Aemilianus dazzles in Sealine Cup
Mdmar – Doha -Mohamed Saad
Photo – Juhaim
Sealine Cup Day unfolded in fine style at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Thursday, 23 October, featuring nine exciting races on the turf. The meeting offered a full spectrum of competition — from commanding, wide-margin victories early in the card to a series of increasingly thrilling contests as the day progressed, culminating in nail-biting finishes where only fractions separated the first few home. It was a day that combined quality, drama and depth, headlined by Aemilianus’s commanding triumph in the feature Sealine Cup, of the action-packed afternoon of racing. QREC Racing Manager, Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, awarded the winners
Aemilianus
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
Aemilianus (Holy Roman Emperor x Assisi) launched his 2025/26 campaign in perfect fashion with a commanding victory in the seventh and feature race of the day, the Sealine Cup, a Thoroughbred Conditions contest for 4YO+ over 1400m that drew 11 runners. The bay gelding owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman Al-Thani picked up almost right where he left off last season when he finished second. Trained by Gassim Al Ghazali, the 6YO produced a polished performance under Marco Casamento to score comfortably by three lengths.
Tracking the early pace set first by Vedute (Holy Roman Emperor) and then by Captain Winters (Lope De Vega), Aemilianus travelled smoothly throughout. Approaching the final bend, he quickened to move into third before surging to the front turning for home. In the straight, he drew clear under confident riding, fending off challenges from Captain Winters and then Taxiwala (Holy Roman Emperor), who closed late, but could not threaten his authority. Taxiwala, trained and owned by Osama Omer Al-Dafea and ridden by Lukas Delozier, finished second while Silver Jubilee (Dubawi), representing North Racing and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani, ran on strongly under Alberto Sanna to claim third by a nose in a fierce battle for the minor honours.
Sheikha SBS impresses on debut in day’s opener
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
Sheikha SBS (War Of Will x Stone Tornado) made a winning debut in the opening race of the day, the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for 3YOs over 1400m, contested by six runners. The bay filly, breaking widest from barrier 6, showed professionalism throughout to score by 2¼ lengths for owner Saleh Saed Al-Hajri and trainer Nayef Batal Al-Otibi. She was guided to victory by Alberto Sanna, who continued his fine form from the previous meeting—having won the first and the final races of the previous day and starting this card in the same winning fashion.
Sheikha SBS quickly took command from Lord Deputy (Dubawi) soon after the start and held the lead throughout. Before the first bend, Waajidd (Angel) improved to move into second, with Lord Deputy back in third. The order remained unchanged into the home straight, where Wellbottom (Dubawi) made a brief challenge from behind for third, but Lord Deputy regained his position. At the front, Sheikha SBS continued to travel strongly, drawing clear in the closing stages to win comfortably. Waajidd, representing Khalid bin Ghanem Al-Kuwari and trained by Zuhair Mohsen, finished second under Soufiane Saadi while Lord Deputy, running in the colours of Al Ghazali Stud for trainer Gassim Al Ghazali and ridden by Louis Nomis, was a further 3¼ lengths behind in third. The first three home were debutants.
Dhariya makes all to score on Qatar debut
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
Dhariya (Al Mouwaffak x Ajdabya) produced a dominant front-running display to win the second race of the day, the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 3YOs over 1400m, which featured eight runners. The grey filly, making her Qatar debut on just her second career start, delivered an impressive performance for Al Shaqab Racing under the care of trainer Jean de Mieulle and the ride of Olivier d’Andigné, winning by 2¼ lengths.
Breaking smartly, Dhariya quickly took control and dictated the pace throughout, chased closely by Lzaz (Mister Ginoux) for most of the trip while Assfa Al Shahania (Assy) and Brooq (Mister Ginoux) followed in close pursuit. Once in the home straight, Dhariya drew clear with authority, widening the gap to win comfortably in a manner similar to the opening race. Lzaz, representing Al Wasmiyah Farm and trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali with Lukas Delozier aboard, finished second, while Brooq, also carrying the colours of Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Jean de Mieulle, completed the one-three for their connections under Faleh Bughenaim, 6½ lengths further back.
Maadi Alseej storms to stunning debut victory
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
Maadi Alseej (Yazeed x AJS Al Maha) produced a dazzling performance on debut to win the third race of the day, the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 3YOs over 1400m, which attracted 11 runners. The bay colt, drawn in barrier 7, recorded a dominant first career success for owner Khalid Hamad Al-Atteya and trainer Jassim Hamad Al-Atteya. He was confidently ridden by Alberto Sanna, who continued his fine form with a second win on the day and his fourth in less than 24 hours, scoring by an eye-catching 7¼ lengths.
Initially settled in mid-division, Maadi Alseej watched as Raqeeq (Mister Ginoux), Ghara FBR (Rassan) and Karar Al Farres (Harran ASF) traded the early lead. Around the first bend, AJS Abha (AJS Moaddie), another debutant, moved forward to take charge and maintained the advantage around the final bend and into the home straight. However, once launched by Sanna, Maadi Alseej produced a powerful surge, closing rapidly to move into second before sweeping past AJS Abha in the final 200m. He drew clear impressively to win by a wide margin. Egaab Zakhir (La Hoor), also a debutant, representing Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi and trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi, stayed on well to claim third, 4¼ lengths behind AJS Abha, who runs in the colours of Al Jeryan Stud for trainer M.H.K. Al Attiyah and jockey Szczepan Mazur.
Manjam prevails in thrilling finish
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
Manjam (AF AlBahar x Farida Du Croate) announced his arrival in style with a hard-fought debut victory in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4YOs over 1600m, which featured six runners. Unlike the earlier races on the card, this one provided a gripping contest that went right down to the wire. The bay colt, breaking from barrier 4, provided owner Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and trainer Zuhair Mohsen with another impressive new prospect, as Soufiane Saadi guided him to a determined head victory after a fiercely contested run to the line.
Kept toward the rear early on, Manjam bided his time while his stablemate Al Wishaah (Al Mamun Monlau) set the early pace, tracked closely by Mou’nes Al Shahania (Harran ASF) and B’eyarqu Al Shahania (Assy). The field remained tightly packed through the middle stages. Around the final bend, Mou’nes Al Shahania moved up to take the lead with Al Wishaah pressing hard behind. Once in the home straight, Saadi urged Manjam forward, and the colt responded powerfully, sweeping past rivals one by one before being challenged strongly by B’eyarqu Al Shahania in the final 100m. Manjam held on gamely to clinch victory by a head. B’eyarqu Al Shahania, carrying the colours of Al Shahania Stud and trained by Rudy Nerbonne with Megane Peslier aboard, ran bravely for second while Mou’nes Al Shahania, owned by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and also trained by Nerbonne, finished a further 1¼ lengths behind in third under Damien Morin, adding another podium finish for the same connections.
Angus edges thrilling finish to complete Sanna treble
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
Angus (General x Anastasya) claimed a nail-biting victory in the fifth race of the day, the Purebred Arabian Handicap (60–80) for 3YO+ over 1600m, which drew a full field of 16 runners. Like the previous race, this contest produced a thrilling finish decided only in the final strides, though this time the margin was even tighter. The 5YO grey horse, carrying the colours of Yousef Ali Al Rumaihi and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani, delivered a determined performance under Alberto Sanna, who continued his superb form with a third win on the day, scoring by a neck.
Angus began calmly and was settled towards the rear while Belgaro (AF AlBahar) set the early pace, chased closely by Billythekid Pompadour (Al Mamun Monlau). Al Kazim (Al Mamun Monlau) also broke well before being restrained by his jockey to sit off the speed. The order remained largely unchanged until the 600m mark, when the race began to take shape approaching the final bend. In the home straight, Angus and Al Kazim both unleashed powerful late runs from behind, engaging in a head-to-head battle through the final strides. In a thrilling climax, Angus just managed to get his head in front at the line. Al Kazim, representing Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohamed bin Faleh Al-Thani and trained by Gassim Al Ghazali under Marco Casamento, ran bravely in second while Duke Of Monlau (Al Mamun Monlau), racing for Al Rufaa Racing and trainer Mohammed Al Ghazali and under Soufiane Saadi, was the best of the rest in third, 3½ lengths behind.
Foehn wins in dramatic four-way finish
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
Foehn (Johnny Barnes x Love and War) produced a gutsy performance to capture the sixth race on the card, the Thoroughbred Handicap (70–90) for 3YO+ over 2000m, which drew a full field of 16 runners. Continuing the trend of thrilling tight finishes, this contest ended with less than a length separating the first four home. The 4YO bay gelding, drawn on the inside in barrier 1, showed marked improvement on his second start this season, winning by a head for owner Hamad Ramzan Al-Naimi, trainer Hadi Al Ramzani and jockey Damien Morin.
Breaking well from the inside draw, Foehn settled just behind the early pace as Kadovar (Dark Angel) took up the running from the first bend until the 800m mark, where Lucentio (Too Darn Hot) moved ahead. The pair entered the home straight still disputing the lead, with Selous (Lope De Vega) tracking closely in third. Foehn began to make headway through the pack, joining the leading group in a tightly bunched finish. In the final 400m, Kadovar looked the likely winner, but Foehn surged from the middle of the field in the closing stages to snatch victory on the line. Kadovar, representing Al Wasmiyah Farm and trained by Georges Mikhalides under Lukas Delozier, was a gallant second, while Lucentio, owned by Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and trained by Ahmed Kobeissi with Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik in the saddle, held on bravely for third, just a nose ahead of the fast-finishing Mia Man (Almanzor).
Basalt scores stylishly on Qatar debut
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
Basalt (Pinatubo x Alienate) made an immediate impact on his first start in Qatar, landing the Thoroughbred Conditions race for 3YOs over 1600m, which drew 11 runners. The grey colt, carrying the silks of H.E. Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, completed a quick-fire double for trainer Gassim Al Ghazali and jockey Marco Casamento, winning the eight race in the evening comfortably by 1¼ lengths.
Settled in fifth early on, Basalt tracked the leading group headed by Suhail Star (Starspangledbanner), who set the pace for much of the race, initially chased by Maximus Alexios (Kodiac). Around the final bend, the field tightened, with Basalt moving into second before taking command entering the home straight. Once in front, he travelled smoothly and never looked in danger, keeping on strongly to secure a cosy win. Siegen (Blue Point), trained by Ahmed Al Jehani for Hamad Meret Al-Hajri and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, finished strongly and accelerated in the home straight to take second while Shadow Army (Showcasing), running for Wathnan Racing under Alban de Mieulle’s care and Soufiane Saadi’s steering, produced a late effort to grab third, two lengths behind, in a tight finish for the minor honours, with only a neck and a further neck separating the next two home.
Burkan edges tight finish to wrap up thrilling card
Burkan (Al Mourtajez x Agdalya) brought the day’s action to a dramatic close with a narrow victory in the ninth and final race, the Purebred Arabian Conditions for 4YOs over 1600m, which featured six runners. The thrilling finishes that marked the meeting continued into the finale and even intensified, with only a neck and a head separating the first three home. The grey gelding, breaking well from barrier 1, made full use of his inside draw to build on his seasonal debut—where he finished sixth of ten—and went on to secure his first win this season. The Al Rabban Racing runner is trained by Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and was confidently guided to victory by Tomas Lukasek.
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
Burkan began smartly, settling just behind the early leader Lanvin De Faust (No Risk Al Maury), as the field raced tightly grouped up to the second bend. In the home straight, all six runners quickened in unison, producing an exciting sprint finish. Lanvin De Faust continued to lead momentarily, but Burkan burst through from the chasing pack to take over. In the closing stages, he came under fierce pressure from Sidi Star (No Risk Al Maury) and Labwa De Carrere (AF AlBahar), yet he dug deep to maintain a narrow advantage at the line. Sidi Star, racing for Al Falah Stud and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani under Szczepan Mazur, finished a neck behind in second, with Labwa De Carrere, trained by Mohammed Hussain Afroz for Al Mazrooah Stud and ridden by Alberto Sanna, just a head further back in third after a thrilling battle to the finish.
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
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.
*“mdmar” website for horse races and equestrian News
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.
