Alzabyr captures Al Gharafa Cup on Qatar debut
Mdmar – Doha – Mohamed Saad
Photo – Juhaim
Al Rayyan Racecourse hosted the Al Gharafa Cup Day meeting on Thursday, 30 October, featuring eight turf races that showcased a rich blend of Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred talent. The card offered a variety of contests in both distance and class, ranging from sharp sprints to testing middle-distance events, keeping excitement levels high throughout the afternoon. Four races were dedicated to Thoroughbreds, including maidens, handicaps, and novice plates while the remaining four focused on Purebred Arabians, culminating in the feature Al Gharafa Cup for three-year-olds over 1600m. The day’s highlight saw Alzabyr (Alsaker x Essaana) produce a stunning Qatar debut performance, clinching the trophy with a decisive late surge that underlined his promising potential for the season ahead. Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of QREC Racing Operations Section, presented the trophies to the winners of the feature race.
Alzabyr announced his arrival in impressive fashion, opening his account on just his second career start, and his first in Qatar, with a decisive victory in the Al Gharafa Cup, a 1600m contest for three-year-old Purebred Arabians that drew 12 runners. The chestnut colt, drawn widest of all, produced a polished display under Marco Casamento to win by half a length for owner Nasser Saif Al-Kubaisi and trainer Mohammed Al Ghazali, who completed a double on the day, having kicked off the proceedings by saddling the winner of the day’s opener.
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Racing from barrier 12, Alzabyr was positioned in mid-division through the early stages while Al Molheb Zakhir (Meghwaar) and Al Ghashem (Meghwaar) vied for the lead, closely followed by Hay’er Al Shahania (Harran) and Guindol Dei Ribo (Dahess). Around the home turn, Alzabyr began to make his move, gliding into third before launching a determined challenge in the straight. Unleashed by Casamento in the final 200m, he swept past his rivals with a powerful late surge to take command and win convincingly. Mister Linsou (No Risk Al Maury), trained and owned by Hamad Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani under Arnaud De Lepine, finished second while Alsakib (Mister Ginoux) ran on well for Al Wasmiyah Farm and the same winning trainer under Connor Beasley to secure third, a further length behind.
Make Love breaks maiden with polished performance
Make Love (Make Believe x Lovee Dovee) opened her 2025/26 campaign in style, claiming the Thoroughbred Rated Maiden Plate for 3–7YOs over 2000m, a Class 6 contest that featured 10 runners. The 3YO bay filly, drawn in barrier 9, built on the promise she showed at the end of last season, when she recorded two consecutive runner-up finishes, to secure a well-deserved first career win. Representing Sharida bin Nasser bin Sharida Al-Kaabi and trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali, she was ridden confidently by Soufiane Saadi to score by 2¼ lengths.
Settled in fourth through the early stages, Make Love tracked the pacesetter Allegorical (Study Of Man), who dictated the tempo for much of the race, with Aljalta (Toronado) close behind in second. Approaching the 600m mark, Princess Alice (U S Navy Flag) improved to press the leader while Make Love continued to bide her time just behind them. In the home straight, Saadi urged her forward and she responded with a decisive turn of foot, surging to the front in the final 100m before stretching clear for a comfortable victory. Allegorical, owned and trained by Ali Mohammed Al Saaq Al Marri and ridden by Alberto Sanna, finished second while Princess Alice, representing Mohammed Hamad Al-Jehani and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani under Szczepan Mazur, took third a further 1¼ lengths behind.
Flame Fair ignites thrilling finish to land maiden win
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Flame Fair (Toronado x Miss Starlight) opened his account in dramatic fashion in the second race of the day, the Thoroughbred Rated Maiden Plate for 3YOs over 1600m, a Class 6 contest with 10 runners. Breaking from the widest draw, the bay gelding struck on his first start of the season and fifth career outing, scoring by a short head for Eng. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and trainer Debbie Mountain, with Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik in the saddle.
Flame Fair was held up towards the rear for much of the race while Combat Soldier (Soldier’s Call) set the pace, closely followed by The Horse Horse (Invincible Spirit) until the 800m mark, when Corpus Juris (Masar) moved up from third to take command and looked a potential winner entering the home straight. However, the final 200m brought intense drama as Flame Fair and Deira Storm (Blue Point), representing Yousuf Bakhit Al-Kuwari and trained by Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki under jockey Tomas Lukasek, came like a “flame” and “storm” from the back, engaging in a fierce duel to the line was decided by a veru narrow margin in Flame Fair’s favour. Future Man (Candy Ride), racing for Sharq Stud under trainer Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan Al-Sulaiti and jockey Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi, also finished strongly to claim third, only half a length further behind the front pair.
Dapper Charm continues fine form with thrilling victory
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Dapper Charm (Dandy Man x Positive Mentality) showcased his class and consistency with a stylish success in the third race of the day, the Thoroughbred Novice Plate for two-year-olds over 1400m, a Class 5 contest that drew seven runners. Breaking from the widest draw, the bay colt produced a dazzling Qatar debut, recording his second win alongside three runner-up finishes from just five starts so far. Owned by Saif Jassem Alsulaiti, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani, and partnered by Faleh Bughenaim, he prevailed by a quarter of a length in an exciting finish.
After breaking cleanly from the widest gate, Dapper Charm settled in fifth, but stayed within striking distance of the leaders, with Lzaz Al Wasmiyah (New Bay), Ehteraaz (War Front), and Menhaf (Saxon Warrior) disputing the pace through the early and middle stages. Silca Blue (Space Blues), representing Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Rashid Al-Thani and trained by Gassim Al Ghazali under Marco Casamento, improved around the home turn to take the lead, with Menhaf close behind. Just as the pair looked set to fight it out, Dapper Charm burst from the outside with a powerful late surge, sweeping past Silca Blue in the final 100m to clinch victory. Affran (Wootton Bassett), representing Al Wasmiyah Farm under Georges Mikhalides and ridden by Arnaud De Lepine, also finished strongly to take third, two and a quarter lengths behind.
Sealine dazzles with commanding victory
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Sealine (Ten Sovereigns x Playamongthestars) produced a dazzling display in the Local Thoroughbred Graduation Plate for three-year-olds over 1600m, a Class 4 contest that featured a small three-runner field. Breaking from barrier 3, the bay gelding built on his runner-up effort earlier this season to record his second career victory on his sixth start. The Al Jeryan Stud-owned runner, trained by M.H.K. Al Attiyah and partnered by Szczepan Mazur, dominated proceedings to win by a resounding 12 lengths.
From the outset, Sealine took control and dictated the pace, closely followed by his stablemate Al Shamal Road (Churchill), with Holwah (Recoletos) improving into second through the middle stages. However, once in the home straight, Sealine shifted gears effortlessly and drew clear with every stride to secure a devastatingly easy win. Al Shamal Road, also representing Al Jeryan Stud and M.H.K. Al Attiyah under Tomas Lukasek, completed a one-two for the connections while Holwah, trained by Zuhair Mohsen for Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, finished third a further four and a quarter lengths behind.
Kawaii D’Vialettes returns to winning form
Kawaii D’Vialettes (AF AlBahar x Athena Des Vialettes) made a perfect seasonal debut in the Purebred Arabian Handicap (65–85) for three-year-olds and older over 1200m, a Class 4 sprint that drew 12 runners. The five-year-old bay mare, breaking from the inside barrier, returned to winning ways with a determined display for owner Mubarak Ali Al-Nuaimi, trainer Ahmed Al Jehani and jockey Alberto Sanna, who guided her to a narrow quarter-length victory.
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After breaking sharply from the inside gate, Kawaii D’Vialettes was eased back to sit just behind the early leaders. Tayyar Al Shahania (Jaafer ASF) set the initial pace before the eventual winner began to improve steadily through the middle stages, moving into third and then taking command around the home bend. Belgaro (AF AlBahar), representing Ali Saeed Ali Al Naimi and trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali under Arnaud De Lepine, came with a late surge in the closing stages, but Kawaii D’Vialettes held on gamely to secure the win. AJS Najma (AF AlBahar), for Al Jeryan Stud and trainer M.H.K. Al Attiyah under Szczepan Mazur, finished strongly to claim third, a further length and a quarter behind.
Weissmuller extends winning record with dominant run
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Weissmuller (Bungleinthejungle x Blushing Gal) kicked off his new season in fine fashion, adding a third win to his tally with a commanding performance in the Thoroughbred Handicap (75–95) for three-year-olds and older over 1200m, a Class 3 sprint that drew 12 runners. The three-year-old bay gelding, breaking from barrier 4, led from start to finish for owner Yousef Ali Al Rumaihi. Trained by Hamad Al-Jehan, who completed a double on the day, and ridden by Alberto Sanna, who also notched a quick-fire double, Weissmuller crossed the line a length and a quarter clear of his nearest rival.
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After breaking sharply, Weissmuller immediately took control and dictated the pace, fending off early pressure from Mr Saturday (Blue Point). Around the home turn, Return To Senders (Sir Prancealot) moved up to challenge, but the leader responded strongly in the early straight and kicked clear to seal the win decisively. De Bruyne (Dutch Art), representing Abdulrahman Fahad Al-Attiyah and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani under Arnaud De Lepine, finished second, giving the winning trainer a one-two result. Return To Senders, for Al Eida Racing and trainer Gassim Al Ghazali under Marco Casamento, claimed third after a tight tussle, with only a head, a nose, and a neck separating him from the next three finishers.
Alwaad back in business with strong seasonal return
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Alwaad (Trade Storm x Farendole) marked his seasonal debut with a commanding victory in the penultimate race of the card, the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (50–70) for three-year-olds and older over 1200m, a Class 3 contest that featured 10 runners. The six-year-old bay gelding, representing Al Emadi Racing and trained by Khalifa Hamed Nasser Al Sawai, showed that he still has plenty to offer at six as he dominated from the outset under jockey Damien Morin, winning comfortably by a length and a half.
Breaking smartly from a favourable draw, Alwaad immediately took control and dictated the pace from the start. Irtiqaa (Kendargent), the nine-year-old mare owned by H.E. Meshaal bin Ali Al-Attiyah and trained by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed under Soufiane Saadi, chased the leader gamely throughout, showing admirable determination. However, in the final 200m, Lulwat Al Faisal (Al Wukair) produced a sharp late burst to move through the field, grabbing second to complete an impressive one-two for Al Emadi Racing and trainer Khalifa Hamed Nasser Al Sawai under Faleh Bughenaim, with Irtiqaa finishing a further length behind in third.
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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.
