Grace Secret shines in Asherij Cup
Mdmar – Doha – Mohamed Saad
The third race meeting of the 2025/26 season unfolded at Al Rayyan Racecourse, featuring seven competitive races on the dirt on Wednesday, 22 October. The action offered a compelling blend of emerging talent and seasoned campaigners, with several horses making strong seasonal or career starts. Grace Secret, carrying the colours of Umm Al Shukhut Farm, emerged as the highlight of the day, storming home to win the day’s feature and final race, the Asherij Cup, to claim a commanding win, perfectly illustrating the excitement and promise of the new season. Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners of the day’s feature race.
Grace Secret shines in Asherij Cup
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Grace Secret (Mister Ginoux x Al Amarah) made a commanding seasonal debut in the Asherij Cup, the Local Purebred Arabian fillies and mares contest over 1200m, with 10 runners. The 3YO bay filly, breaking from barrier 7, notched her second career victory in just her third start, powering home to win by 3½ lengths for Umm Al Shukhut Farm, under the guidance of trainer Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed and with Alberto Sanna in the saddle, completing a double on the day.
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Grace Secret set the pace from the outset, chased throughout by Kab Ghazal (No Risk Al Maury) and Jalila Alghania (Al Mamun Monlau). In the home straight, several rivals mounted late challenges, but Grace Secret responded with a thundering turn of foot in the final 200m to secure the win. Makarim (Alam Al Khalediah), representing Rashid Mohammed Alathba and trained by him, under Lukas Delozier, came through for second, while Kanz Al Adeed (AF AlBahar), prepared by Abdulrahman Abdulwahed for Khalid Ali A Al-Obaidli and ridden by Khadija Abdulwahed, completed the podium a further quarter-length behind.
Estithmar opens new campaign with determined victory
The meeting began in style with a thrilling finish to the opening Thoroughbred Handicap (0-60) for 3YO+ runners over 1700m, contested by nine runners. Estithmar (Dariyan x Sarlima), a 4YO bay gelding owned by Injaaz Stud, broke his maiden in fine fashion, kicking off his new campaign with a neck victory under Alberto Sanna for trainer Jihad El Ahmad.
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Settled just off the early pace after breaking from barrier 8, Estithmar tracked the leaders as Pour La Vie (Time Test) set an early tempo. Acclaim To Royalty (Acclamation) upped the tempo at the second bend and led into the early home straight, pressed by Sooraym (Lope De Vega), with Estithmar close in third. The race transformed in the final 300m as Estithmar launched a determined surge, sweeping past rivals and sustaining his effort to nail the victory on the line while Pour La Vie and Acclaim To Royalty fought hard throughout. Estithmar finished a neck ahead of Acclaim To Royalty (Acclamation), owned by Fahad Salem Al-Hajri, trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi and ridden by Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi, with Pour La Vie (Time Test), owned by H.E. Meshaal bin Ali Al-Attiyah, trained by Gassim Al Ghazali and ridden by Marco Casamento, a further length behind in third.
Morello Man strikes on seasonal debut
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In the second race, Morello Man (Footstepsinthesand x Kirsch) opened his seasonal account in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for 3–7YOs over 1200m, a 12-runner contest, scoring by a length on his seasonal debut. The 3YO chestnut gelding delivered the breakthrough for owner Rashid Awajan Al-Khayarin and trainer Hamad Al-Jehani while partnered by Szczepan Mazur.
Held in a mid-position early, Morello Man tracked the pace as Boss Dog (Zoustar) set the initial fractions before Jungle The Bank (Bungle Inthejungle) assumed the lead mid-race with Boss Dog in close attendance. Morello Man began his move approaching the final bend and produced a sharp turn of foot in the home straight to surge through and take control, leaving his rivals to battle for the minor placings. He finished a length in front of Boss Dog , who fought on for second for Aldeebl Racing under Mohammed Al-Ghazali’s care with Soufiane Saadi in the plate while Manos Arriba (Tamayuz), representing Al Eida Racing and trainer Gassim Al Ghazali, partnered by Louis Nomis, completed the frame a further two lengths back in third.
Azzam FBR dominates to open account
Azzam FBR (AF AlBahar x Dhayya Al Hashm) opened his account on his second start of the season on the third race in the card, the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4–7YOs over 1200m, a 10-runner contest. The 4YO grey gelding delivered a commanding performance for Fahad Rashid Al Khayarin Al-Hajri, who combined the roles of owner and trainer, with Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri in the saddle.
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Quick from the barrier, Azzam FBR took early command, but was briefly headed around the 800m mark by AA Trunk Monkey (Burning Sand). The gelding soon regained the lead and powered clear in the home straight, asserting complete control and increasing the margin with every stride. Fathi (Tabarak), tracking the leaders throughout, produced a late surge to secure third. Azzam FBR crossed the line 3¼ lengths ahead of AA Trunk Monkey, who held on for second for Al Shahania Stud under Rudy Nerbonne’s guidance with Louis Nomis aboard. Fathi, representing Mohammed Abdulla Al-Dolaimi and trained by Fahad Rashid Al Khayarin, was 2½ lengths further back in third.
Saida lands convincing win in Local Thoroughbred Handicap
Saida (Migwar x Rahibah) produced a determined run to claim the fourth race of the day, the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (35–60) for three-year-olds and older over 1700m, which brought together 14 runners. The four-year-old bay filly, representing Time Form Syndicate and handled by Hamad Al-Jehani, secured her second career victory from just four starts, all of which have seen her finish in the top four. Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi guided her to a smart win by a length and three-quarters.
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After breaking well from barrier 3, Saida settled in midfield as Al Warkah (Trade Storm) and Royalty (Migwar) disputed the early lead. As the race developed, Moharb (Sea’s Legacy) loomed up to challenge turning for home, with Al Jalilah (Danadana) also closing in. But once in the straight, Saida showed plenty of determination, finding extra to reel them in and draw clear for a comfortable and impressive victory, sealing a double on the day for trainer Hamad Al-Jehani.
Al Jalilah came second for Al Wasmiyah Farm and trainer Georges Mikhalides under Lukas Delozier while Moharb, trained by Gassim Al Ghazali and ridden by Marco Casamento, was a further three lengths behind in third, securing another spot on the podium for Al Wasmiyah Farm.
Studio City launches new season with commanding victory
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Studio City (IRE) (Cotai Glory x Aqlette) kicked off his new campaign in style, claiming the fifth race of the day, the Thoroughbred Handicap (60–80) for three-year-olds and older over 1900m, which drew 14 runners. The five-year-old chestnut horse, owned by Faleh Suwayed Al Ajami, recorded his fourth career victory, continuing the strong form he showed at the end of last season when he finished second and third in his final two appearances. Trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali and ridden confidently by Soufiane Saadi, he landed the spoils by two and a half lengths.
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Despite starting from a wide draw, Studio City broke sharply and moved forward to sit just off the pace in third before taking closer order behind the early leader Washeek (Saxon Warrior). Turning for home, he quickened smoothly to take command and soon put daylight between himself and the rest. The final stages saw fast changes behind the leader. While Hessdalen (Sea The Stars) was chasing Studio City, Super Mo (Uncle Mo) came all the way from behind to be the nearest behind the leader. While Super Mo made a strong late run from off the pace, Studio City was never in danger and crossed the line comfortably clear, making a perfect start to his 2025/26 campaign. Super Mo finished runner-up for 51 East Racing and trainer Wasim Al Sahn under Alberto Sanna while Roman Number (Holy Roman Emperor), representing Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and trained by Ahmed Kobeissi, was a further half length behind in third under Jefferson Smith.
Naseeb Zakhir makes a winning start to his campaign
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Naseeb Zakhir (Af Al Bahar x Zajeel) kicked off his campaign with an impressive victory in the sixth and penulitmate race of the day, the Local Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate for 3YO+ over 1200m, featuring 10 runners. The bay horse, finishing second in his final start last season, made all the running this time to score by three lengths for Osama Omer Al-Dafea, who also prepared him, with Soufiane Saadi in the saddle completing a quick-fire double on the day.
Breaking strongly from barrier 9, Naseeb Zakhir took the lead from Husam Al Shahania (Munjiz) early and remained in control throughout, extending his advantage in the final 300m to cross the line comfortably clear. Za’eer Al Shahania (Burning Sand), also prepared by and representing Osama Omer Al-Dafea, produced a late surge from mid-pack to secure second under Damien Morin completing and one-two for the owner/trainer in the race, while Husam Al Shahania, ridden by Salman Fahad Al-Hajri for owner and trainer Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi, finished a further 1¼ lengths 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.
