanwhile, the Ateej (AF AlBahar x Sahara Croixnoire) of Mohammed bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Attiya remained true to his favoured position in the Purebred Arabian Sprint Cup (4YO & older) when the smart veteran won this season for the third time.

Marco Casamento, who led the Gassim Ghazali ward to a Gr3 sprint win last month, was in the saddle in the six furlong sprint, the 8yo. The bay horse beat out Alberto Sanna riding AJS Berline with a quarter of a distance to spare on Thursday in a tight finish.

Al Adheed of Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi went one better than his last game to add earlier this season to a hat-trick of handicap victories. Helmed by Saadi, in the seven furlong Local Thoroughbred Trophy, the 6yo led a one-two for the colors and coach Bader Al Balushi (4yo & older).

Trained by Ghazali and ridden by Julien Auge, Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Luchador bounced back last time round from a forgettable finish to land the Thoroughbreds (Fillies & Mares) (Class 3) in a close finish.

Meanwhile, Lauded’s Al Shaqab Racing raced to his second Qatar victory in the pillar to post Thoroughbred Plate (3 Year Olds) victory (Class 4).

Thomas had the Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki trained colt move inwards into the lead on the rails, starting wider than most in 13, shortly after kicking out of the gates. On the home straight, as the fast approaching Golden Bear, ridden by Jason Watson, ran out of real estate and settled for runner-up spot, the 3yo managed to hold on to his advantage.

Umm Qarn’s Bin Al Tair clinched a dramatic victory in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate yesterday as well. The De Mieulle showed a late kick to go past almost the entire field on the home straight to take half-a-length in the 2000m race.

In the opening race of the second day of the Amir Sword Festival, Al Jeryan Stud’s Ajs Beirut, trained by Rashid Al Ali and raced by Sanna, won the C&D Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate (Fillies & Mares).