Dirt specialists shine in Division One of Al Bayt Cup Meeting
Mdmar – Doha – Mohamed Saad
Photo Juhaim
Division One of the Al Bayt Cup Meeting took place on Tuesday, 29th April, with a five-race card staged on the dirt at Al Rayyan Racecourse. The meeting delivered a compelling mix of commanding performances and last-gasp finishes. Sardem capped the evening with a pillar-to-post victory. Aaneef Zakhir produced a photo-finish thriller. Cloak And Dagger returned to winning ways with authority. Sultanat impressed on his local debut. Saida opened the afternoon with a dazzling five-length triumph.
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Saida dazzles with commanding win in day’s opener
Saida (Migwar x Rahibah) lit up the start of the afternoon with a striking performance in the opening race of the day, the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for 3-6YOs over 1200m on dirt. The 4YO lightly-raced filly, representing the Time Form Syndicate and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani, was brilliantly piloted by Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi to register a five-length victory in just her second career start, announcing herself as a serious prospect on both turf and dirt, having finished fourth on dirt on debut.
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The eight-runner Class 6 contest began with Tawadood (Noor Al Hawa) quickest into stride before Nice Heart (Capitan Jack) surged forward to take control, with Nawasi (Time Test) and Saryah Almeydan (Dubday) close behind. Al Shalfa SK (Havana Gold) also moved into contention, but Nice Heart remained the one to catch turning for home, opening up a lead that looked decisive inside the final 300m. However, Saida, who had been patiently ridden off the pace, was switched out and produced a stunning burst of speed inside the final 200m. She swept past the field with ease to win going away, putting daylight between herself and the rest. Inbihar (Footstepsinthesand) took second, just a nose ahead of the long-time leader Nice Heart.
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Sultanat digs deep to make winning Qatar debut
Sultanat (Dahess x Sablia) made an immediate impact on his first outing in Qatar, landing the second race on the card, a Purebred Arabian Handicap for 4YO+ over 1200m. The 6YO horse, owned and trained by Salem Fadgam Al Hajri and ridden by Shakir Al Balushi, showed grit and determination to win the Class 5 contest by a head in a thrilling finish.
In the eight-runner field, Hardan (Assy) jumped well to set the early pace, tracked by Taaghi (Al Mourtajez) and Belgaro (AF AlBahar), with Sultanat racing handily just off the leading trio. As they approached the home bend, Sultanat made his move to take over at the front, but the race was far from over. Hardan fought back along the rail while Angus (General) launched a strong run from the outside and Hazm Al Sulaimi (T M Fred Texas) began weaving through rivals in search of clear running room. In a tightly packed home straight, Hardan briefly regained the lead, only for Sultanat to dig deep once more and surge through the middle to reclaim the advantage in the dying strides. He crossed the line narrowly in front of Hazm Al Sulaimi, who ran a stormer to grab second, with Hardan battling on bravely for third, three quarters of a length further back.
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Cloak And Dagger storms home late to return to winning form
Cloak And Dagger (Lope De Vega x Redoutable) returned to the winner’s enclosure in style, claiming the third race of the evening — a Class 5 Thoroughbred Handicap for 3YO+ over 1200m. Representing Al Ghazali Stud and trained by Nasser Ghazali, the seasoned runner was given a perfectly judged ride by Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi, who completed a double on the card with this victory.
In the 12-runner field, it was Far Shot (Kodiac) who set the early tempo, breaking sharply to lead the charge. Boss Dog (Zoustar), Espirito (Charm Spirit), Silencer (Kessaar), Villain’s Voice (Poet’s Voice), and Cloak And Dagger gave chase in a well-bunched pack.
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As the field turned for home, Far Shot still had his head in front, with Silencer making a bold move from the inside and Boss Dog beginning to fade. Cloak And Dagger, always within striking distance, loomed large as Al-Otaibi asked for more. The response was instant as he surged forward with authority, swept past the battling leaders and crossed the line a length and three quarters ahead. While the long-time leader Far Shot could not match the winner in the concluding stages, he stayed on well for second, finishing just a neck ahead of Noble Patron (Shamardal) who closed strongly in the final strides to snatch third.
Aaneef Zakhir wins thrilling penultimate race in a photo finish
The penultimate race in the card, a Class 6 Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4-6YOs over 1900m, witnessed one of the most dramatic finishes of the evening as Aaneef Zakhir (Djendel x Gharnata) overcame a tough field of 14 runners to open his account at the fourth career attempt and only second this season. The 5YO lightly-raced horse, owned and trained by Osama Omer E Al-Dafea and ridden by Jefferson Smith, displayed tremendous resolve to get up right on the line and win by a nose.
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Shamshon ANR (Arkan Al Naif) was quickest from the barriers, taking the early lead from gate 12, with Al Qaws (Dahess) and Ushaiqer ANR (TM Fred Texas), who broke from the widest barrier, close behind while Aaneef Zakhir settled just off the pace. Nearing the third bend, Ushaiqer ANR surged to the front, with Aaneef Zakhir moving smoothly into second, keeping close tabs as Al Qaws remained in contention. Balbalat Al Shahania (Assy) was improving steadily on the outside and struck the front as the field entered the home straight. Aaneef Zakhir followed closely while Al Qaws and Al Marjalah (Assy), both running in the bright orange silks of Injaaz Stud, fought bravely behind. Al Qaws then produced what looked like a race-winning move, pulling clear in the final 100m. But Aaneef Zakhir, refusing to concede, unleashed a blistering late burst to reel him in at the death, snatching victory by the smallest of margins in a finish that required the judge’s confirmation. Al Marjalah stayed on to take third though not that close from the winner and the runner-up as he was further three lengths behind.
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Sardem defies wide draw to dominate the finale
The final race in the card, a Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap (65-90) for 3YO+ over 1200m, featured a bold front-running display by Sardem (Siyouni x Sarkiyla), who overcame the widest draw in a 13-runner field to land a deserved victory. The 5YO gelding, owned by Al Azraq Stable and trained by Bader Al Balushi, built on his runner-up finish last time out to go one better under a confident ride from Maikon De Souza.
Breaking smartly from gate 13 — a wide draw that had concerned his trainer, as he admitted after the race — Sardem quickly pushed forward to take command and dictate the tempo. He was initially pressed by Lowton (Pivotal), then by Nano Toro (Toronado), who stayed close to him all the way into the home straight. But once straightened up, Sardem responded willingly to his regular jockey’s urgings and powered clear to seal the win by a length and a quarter. The closing stages staged a fierce duel for the minor honours as Millions (Pivotal) and Meraj (Army Mule) made strong late bids, with Millions securing second place by only a neck in a tight finish for the minors.
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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.
