Glory Of The Stars dazzles late to capture Lusail Cup

Mdmar – Doha – Mohamed saad

The Lusail Cup meeting unfolded on the Al Uqda turf track on Thursday, 4 December, where a seven-race card delivered a lively mix of pace, stamina and late-charging finishes. Across the afternoon, Corpus Juris, Awamir, Achika, Court Poet, Nah’ash Al Shahania, Sun Amer and Glory Of The Stars landed the spoils in their respective contests, each contributing to a competitive and engaging programme highlighted by the feature victory of Glory Of The Stars.

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Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of QREC Racing Operations Section, celebrated the winners’ success with the trophy presentation.

Glory Of The Stars unleashes explosive finish for feature victory

Glory Of The Stars (Olympic Glory x Miss Starlight) delivered a breath-taking late surge to win Race 7, the day’s feature, the Lusail Cup for 3YO+ Thoroughbred fillies and mares over 1200m (Class 2), contested by 12 runners. The 5YO bay mare, racing for Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, trained by Debbie Mountain and superbly handled by Jefferson Smith, remained unbeaten this season, securing her second win from as many starts with a commanding 1¼-length success.

Breaking from barrier 7, Glory Of The Stars was dropped out early and settled at the tail of the field where she remained for most of the contest. Up front, Kaliysta (Holy Roman Emperor) took the early initiative before Seduisante (Shalaa) moved forward approaching the first bend. Around the final turn, Ripple Effect (Kameko), who had been travelling in third, briefly edged to a narrow lead as the field closed tightly together. Yet the moment belonged entirely to Glory Of The Stars. Still last at the 300m mark, she was switched wide and unleashed a devastating turn of foot, sweeping past her rivals with a powerful, sustained run. Under a perfectly timed ride from Smith, she surged clear in the final strides to seal a stylish and authoritative victory. Behind her, September Leaves (Night Of Thunder), carrying the Al Eida Racing silks for trainer Gassim Al Ghazali under Marco Casamento, finished strongly to claim second. Just a quarter of a length behind came Nano Toro (Toronado), representing the same connections as the winner and ridden by Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, securing third after a late flourish.

Corpus Juris stays on best to open the meeting with a narrow success

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Corpus Juris (Masar x Warning Fire) continued his steady progression by landing Race 1, the Thoroughbred Rated Maiden Plate for 3–7YOs over 2200m (Class 6), run with 10 runners. The 3YO brown gelding, carrying the Al Ghazali Stud silks, trained by Gassim Al Ghazali and ridden by Marco Casamento, built on his first three runs of the 2025/26 campaign to break his maiden with a determined late drive, prevailing by a ¼ of a length.

Breaking smoothly from barrier 1, Corpus Juris was deliberately eased back, Casamento opting to conserve his stamina for the decisive stages of the extended trip. Up front, Eddeki (Pivotal) briefly held the lead before Atlantic Convoy (Galileo) took over, with Maraaheb (Sottsass) positioned in second through much of the early and middle stages while the order remained largely unchanged. Approaching the final bend, those who had been waited with began to unleash their runs. Baggy Point (New Bay), Fantastic Deal (Fantastic Moon) and Corpus Juris all improved sharply, sweeping forward to challenge the long-time leader as the field straightened for home. In the run to the line, Corpus Juris struck the front, but was immediately pressed by Fantastic Deal, representing Al Jasra Stud for trainer Abdulla Al-Mulla under Ivan Rossi, who pursued him tenaciously throughout the straight. The pair fought it out stride for stride, but Corpus Juris held on in the final metres for a well-earned victory. A further 1¼ lengths behind came Salah Al Deen (Magna Grecia), running for Aldeebl Racing under the guidance of Mohammed Al Ghazali and Alberto Sanna. Having been towards the rear for much of the journey, he stayed on strongly to take third.

Awamir finishes strongest to secure first career win

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Awamir (No Risk Al Maury x Opale Du Croate) went one better on his seasonal reappearance, producing a well-timed finish to capture Race 2, the Purebred Arabian Handicap (50–70) for 3YO+ over 2200m (Class 5), run with 12 runners. The 5YO chestnut horse, carrying the colours of Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, trained by Zuhair Mohsen and ridden with patience by Pierre Charles Boudot, got off the mark with a determined late surge, scoring by ¾ of a length.

Breaking from barrier 5, Awamir settled in fifth, biding his time behind a reshuffling leading group. Star One (Alsaker) showed early intent before yielding the lead approaching the 1600m mark to Hidalgo Du Croate (Al Mamun Monlau), who dictated the pace for most of the contest. Hardan (Assy), Star One and Aktolgali (Al Mourtajez) remained closest in attendance, with Awamir tracking them comfortably. As the field approached the home turn, Awamir began to quicken noticeably. Once straightened, he swept into second before moving past the long-time leader to assume command, though Ikef De Bozouls (No Risk Al Maury), representing Triple Two Racing for Mohammed Al Ghazali under Lukas Delozier, emerged from midfield to give immediate chase. Inside the final 100m, Awamir found extra, edging away to secure a deserved first career success. Two lengths behind the runner-up came Aktolgali, running in the colours of Khalifa bin Abdullah bin Ali Al Attiyah for trainer Ahmed Kobeissi under Jefferson Smith, staying on for third.

Achika continues winning streak with late surge

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Achika (Migwar x Walaa) maintained her strong seasonal momentum by landing Race 3, the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0–50) for 3YO+ over 2200m (Class 5), run with 11 runners. The 6YO bay mare, racing for Mohammed Abdulla Al-Jumaily, prepared by Yousef Al-Jumaily and delivered confidently by Fayos Martin Borja, secured her second straight win on her third start of the campaign, scoring by a length.

Settled just behind the early pace, Achika tracked the leading group throughout. Mabsam (Vedevani) controlled the race from the outset and held the lead for the majority of the journey, with Nooran (Noor Al Hawa) the closest pursuer all the way. Conan Bu Thaila (Mandour) and Royal Rose (Qatar Gift) sat just behind them, and with the field tightly packed, the race remained open as they approached the final stages. Turning into the home straight, Mabsam still appeared in command and poised to double her tally. However, Achika began to quicken meaningfully, moving from fourth into third, then second and soon launching a decisive challenge. She swept past Mabsam inside the final 200m and continued strongly to the line for a convincing success. Mabsam. carrying the Injaaz Stud colours for trainer Jihad El Ahmad under Youssef Lachhab, held on for second, a length ahead of her stablemate, carrying the same colours under under Alberto Sanna, Jabahat (Holy Roman Emperor), who stayed on from a rearward position to take third after finishing best of the rest.

Court Poet rolls back the years with strong late finish

Court Poet (Dubawi x Belenkaya) produced a stirring performance to take Race 4, the Thoroughbred Novice Plate for 3YO+ over 1400m (Class 5), run with 12 runners. The 9YO bay gelding, racing for Abdulrahman Batal Al-Otibi, trained by Nayef Batal Al-Otibi and guided with assurance by Maikon De Souza, returned to winning ways for the first time since the 2017/18 season, scoring by a comfortable 2-length margin.

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Eased back after the start, Court Poet was positioned towards the rear and remained there until the approach to the home turn where he began to make steady progress. Up front, Ponga (Acclamation) set the early fractions and briefly conceded the lead to Mizahim (Inns Of Court) around the first bend before regaining control. As the field approached the home turn, the tempo lifted sharply. Bailey Gate (Shamardal) and Sweet Fantastic (Lope De Vega) advanced from midfield to challenge the long-time leader and for a moment appeared the main dangers. However, Court Poet had been improving smoothly behind them and once angled out in the home straight, he quickened past the front group with authority. Drawing clear in the final stages, Court Poet sealed an emphatic victory. Jorge Alvares (Cotai Glory), carrying the colours of Sheikh Mohammed Salman Al-Thani for trainer Gassim Al Ghazali under Marco Casamento, kept on for second, finishing half a length ahead of Bailey Gate, who claimed third for Mubarak Ali Al-Nuaimi and trainer Owaida Salem Al Hajri under Fayos Martin Borja.

Nah’ash Al Shahania powers home with blistering late run

Nah’ash Al Shahania (AF Al Buraq x Insheragh) continued his excellent early-season form with a decisive victory in Race 5, the Purebred Arabian Handicap (70–90) for 3YO+ over 1200m (Class 3), contested by 8 runners. The 5YO bay gelding, representing Al Shahania Stud, trained by Rudy Nerbonne and delivered with precision by Lukas Delozier, followed up a promising third on seasonal debut with a sharp win on his second outing, scoring by 1¾ lengths.

Breaking from barrier 2, Nah’ash Al Shahania was dropped out early and settled at the rear while Kawaii D’Vialettes (AF AlBahar) set a strong and persistent tempo at the head of affairs. Lanvin De Faust (No Risk Al Maury) and Mesaieed (Majd Al Arab) raced close behind the leader, with the order remaining steady through the early stages. Approaching the home turn, Hamas La Gloire (AF AlBahar), who had sat near the rear, improved stylishly to move into second, becoming the immediate threat to the long-time leader. But once they straightened, Nah’ash Al Shahania began to unwind a devastating sprint from the back of the field. Accelerating with purpose, he swept past rivals one by one, moved into second and shortly after surged past Kawaii D’Vialettes to seize control in the final stages, putting the race firmly to bed. Kawaii D’Vialettes, racing for Mubarak Ali Al-Nuaimi and trained by Ahmed Al Jehani under Alberto Sanna, held on for second, finishing 1⅕ lengths ahead of Hamas La Gloire, who secured third for Yousuf bin Ebrahim bin Yousuf Al-Mahmoud and trainer Hamad Al-Jehani under Pierre Charles Boudot.

Sun Amer finishes strongest to earn deserved victory

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Sun Amer (Amer x Tm Madison T) built on his recent fourth-place effort to capture Race 6, the Purebred Arabian Conditions for 4YO+ over 1400m (Class 2), run with 7 runners. The 6YO grey horse, carrying the colours of Khalid Mohammed Al-Harami, trained by Bader Al Balushi and ridden with fine judgement by Soufiane Saadi, produced a well-timed run to win by 1½ lengths.

After breaking cleanly from barrier 2, Sun Amer was restrained and soon found himself towards the rear as Lwich De Bozouls (No Risk Al Maury) set the early fractions. AJS Haizum (AF AlBahar) and Safre Tourettes (Mister Ginoux) raced just behind the leader, and the overall order remained steady through the middle stages while Sun Amer crept closer with measured progress. Once into the home straight, Saadi asked his mount to quicken and the response was instant. Sun Amer surged forward, swept past the leading pair and asserted command with authority, drawing clear in the closing stages to register a comfortable success. Safre Tourettes, representing Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and trained by Julian Smart under Fayos Martin Borja, stayed on for second while stable companion Al Mustafiz (Assy), who had been last early in the straight, produced a striking late burst, in the same silks, to grab third under Alberto Sanna, finishing 2½ lengths behind the runner-up.

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