Aafoor lands The Late Sheikh Ali Bin Faleh Al Thani Cup
Mdmar – Doha- Mohamed Saad
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani crowned the winners of the Late Sheikh Ali Bin Faleh Al Thani Cup in the presence of Mr Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya, QREC Chairman. The winning trainer, M.H.K Al Attiyah, received the trophy on behalf of the owner, Al Jeryan Stud, after Aafoor secured the Cup with an impressive performance. The trophy presentation took place following the seventh and feature race of the nine-race meeting, which was held on turf at Al Uqda Racecourse on Thursday, 20 November.
The bumper card featured several Class 2 contests and marked a milestone as the first race meeting ever staged at Al Uqda in the evening under floodlights; an initiative that proved highly successful and received widespread praise from trainers and stakeholders.
Aafoor asserts late to land the spoils.
Aafoor (Qurbaan x Filfila) produced a polished and powerful performance to secure The Late Sheikh Ali Bin Faleh Al Thani Cup, in the seventh and feature race on the card, a Class 2 Thoroughbred Conditions contest for 3YO+ over 2100m, which had eight runners in the fray. The 4YO chestnut gelding, owned by Al Jeryan Stud and trained by M.H.K Al Attiyah, was delivered with a perfectly timed run by Szczepan Mazur to score by 2½ lengths.
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In a tactic that marked most of the races of the day, the eventual winner tracked the leaders from fourth position throughout, travelling smoothly behind Toromona (Shamardal), who dictated the pace from the outset, with Kadovar (Dark Angel) and Captain Winters (Lope De Vega) in closest pursuit. Captain Winters briefly took over in the early home straight, but Aafoor was produced with a decisive challenge once Mazur pressed the button. The response was immediate, as Aafoor swept past his rivals and stretched clear for a cosy win. Captain Winters, trained by Khalifa Hamed Nasser Al Sawai for Al Emadi Racing and ridden by Damien Morin, kept on well for second while Tiding (Dubawi), representing Sheikh Abdul Rahman Rashid Al-Thani for trainer Gassim Al Ghazali and ridden by Marco Casamento, finished strongly to take third by only a neck. By getting the first the two places of this race, Aafoor and Captain Winters obtained the priority status to run in the HH The Amir Shalfa Race in February.
Zah’ran Al Shahania storms home on winning debut
Zah’ran Al Shahania (Azadi x Zahwah) made an immediate impact on his first career start, producing a flying late surge to capture the opener, the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4–7YOs over 2100m (Class 6). The 4YO gelding, representing North Racing and trained by Ahmed Al Jehani, was steered to an impressive four-length success by Arnaud De Lepine, giving the trainer-jockey combination a perfect continuation to their feature-race triumph in Wednesday’s Doha Cup.
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In a field of 11 runners, Zah’ran Al Shahania was kept well off the pace in the early and middle stages as Kasser Al Shahania (Amer), trained by Rudy Nerbonne for H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and ridden by Lukas Delozier, dictated the tempo throughout, closely followed by Rakhshan (Yazeed) and Amna K (Alam Al Khalediah). The order remained largely unchanged until the final bend. Passing the 900m mark, Zah’ran Al Shahania began to make steady headway, moving into midfield, but still several lengths off the leaders. Approaching the home turn, he unleashed a sharp turn of foot, surging past his rivals one after another before sweeping past the long-time leader inside the final 200m to win going away. Kasser Al Shahania, though unable to fend off the winner’s decisive burst, held on bravely for second by a head. Windsor (AF AlBahar), trained by Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed for Umm Al Shukhut Farm and ridden by Alberto Sanna, finished strongly from mid-pack to claim third, only a head behind the runner-up.
Lubara dazzles on Qatar debut with explosive finish
Lubara (Dahess x Topaze Du Croate) announced herself in style, opening her account with a commanding performance on Qatar debut, and just her second career start, in Race 2, a Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 3YOs over 1400m, Class 6, featuring 14 runners. The grey filly, owned by Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Jean de Mieulle, was ridden confidently by Faleh Bughenaim and surged clear to score by an impressive six lengths.
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Lubara broke smartly from barrier 1 but was deliberately kept in a mid-division position early on, travelling comfortably as Lzaz (Mister Ginoux) dictated the pace for the majority of the race. The leader was chased by AJS Al Hareth (Dahess) and Brooq (Mister Ginoux), and the order remained unchanged until the home straight where the tempo lifted sharply. In the home straight, Lzaz appeared set to score, but Lubara had other ideas. She unleashed a devastating turn of foot from the middle of the pack, sweeping past the leader inside the final 100m and pulling clear with authority. Lzaz, trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali for Al Wasmiyah Farm and ridden by Lukas Delozier, kept on for second, a length ahead of Miss Monlau, owned by Al Shaqab Racing, trained by Jean de Mieulle and ridden by Chloe Mignonneau, who finished strongly to secure third, as well for the winning connections, by only a nose from the fast-finishing fourth.
Rothstein digs deep for determined seasonal return
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Rothstein (Invincible Army x Silver Rainbow) made a successful seasonal reappearance, adding a third career victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap (75–95) for 3YO+ over 1400m, a Class 3 contest featuring 13 runners. The 4YO grey colt, owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by Alban de Mieulle, was given a perfectly judged ride by Soufiane Saadi, scoring by a length after a tight three-way tussle in the closing stages.
Almost all runners began sharply, with Rothstein travelling just behind the early pace in third, flanked by Zulu Tracker (Footstepsinthesand) and Pearling Path (Holy Roman Emperor). Safwan (Wootton Bassett), who had broken well, soon improved to sit right behind the eventual winner as the order remained largely unchanged through the backstretch. Around the home turn, Pearling Path, trained by Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki for Mohammed Abdulhadi Al-Hajri and ridden by Alberto Sann, was pushed forward to take the lead. Rothstein quickly moved up to sit at his quarters and Safwan, representing Al Shaqab Racing for trainer Jean de Mieulle and partnered by Faleh Bughenaim, surged powerfully to join the fray. Inside the final 200m, Rothstein found extra to assert, forging ahead for a determined victory. Safwan kept on strongly to secure second by only a neck from Pearling Path, who fought bravely, but had to settle for third after a tightly contested battle for the minor honours.
Silca Blue dazzles again with commanding display
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Silca Blue (Space Blues x Queen of Silca) maintained his upward trajectory with a polished performance in the fourth race on the card, the Thoroughbred Open Race for 2YOs over 1400m, securing back-to-back victories on his fifth career start. The bay colt, owned by Sheikh Abdul Rahman Rashid Al-Thani and trained by Gassim Al Ghazali, once more proved his consistency, never finishing outside the first four, as he powered home under Marco Casamento to win by 2¾ lengths.
Breaking alertly from barrier 5, Silca Blue was sent forward before being allowed to settle in second and third behind early pacesetters Mushaffar (Van Beethoven) and Lucky Irish Boy (Lucky Vega). The juvenile field remained tightly grouped passing the 1100m, with the order unchanged. Around the home bend, Lucky Irish Boy edged ahead, chased closely by Mushaffar, but the complexion of the race shifted in the straight when Mushaffar drifted markedly toward the outside rail. Seizing the opening, Silca Blue quickened smartly, sweeping past the leaders to take command and draw clear for a comfortable success. Dapper Charm (Dandy Man), trained by Hamad Al-Jehani for owner Saif Jassem Alsulaiti and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, finished strongly from the rear to claim second, 4¾ lengths ahead of Quarter (Earthlight), who stayed on well under Faleh Bughenaim to secure third for owner Mubarak Ali Al-Nuaimi and his trainer, who also sent out the runner-up.
Ever-reliable Equinoxe edges clear for season-opening triumph
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Equinoxe (Atlantic Air x Thurayya) reaffirmed his enduring class, in the day’s fifth contest, with a determined victory in the Local Thoroughbred Conditions race for 3YO+ over 2100m (Class 2). The 8YO veteran, representing Wathnan Racing and trained by Alban de Mieulle, made a successful seasonal return under Soufiane Saadi, securing the 22nd win of his distinguished career and completing a double on the day for his connections.
Equinoxe raced prominently in third early on, tracking Tafawok (Shamalgan), who dictated the pace for most of the contest, with Alwaad (Trade Storm) holding second between them. The order remained unchanged until the field straightened for home where Alwaad briefly took over, but was immediately challenged by Equinoxe. Saadi’s mount quickened assertively to claim the lead, yet the closing stages produced a gripping duel as Al Faisal (Trade Storm, trained by Khalifa Hamed Nasser Al Sawai for Al Emadi Racing and ridden by Lukas Delozie, surged from fifth to launch a serious late bid. Equinoxe, however, had already established a firm advantage and maintained the upper hand to score by a length. Four lengths behind the runner-up, Rayyan Bu Thaila (Bated Breath), trained by Jihad El Ahmad for Injaaz Stud and ridden by Alberto Sanna, stayed on strongly to take third.
Loose Cannon edges thrilling finish
Loose Cannon (Territories x Varega) maintained his excellent form with a determined victory in Race 6, the Thoroughbred Handicap (85–105) for 4YO+ over 2200m. The 4YO bay gelding, trained by Gassim Al Ghazali for owner Sheikh Mohammed Salman Al-Thani, made full use of barrier 1 to make it third time lucky this season under a superbly judged ride from Marco Casamento. The win also completed a fine 1–2 for trainer Gassim Al Ghazali, with only a neck separating his pair at the line and a second success of the evening for both trainer and jockey.
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Loose Cannon was kept in a handy mid-division early, as Sussex (Dubawi) dictated the pace from the outset, with Neat And Dandy (Dandy Man) and Hamaki (Churchill) tracking the long-time leader in the same order for much of the contest. The race shifted dramatically in the home straight when Seulomonde (Dubawi), trained by Al Ghazali for Al Eida Racing and ridden by Alberto Sanna, swept past the tiring pacesetter to take command. However, Loose Cannon was already gathering momentum, producing a surging late run down the outside to join Seulomonde in a fierce duel to the line. The pair battled stride for stride in the closing metres, but Loose Cannon found just enough in reserve to prevail by a neck. Hamaki, representing Wathnan Racing and trained by Alban de Mieulle, kept on well under Soufiane Saadi to finish third, a further 1¼ lengths behind.
Arman edges out Razika in tight finish
Arman (Amer x Qatar Sun) made a winning seasonal reappearance, landing the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (80–110), in the day’s penultimate race, a Class 2 contest for 4YO+ over 1400m with 10 runners. The 5YO grey horse, owned by Wathnan Racing, trained by Alban de Mieulle and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, completed a remarkable treble on the day for the owner–trainer–jockey combination, scoring by a neck.
Tayyar Al Shahania (Jaafer ASF) dictated a strong pace throughout, pressed by AJS Haizum (AF AlBahar) while Arman, Razika (Yazeed) and Al Mirage (AF AlBahar) were all positioned just behind the early leaders. The trio improved steadily as the race unfolded and approaching the home turn, Arman loomed large on the outside with Razika and Al Mirage poised to strike. In the home straight, Arman accelerated sharply to challenge Tayyar Al Shahania and was immediately joined by Razika, who surged down the centre in a determined bid for victory. The pair pulled well clear of their rivals in a gripping duel, but Arman found that extra bit in the closing strides to prevail by a neck, with Razika completing a one-two for Wathnan Racing and trainer Alban de Mieulle under Jefferson Smith. Al Mirage, trained by Jean de Mieulle for Al Shaqab Racing and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, kept on well to finish third, three-quarters of a length behind.
Aneed Al Shahania extends superb record with determined finish
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Aneed Al Shahania (Azadi x Al Anga) maintained his outstanding strike-rate with a hard-fought victory in the Class 2 Purebred Arabian Conditions for 4YO+ over 2100m. The 5YO grey horse, owned by H.E. Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani and trained by Rudy Nerbonne, landed his fifth win from six career starts, with his only defeat being a runner-up effort. Under Lukas Delozier, he prevailed by a length in a tightly contested finish.
The four-runner field raced in single file for much of the journey, with Khalil Du Croate (No Risk Al Maury), trained by Julian Smart for Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and ridden by Alberto Sanna, dictating the pace throughout. He was tracked by Sun Amer (Amer), owned by Khalid Mohammed Al-Harami, trained by Bader Al Balushi and ridden by Marco Casamento, Raed (Amer) and Aneed Al Shahania in that order, with little change in the running positions until the home straight. Once heads turned for home, Sun Amer briefly took over, but Aneed Al Shahania swept past him with a sharp acceleration to strike the front. Khalil Du Croate rallied strongly on the inside and Raed, representing Wathnan Racing for trainer Alban de Mieulle under Soufiane Saadi, also closed fast from behind, setting up a three-way battle to the line. Aneed Al Shahania, however, proved toughest in the final strides, holding off Khalil Du Croate by a length, with Raed a further length back in third. Sun Amer, owned by Khalid Mohammed Al-Harami, trained by Bader Al Balushi and ridden by Marco Casamento, finished fourth, only a short head behind the minor place getters.
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The “Mdmar” website which was Founded by Khaled Makhlouf in 2007 for horse and equestrian races is keen to cover and follow all competitions related to horses, from show jumping, Horseracing, speed and endurance races, and purebred Arabian horse beauty shows, which belong to the Arab Gulf countries at home and abroad in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Kingdom of Bahrain.
