Anika completes hat-trick to headline Al Jumail Cup meeting
Doha – Mdmar – Mohamed Saad
Photos by Juhim
The Al Jumail Race Meeting was held at Al Rayyan Racecourse on turf on Tuesday, 17 March and featured an eight-race programme marked by a mix of dominant performances and competitive finishes across the card. Across the eight races, the winners in order were Fuwairit finishing strongly to break her maiden, Hardan striking late to return to winning ways, Mamoun De Bozouls breaking his duck with a staying performance, Waajidd surging clear to regain winning form, Liable making all in emphatic style, Albatar asserting late to score on his Qatar debut, Aljalta snatching victory in the closing stages and Anika extending her winning streak to land the feature Al Jumail Cup.
Mr Saad Ali Al Kubaisi, Deputy Director of the QREC Registration & Studbook Department, presented the Al Jumail Cup following the final and feature race on the card.
Anika extends winning streak in dominant fashion
Anika (Al Mamun Monlau x Firdous) took Race 8, the Al Jumail Cup, a Local Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate over 1400m (Class 4) for fillies and mares aged 4yo+ with nine runners going to post. The 4-year-old grey filly, carrying the colours of Wathnan Racing, trained by Alban de Mieulle and partnered by Megane Peslier, extended her winning run with a third successive victory on just her fifth career start, enhancing an impressive strike rate with a commanding three-length success while providing her rider with a double on the card.
Racing prominently throughout, Anika settled in second behind RM Wadha (Mared Al Sahra), who dictated the pace, with Bariq Almass (Gazwan) and Ghada (No Risk Al Maury) tracking just behind. Approaching the home turn, Noorah Al Hadi (AF AlBahar) improved to join the leading group, but the first two at the head of affairs remained unchanged. On straightening for home, RM Wadha continued to lead from Anika, with Ghada and Noorah Al Hadi in close attendance as the race developed into a competitive contest with several still in contention. However, inside the final 200m Anika asserted decisively, producing a strong finishing effort to pull clear and put the result beyond doubt, drawing away to seal a convincing victory. RM Wadha, representing Mohammed Rashid Abdullah Al Naimi and trained by Hadi Al Ramzani, stayed on under Soufiane Saadi to take second, with Noorah Al Hadi, also from the Hadi Al Ramzani yard and ridden by Marco Casamento, finishing a further seven and a half lengths behind in third; a margin that underlined the commanding nature of the winner’s performance and the clear superiority she held over her rivals.
Fuwairit finishes strongly to break maiden
Fuwairit (Time Test x Amber Heights) took the opener, the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate over 1200m (Class 6) for 3–7yos, contested by 14 runners. The 4-year-old bay filly, racing in the colours of Nasser Essa Al-Kuwari, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and ridden by Mohammed Moussa, got off the mark on her fifth career start in her first season, having finished placed on her two most recent outings, producing a strong late effort to score by a length from a wide draw in barrier 11.
Settled just behind midfield from the outside stall, Fuwairit tracked the pace as Barqeyya (Vedevani) set a strong early gallop, closely followed by Black Diamond (Ponfeigh), with the pair exchanging the lead through the middle stages. Ayash (Danadana) and Rumooz (Danadana) sat just behind the leading duo as the order remained tightly formed. Approaching the final bend, Black Diamond moved on to take control and straightened up in front while Barqeyya began to weaken passing the 200m. Ayash then struck the front, setting up what looked a likely duel, but Black Diamond also faded after the early exertions. Fuwairit, still travelling strongly, produced a decisive surge inside the final 200m to join Ayash, with the pair drawing clear of the remainder. She proved the stronger in the closing stages, asserting in the final 100m to secure victory. Ayash, representing Al Wasmiyah Farm and prepared by Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, stayed on under Arnaud de Lepine to take second, finishing three lengths clear of Rumooz, who kept on for Alghazali Motors Racing, trainer Mohammed Al Ghazali and jockey Soufiane Saadi.
Hardan strikes late to regain winning form
Hardan (Assy x Baldora De Brugere) landed Race 2, the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0–65) over 1400m (Class 6) for 4yo+, drawing a competitive field of 15. The 8-year-old grey horse, carrying the colours of Maryam Abdulrahman Al-Jaber, under the care of Hadi Al Ramzani and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, bounced back to winning ways swiftly after a recent placed effort, recording his third success of the season by 1¼ lengths from barrier 7.
Breaking on terms, Hardan settled prominently and travelled in third and fourth through the early stages, tracking the leaders as Maraweeh Al Sahaab (AF AlBahar) initially went forward before Rabee’ Al Shahania (Asraa Min Albarq) soon took over and set the pace through the middle part of the race. On straightening for home, Taimoor (Nizam), who had been stalking the leaders, produced a strong challenge to take command and briefly looked the likely winner inside the final 200m. Hardan, however, had been held up for his effort and began to close with purpose. Inside the final 100m he produced a stronger surge, drawing alongside the leader before asserting and going on to secure a decisive victory. As Taimoor weakened, Thahan (AF AlBahar), representing Al Ezz Stud and trained by Saeed Al Shafi, stayed on under Louis Nomis to take second by the narrowest of margins, just a nose ahead of Metrash (Pharfadet), who finished strongly from the rear for Al Anood Stud, trainer Alanoud Khalifa Al-Malki and jockey Mohammed Moussa.
Mamoun De Bozouls stays on strongly to open his account
Mamoun De Bozouls (Al Mamun Monlau x Mounira) took Race 3, the Purebred Arabian Handicap (45–65) over 2200m (Class 6) for 4yo+, with a full field of 16 runners. The 4-year-old bay gelding, carrying the colours of Al Hajaj Farm, handled by Hamad Al-Jehani and partnered by Megane Peslier, broke his duck on his seventh career start, his fourth in Qatar, having finished third on his two most recent outings, staying on powerfully to score by three lengths and complete a double on the card for his trainer.
Breaking well, Mamoun De Bozouls settled just off the pace tracking Hidalgo Du Croate (Al Mamun Monlau), who set the early tempo ahead of Aktolgali (Al Mourtajez). Midway through the race he improved into second behind the long-time leader, with Jabal Tariq (Almas), Aktolgali and Dahman Al Shahania (Jaafer) following as the order remained largely unchanged. Approaching the home turn, Bin La Hoor (La Hoor) and Farraj (Al Mourtajez), both held up towards the rear for much of the journey, produced strong forward moves to join the leading group as the race began to take shape. In the home straight, Mamoun De Bozouls pressed on to take control passing the 200m marker, with Bin La Hoor and Farraj improving into second and third respectively. However, neither could pose a serious threat as the leader found extra, stretching clear in the closing stages to register a comfortable success. Bin La Hoor, representing Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi and trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi, stayed on under Szczepan Mazur to take second, finishing three and a half lengths ahead of Farraj, who kept on for Mubarak Ali Al-Nuaimi, trainer Ahmed Al Jehani and jockey Saleh Salem Al-Marri.
Waajidd surges late to regain winning thread
Waajidd (Dark Angel x Rekdhat) won Race 4, the Thoroughbred Handicap (55–75) over 1400m (Class 5) for 3yo+, with a full field of 16 runners. The 4-year-old bay gelding, carrying the colours of Khalid bin Ghanem Al-Kuwari, under the care of Zuhair Mohsen and partnered by Soufiane Saadi, regained the winning thread on his ninth career start, and in his first season, recording his third victory and his first on turf, scoring by 1½ lengths while completing a double on the evening for his rider from a wide draw in barrier 14.
Breaking well from the outside stall, Waajidd settled in fifth through the early and middle stages, poised just behind the leaders as Ripple Effect (Kameko) dictated the tempo, briefly challenged on a couple of occasions by Bunglejungleparty (Bungle Inthejungle). The order at the head of affairs remained largely unchanged as the field approached the final turn. Improving steadily, Waajidd moved into third approaching the bend and, on entering the straight, quickly advanced into second. Travelling strongly, he ranged up alongside the long-time leader passing the 200m marker. From there he asserted smoothly, pulling clear with a sustained run to secure a decisive success. Al Mehrab (Zarak), representing Al Fadala Racing and trained by Ali Yousuf Al-Kubaisi, finished strongly from the rear under Mohammed Moussa to take second, three lengths ahead of Court Poet (Dubawi), who also came from off the pace for Abdulrahman Batal Al-Otibi, trainer Nayef Batal Al-Otibi and jockey Salman Fahad Al-Hajri to complete the placings.
Liable makes all in emphatic staying display
Liable (Frankel x Responsible) took Race 5, the Thoroughbred Handicap (0–70) over 2200m (Class 5) for 4yo+, reserved for Qatari and apprentice riders, with 13 runners going to post. The 6-year-old bay gelding, representing Mohammed Abdulhadi Al-Hajri, trained by Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, delivered an impressive performance to bounce back from his previous four outings, recording his second success of the season with a commanding two-length victory from the widest draw in barrier 13.
Breaking sharply from the outside stall, Liable immediately went forward to take control and quickly opened up a clear advantage, setting a strong and sustained gallop. Cambria Legend (Camelot) and Overrule (New Bay) led the chasing group, but none of the pursuers looked capable of mounting a serious challenge as the leader travelled comfortably in front. Despite the searching pace over the extended 2200m trip, Liable continued to strengthen with every stride, maintaining his advantage into the final bend. Lord Deputy (Dubawi), who had been held up towards the rear for much of the race, began to close in travelling strongly and emerged as the main threat entering the straight. However, the leader never looked in danger. Maintaining his rhythm, Liable kept finding more under pressure and sustained his effort all the way to the line to complete an authoritative pillar-to-post success. Lord Deputy, racing for Al Ghazali Stud and handled by Gassim Al Ghazali, stayed on under Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri to take second, finishing three lengths clear of Cambria Legend, who kept on for Yousuf Bakhit Al-Kuwari, trained by Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and ridden by Saleh Salem Al-Marri.
Albatar asserts late to make winning Qatar debut
Albatar (AF AlBahar x Mowhoubat Al Zaidy) landed Race 6, the Purebred Arabian Handicap (65–85) over 1200m (Class 4) for 4yo+, in a field of seven runners. The 5-year-old bay horse, racing in the colours of Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani, under the care of Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and ridden by Saleh Salem Al-Marri, made a successful Qatar debut, recording his second career victory on his seventh start with a determined performance to score by 1¼ lengths and provide his trainer with a quick-fire double.
Breaking on terms from barrier 4, Albatar settled just off the pace, tracking the early leaders Lwich De Bozouls (No Risk Al Maury) and Jalila Alghania (Al Mamun Monlau) as the race developed through the opening stages. Lwich De Bozouls soon established control and dictated the tempo, with Albatar travelling comfortably in behind, always within striking distance. The order at the head of affairs remained steady through the middle stages, with the leader setting a measured gallop and the chasing pack held together. Albatar continued to travel smoothly, conserving energy as the field prepared to turn for home. On entering the straight, Albatar began to close in on the long-time leader, gradually reducing the margin. Inside the final 150m, he quickened decisively, drawing alongside Lwich De Bozouls before asserting to take the lead and move clear. From there he maintained his advantage to the line, keeping his rival at bay to seal a well-earned success. Lwich De Bozouls, representing Al Fadala Racing and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani, stayed on under Szczepan Mazur to take second, just a nose ahead of Al Jori (Al Mamun Monlau), who finished strongly from off the pace for Mohammed Shaheen Al-Kuwari, also trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and ridden by Alberto Sanna to complete the placings.
Aljalta snatches victory late after strong staying effort
Aljalta (Toronado x Al Madina) won Race 7, the Thoroughbred Handicap (75–95) over 2200m (Class 3) for 4yo+, where eight runners went to post. The 4-year-old bay colt, carrying the colours of Khalid Rashid Al-Mohannadi, trained by Rashid Al Jehani and ridden by Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, returned to winning form from the widest draw to record the second success of his career, getting up late to score by a length.
Breaking from the outside stall, Aljalta settled in third behind Neat And Dandy (Dandy Man) as Evergreen (Night Of Thunder) quickly assumed control and set a strong and searching gallop from the outset. The leader soon established a clear advantage, opening up a significant margin over the remainder of the field, who were content to follow at a steadier tempo. Approaching the home turn, Aljalta began to improve into second, with Kovanof (Dubawi) also advancing from the rear to move into third. Despite those moves, Evergreen still held a commanding lead as the field straightened up, appearing well in control. Inside the final 200m, the long-time leader continued to press on and looked set to complete a pillar-to-post success. However, Aljalta had more to give, and inside the final 100m he dug deep to close rapidly, reeling in Evergreen in the final 50m before asserting to secure victory in determined fashion. Evergreen, representing Rashid Awajan K A Al-Khayarin and prepared by Hamad Al-Jehani, stayed on under Szczepan Mazur to take second, a length ahead of Kovanof, who kept on for Wathnan Racing, trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Soufiane Saadi to finish third.
