Doha: Al Jeryan Stud’s Al Lusail (Footstepsinthesand x Gooey) stayed true to his favourite status when he won the Halul Island Cup (Far Bend) for Local Thoroughbreds for the second straight year at the turf track at Al Rayyan Park, yesterday.
In the process the Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani schooled 6yo stayed unbeaten this term, having grabbed a hat-trick.
Ridden by Ronan Thomas in the 2400m race, Al Lusail was unstoppable once he was in his stride on the home stretch, beating Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Abu Samrah (Zafeen x Starks), ridden by Marco Casamento for Gassim Mohammad Ghazali, by one and a half lengths.
Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki’s Shaman Bu Thaila (Soviet Secret x Picnic Party) completed the top three under Tomas Lukasek, continuing a streak of 10 races where he finished in the frame.
Oaks winner in 2018, Zakhir Racing’s Mualah (Camelot x Aqua Aura) had missed out on a win despite a promising season last time round.
Hitting the track more than a year after his last outing, the Zuhair Mohsen Zuhair Maki trained mare had Michael Forest for company in the Thoroughbreds (Fillies & Mares) (Class 2) (Far Bend).
At the business end of the 2000m run, Mualah surged forward in spectacular fashion to edge out Ronan Thomas ridden Festive by three quarters of a length. It was Forest’s first win in Qatar.
Al Jeryan Stud’s Rodess Du Loup (Dahess x Aurore Du Loup) won for the first time since making a move to Qatar earlier this year.
Having finished just outside the frame on a couple of occasions, Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani schooled 6yo finally entered the winner’s enclosure at Al Rayyan Park after landing the Purebred Arabian Conditions (Far Bend).
With Alberto Sanna guiding the horse for the first time in the 1850m run, Rodess Du Loup finished just behind Saleh Salem Al Marri ridden Askar, before the stewards reversed the decision citing interference to hand the former the victory by a length.
HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Off He Goes (Casino Prince x Perfectly Stunning) hit the track after a long break but the result was the same as his last outing.
The Julian Colin Smart trained gelding had won a 2800m Group 3 in January under Tomas Lukasek, and the Czech rider was back in the saddle of the 6yo, this time in the 2200m Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 3) (75-95).
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com