Ghanem headlines Rodat Al Maida Cup Day with decisive success
Mdmar – Doha – MohamedSaad
Photo – Juhaim
Al Rayyan Racecourse staged Rodat Al Maida Cup Day on Wednesday, 15 April, with an eight-race card on dirt, highlighted by the Rodat Al Maida Cup, which was awarded by Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of the QREC Racing Operations Section.
Al Yateema opened the card with a commanding display, Ghazah followed up with an authoritative maiden success and Delirious Dream made it back-to-back wins with a determined effort. Al Maqam swooped late to land a competitive contest, Navarzato confirmed his promise with a dominant performance and Jungle Monarch maintained his unbeaten record with a resolute finish. Midnight City returned to winning ways in commanding style before Ghanem sealed back-to-back victories to claim the feature.
Ghanem seals back-to-back Cup success
Ghanem (Tabarak x Bahjah) landed the Rodat Al Maida Cup, a Purebred Arabian Handicap (85–105) over 1700m (Class 2) for five-year-olds and upwards, in a six-runner contest, pulling clear by 2 lengths. The six-year-old bay horse, representing Al Eida Racing, is trained by Gassim Al Ghazali and was partnered by Marco Casamento, who completed a treble while his trainer notched a second winner on the day. Ghanem followed up his previous success with another authoritative performance, adding another Cup success.
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Ghanem was settled off the early pace as Al Khbaib (Al Mamun Monlau) dictated matters from the outset, with Jenkille Hipolyte (Al Mamun Monlau) and Alnood (Mared Al Sahra) close behind, the field remaining tightly grouped through the early and middle stages with little to separate the runners and all chances still alive. Swinging into the home straight, the race began to take shape as the leading contenders moved into contention, with Ghanem travelling strongly just behind the front line. Once asked for an effort inside the final 300m, he produced a telling change of gear, sweeping past his rivals and quickly asserting to put the outcome beyond doubt, stretching clear in decisive fashion. Za’eer Al Shahania (Burning Sand), owned and trained by Osama Omer Al-Dafea and ridden by Alberto Sanna, stayed on well to take second, 2¼ lengths clear of the Al Ghazali Stud-owned Sha’alan (Amer), who kept on for Mohammed Al Ghazali under Soufiane Saadi to take third, both unable to match the winner’s finishing burst.
Al Yateema powers clear in emphatic fashion
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Al Yateema (Dandy Man x Bluebell Park) landed the opening race, a Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0–45) over 1900m (Class 6) for three-year-olds and upwards, with 10 runners, producing a dominant display to score by an emphatic 7½ lengths. The eight-year-old bay mare, drawn in barrier 3 and carrying the colours of Nasser Saif Al Kubaisi, is trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali and was ridden by Marco Casamento. She delivered her best performance of the season to open her account for the campaign and register a fourth career success in striking style, putting the race firmly to bed with a decisive and widening margin.
Al Yateema broke well and was settled in midfield through the early and middle stages, travelling comfortably. Barkt Al Majd (Honest Prospector) set the pace, with Al Theeba (Zoffany) and Bon Nuit (Ponfeigh) among those tracking the leader. Jabahat (Holy Roman Emperor) improved into second around the first bend while Al Yateema gradually edged closer to the leading group, moving into fourth as the order at the head of affairs remained largely unchanged. Swinging into the home straight, Al Yateema produced a powerful move, surging forward as if starting a race of her own to sweep past the long-time leader and take control. She quickly established a clear advantage and, inside the final 200m, stretched further away, putting daylight between herself and the field with every stride to seal an authoritative success. While unable to match the winner’s sweeping move, Jabahat, representing Injaaz Stud and from the Jihad El Ahmad yard, with Alberto Sanna in the saddle, held on well to take second comfortably, 3½ lengths clear of the Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi-trained Abr Al Bahr, who stayed on strongly from midfield for Fahad Salem Al-Hajri under Salman Fahad Al-Hajri to complete the frame.
Ghazah storms clear to open her account
Ghazah (Ruler of the World x Al Marrouna) landed the second race, a Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate over 1200m (Class 6) for three- to seven-year-olds, with 10 runners in the field, producing a commanding performance to score by 7 lengths. The five-year-old chestnut mare, representing Mrs Sabhea Awad Ibrahim, from the Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed yard and with Alberto Sanna in the saddle, opened her account on her fourth career start after a recent runner-up effort, suggesting she had benefitted from experience in her earlier outings. She looks a lightly raced mare to follow on this evidence.
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Despite a wide draw (barrier 9), Ghazah broke well to settle just behind the early leader Bint Heshem (Heshem), with Bin Narain (Vedevani) close up in third, the trio establishing a clear order through the early and middle stages. Rounding the home turn, Ghazah was angled forward with purpose and quickly took control before the field fully straightened. From there, she began to draw away with increasing authority, lengthening her stride and putting the race beyond doubt, her advantage growing markedly with every stride in the final 300m to underline the strength of her performance. Bint Heshem (Heshem), in the colours of Ali Hamad Al-Atteya and from the Jassim Hamad Al-Atteya yard, with Arnaud de Lepine aboard, held her position well to take second, 2 lengths clear of Bin Narain (Vedevani), who stayed on at the same pace for Injaaz Stud, under the care of Jihad El Ahmad and partnered by Salman Fahad Al-Hajri to fill third.
Delirious Dream makes it back-to-back with determined effort
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Delirious Dream (Oasis Dream x Papaver) landed the third race, a Thoroughbred Handicap (45–65) over 1700m (Class 6) for three-year-olds and upwards, in a line-up of 14, holding on by a length. The six-year-old bay gelding, carrying the colours of Nasser Owaida Salem Al Hajri, is trained by Owaida Salem Al Hajri and had Faleh Bughenaim in the saddle, recording a second consecutive success and continuing his consistent run of form, with figures of 1-1-2 from his most recent three starts.
Breaking sharply from barrier 9, Delirious Dream went forward to dispute the lead before being steadied into second behind Sheikha SBS (War Of Will), who dictated the pace through the early and middle stages. Bereit (More Than Ready) tracked the leading pair, with Little Heron (Showcasing) close up just behind, as the order at the head of affairs remained unchanged passing both the first and second bends. At the top of the straight, the leading trio were still in the same order, but Delirious Dream soon came under pressure and responded generously, moving alongside the leader and edging ahead approaching the 200m marker. He dug in well to fend off a strong late challenge from Little Heron, who made rapid headway down the outside, but could not quite get on terms. Little Heron, in the colours of Al Ghazali Stud and from the Gassim Al Ghazali yard, with Marco Casamento aboard, finished strongly to take second, a length clear of the Saleh Saed Al-Hajri-owned Sheikha SBS, trained by Nayef Batal Al-Otibi and ridden by Szczepan Mazur, who faded late after setting the pace throughout.
Al Maqam swoops late to deny rivals
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Al Maqam (No Risk Al Maury x Marj Eyoun) landed the fourth race, a Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (55–75) over 1900m (Class 5) for four-year-olds and upwards, which drew a field of 14, getting up by ½ length. The six-year-old dark bay gelding, racing for Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, is trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and had Faleh Bughenaim in the saddle, bounced back swiftly from a recent third to record a second win from six starts this season and provide his rider with a quick-fire double.
Al Maqam was settled towards the rear after the break, as AJS Haizum (AF AlBahar) set the pace through the early and middle stages, followed by Burkan Zakhir (La Hoor), Fathi (Tabarak) and Al Qaws (Dahess). The order remained largely unchanged as they approached the final bend. There, Burkan Zakhir moved forward to take over, with Al Qaws and AJS Haizum close up, as both exchanged positions as the race began to develop. At the top of the straight, the leading trio were almost abreast and it appeared the winner would come from among them. However, Al Maqam, who had been improving steadily, delivered a strong run down the outside inside the final 200m, closing rapidly on the leaders before sweeping past in the closing strides to snatch victory inside the final 50m. Al Fareq (Al Mamun Monlau), also representing Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and from the Hamad Al-Jehani yard, with Pierre Charles Boudot aboard, came off the pace and finished well to take second, completing a one-two for owner and trainer, 1½ lengths clear of the Hamad Ramzan Al-Naimi-owned AJS Haizum, who stayed on for trainer Hadi Al Ramzani under Mohammed Moussa to take third.
Navarzato stamps authority with dominant display
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Navarzato (Majd Al Arab x Zlatana) landed the fifth race, a Purebred Arabian Handicap (55–75) over 1700m (Class 5) for four-year-olds and upwards, in a 14-runner contest, surging clear by 5 lengths. The four-year-old grey colt, representing Al Ghazali Stud, is trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali and was ridden by Soufiane Saadi, continuing his rapid rise with a second victory from just three career starts, confirming his versatility across surfaces and distances and doing so in far more commanding fashion than on his debut success.
Navarzato was settled in midfield through the early stages as Billythekid Pompadour (Al Mamun Monlau) took up the running, initially tracked by King Albahar (AF AlBahar) before Taaghi (Al Mourtajez) moved into second through the middle part of the race, with Yaqoob (Al Mourtajez) and Navarzato following in behind. Gradually improving his position, Navarzato moved into third approaching the straight, just behind the long-time leader and Taaghi. Approaching the final 300m, Navarzato quickened smartly, showing a decisive change of gear to move past his rivals and take control. From there, he drew steadily further clear, stretching his advantage with each stride to seal a convincing success. Farhan (Al Mourtajez), racing for Abdulrahman Fahad Al-Attiyah and trained by Hossin Ashour, with Lukas Delozier aboard, stayed on strongly from the rear to take second. Though unable to match the winner in the concluding stages, he finished well clear of the remainder, 6½ lengths ahead of the Sharq Stud-owned Billythekid Pompadour, trained by Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan Al-Sulaiti and ridden by Alberto Sanna, who faded late after setting the pace and proved no match for either the winner or the runner-up.
Jungle Monarch digs deep to preserve perfect record
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Jungle Monarch (Bungle Inthejungle x Lady Spangles) landed Division 1 of the Class 4 Thoroughbred Handicap (65–85) over 1200m for three-year-olds and upwards, in a field of 13 runners, getting up by a neck. The three-year-old bay gelding, owned by HE Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, is trained by Gassim Al Ghazali and was ridden by Marco Casamento, who completed a double on the evening. Jungle Monarch maintained his unbeaten record in Qatar with a fourth consecutive success this season, having already proven his versatility across surfaces and distances. This time, he showed notable determination to prevail in a tight finish rather than the comfortable margins of his previous victories.
Jungle Monarch broke sharply to take up the running and soon became engaged in a sustained duel with Walnut (Rumble Inthejungle). The pair exchanged the lead through the early and middle stages, with Keel Bay (Starspangledbanner) and Future Man (Candy Ride) close up in pursuit. The tempo remained strong as the leaders continued to dispute matters, with little separating them approaching the home turn. At the top of the straight, Walnut briefly regained the advantage, but the initiative quickly shifted as Future Man surged forward to strike the front and open up a clear lead, looking set to go on and score. However, Jungle Monarch refused to yield, rallying strongly in the closing strides and gradually reeling in the leader before getting up right on the line to snatch victory in determined fashion. Future Man, representing Sharq Stud and from the Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan Al-Sulaiti yard, with Lukas Delozier aboard, was beaten only a neck after appearing likely to win in the closing stages, finishing 1½ lengths clear of the nearest rival behind. The Mohammed Hamad Al-Hajri & Sons-owned The Dunkirk Lads, trained by Hadi Al Ramzani and ridden by Salman Fahad Al-Hajri, finished strongly from midfield to take third, but was unable to pose a serious threat to the first two home.
Midnight City powers clear in commanding style
Midnight Cit (Acclamation x Dance Club) landed Division 2 of the Thoroughbred Handicap (65–85) over 1200m (Class 4) for three-year-olds and upwards, which drew a field of 8, surging clear by an emphatic 7½ lengths. The four-year-old bay gelding, racing for Mohammad Ibrahim Alfadala, is trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and was ridden by Szczepan Mazur, returning to winning ways to double his tally and providing his trainer with a second success on the evening.
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Midnight City was settled in fourth in the early stages, just ahead of Sands Of Spain (Sands Of Mali), as John Steed (Inns Of Court) set the initial tempo before Temple Of Hera (Magna Grecia) took over. Progressing smoothly through the middle stages, Midnight City moved into third and then quickly into second behind the leader, with John Steed and Sands Of Spain following in behind. Approaching the straight, Midnight City responded well when asked, producing a sharp turn of foot to take control soon after straightening. From there, he rapidly put the race beyond doubt, extending his advantage passing the 300m marker and leaving his rivals trailing in his wake. Sands Of Spain, representing Al Thumama Racing and from the Mohammed Hussain Afroz yard, with Lukas Delozier aboard, stayed on as best he could, but was never able to threaten the runaway winner, holding second comfortably, 1½ lengths clear of the Mohammed Ali Yousef Al Sheeb-owned White Christmas, trained by Ahmad Al Sheeb and ridden by Alberto Sanna, who finished strongly from the rear to take 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.
