Doha: Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Noor Al Hawa yesterday landed the QR1m His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy (QA GR2) (TB 3-year-old & older) finale, while Al Jeryan Stud’s AJS Moaddie won the Jaafer Cup (Far Bend) at Al Rayyan Park yesterday.
H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani crowned the winners of the two races which highlighted the 10-race card.
Noor Al Hawa completed a hattrick of wins this season landing the 2000m Group 2 feature in style at the Al Rayyan Park’s turf track. Helmed by third straight time by Alberto Sanna, the Georges Mikhalides trained 7yo had started the widest in the 15 strong feature. Coming on to the home straight, the chestnut horse upped his pace and took a narrow lead in the final furlong.
Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s Pazeer gave chase under Soufiane Saadi, but Noor Al Hawa held on to his advantage and won the event for the second straight year. Pazeer was second ahead of Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s The Blue Eye, guided to third by Jason Watson for Mohammed Hussain Afroz.
Earlier, Al Jeryan Stud’s Ajs Moaddie won a thriller halting a string of near misses since the Qatar bred 5yo won the Qatar Silver Sword in April of 2019. The crack at Jaafer Cup was also the grey horse’s second attempat the 2000m run, with the Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani saddled horse finishing runner up last year.
Ridden by Sanna, AJS Moaddie held off a threatening challenge by Umm Qarn’s versatile Sealine, the Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle trained 6yo who finished second under Ronan Thomas by a neck. A length behind was H H Sheikh Mohammed's Khatafaynee, ridden to third by Tomas Lukasek for Julian Colin Smart.
Patrice Alexandre Nicolet’s Barra won for the first time since February 2019 when the De Mieulle schooled horse won the Harran Local Purebred Arabian Conditions (Far Bend) in a breezy finish. With apprentice rider Ali Khalid Al Mosallam in the saddle, the 7yo was unstoppable racing to a dominant finish with five lengths and a quarter to spare at the post as another De Mieulle ward, Umm Qarn’s Abahat, finished runner up under Ronan Thomas.
Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s Black Pearl improved his strike rate winning for the seventh time in nine starts when the Bader Al Balushi trained gelding emerged victorious in the Gazwan Local Thoroughbred Conditions (Far Bend). With Saadi in the saddle, the 4yo had little trouble building the advantage in the seven furlong race and winning by two lengths, holding off two Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki’s wards — Shaman Bu Thaila and Al Faisaliya, for the victory.
H H Sheikh Mohammed's Ghali Al Athman had made a promising start to his time in Qatar with a maiden win, followed by promising top three finishes in two handicaps thereafter. Julian Smart trained colt was back in the winner’s circle yesterday when the grey horse landed the Djendel Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate (Far Bend) in fine fashion. Ridden by Tomas Lukasek for the fourth straight start, the duo won by a length and a quarter at the post, beating Marco Casamento ridden Muthhil for the victory.
H H Sheikh Mohammed's Dawi had a winning debut yesterday. In the Mared Al Sahra Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Far Bend), the colt had Francois Herholdt for company, and despite a wide start to the 2000m race, a fantastic ride put the 3yo grey horse in a great position for the win.
Injaaz Stud’s Fahd De Faust ( Aziz Asf Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Far Bend), Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Festive (Assy Thoroughbreds -Fillies & Mares-Class 4), Mohammed bin Fahad Al Attiya’s Goldamer (Asraa Min Albarq Purebred Arabian Handicap -70-90) and Saeed Mohammed Shafi Al Shafi’s Al Mikdam (Ebraz Thoroughbred Handicap -Class 4-80 & below) also clinched victories.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com