Millions brings home Ras Laffan Cup
Mdmar – Doha – Mohamed Saad
The 15th race meeting of the season unfolded on dirt at Al Rayyan Racecourse, featuring an eight-race card that produced a series of compelling performances across both Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred contests. Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of QREC Racing Operations Section, crowned the winners following the feature race.
The programme showcased several standout displays, with Ta’hoos Al Shahania, Barkt Al Majd, Maarek, Thanks Forever, Mared Al Jasra, Roma, Nibras Al Marroona and Millions all stamping their authority in their respective races; the latter sealing the evening with a perfectly timed finish in the Ras Laffan Cup.
Millions delivers late to land the spoils
Millions (Pivotal x Sugar Mill) produced a perfectly-timed finish to capture the Ras Laffan Cup, the feature event of the eight-race card, a Thoroughbred Open Race for 3YO+ over 1100m (Class 2) that drew 10 runners. The 7YO chestnut gelding, owned and trained by Abdulaziz Ali Al-Kathiri and partnered by Szczepan Mazur, who completed a treble on the evenin, went one better than his recent runner-up effort, confirming his rising trajectory this season as he scored by half a length.
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Breaking smartly from barrier 7, Millions was settled in fifth, tracking the leading pack closely while Townsend Manor (Advertise) dictated the early pace. Approaching the first bend, Jungle Mate (Bungle Inthejungle), carrying the same colours and jockey combination that won this Cup last year, took over confidently and maintained a strong tempo. Millions edged his way into third around the home turn, poised to strike. In the home straight, Jungle Mate appeared to have matters firmly under control and looked on course to defend his title. However, in the final 100m, Millions unleashed a sharp and decisive run, sweeping past the resolute leader to clinch the Cup in style. Jungle Mate, representing and trained by Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki under Tomas Lukasek, battled on bravely to finish a commendable second, a result that in no way diminishes his class. Return To Senders (Sir Prancealot), representing Al Eida Racing for trainer Gassim Al Ghazali and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, raced prominently throughout and stayed on well to secure third, a further length behind.
Ta’hoos Al Shahania powers clear for maiden breakthrough
Ta’hoos Al Shahania (Harran ASF x Najda) translated consistent promise into a deserved first victory, producing a commanding performance in the day’s opener, the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 3–7YOs over 1200m (Class 6), which brought together a field of 13 runners. The 4YO chestnut colt, representing H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, was saddled by Rudy Nerbonne and guided confidently by Lukas Delozier to a decisive two-length success on his fifth career start, having never finished outside the first three.
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Breaking alertly from barrier 5, Ta’hoos Al Shahania travelled strongly in third behind the early leader Wahaas (AF AlBahar), with Al Moheet Al Sakab (AF AlBahar) slotting in between the pair. Approaching the home turn, he was angled into second before sweeping to the front, maintaining a fluent rhythm as he lengthened away in the straight. At the 200m marker, a brief duel with Wahaas unfolded well clear of the rest, but Ta’hoos Al Shahania soon asserted his superiority, quickening again inside the final furlong to seal an emphatic win. Wahaas, trained by Ahmed Kobeissi for Abdullah bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Attiya and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, kept on honestly for second, finishing 5¾ lengths ahead of Al Ta’er (Kalino). The latter, trained by Owaida Salem Al Hajri for owner Mubarak Ali Al-Nuaimi under Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri, secured third as the best of the rest, himself a further six lengths in front of the fourth-placed runner.
Barkt Al Majd asserts dominance for long-awaited first victory
Barkt Al Majd (Honest Prospector x Zsa Zsa Galore) produced a dominant performance in Race 2, the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for 3–7YOs over 1900m (Class 6), which featured a small field of five runners. The 5YO chestnut mare, representing and trained by Abdulrahman Mohammed Abdulwahed, made her breakthrough in emphatic fashion under Szczepan Mazur, drawing right away for a commanding 5½-length success.
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Breaking fluently from barrier 2, Barkt Al Majd settled just behind the long-time leader AJS Joharah (Australia), as Reman (Tribal Beat), Inbihar (Footstepsinthesand) and Mustakshif (Vedevani) raced in close order behind them. The pattern remained unchanged until the home straight, where Barkt Al Majd unleashed a blistering surge from the outside, sweeping past the leader and stretching clear with ease, winning as she pleased. Inbihar, representing Fahad Salem Al-Hajri and trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi under Salman Fahad Al-Hajri, stayed on to take second, and while finished well adrift of the winner, she was far in front ahead of the rest with 13 lengths separating her from the third-placed, Reman, trained by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed for owner Mubarak Mohammed Al Khayareen and ridden by Fayos Martin Borja.
Maarek stroms clear for decisive maiden win
Maarek (Manark x Al Jassasiya) made his fifth career appearance count, producing a decisive display to shed his maiden tag in Race 3, the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 3–7YOs over 1200m (Class 6), which drew a field of 13 runners. The 4YO bay colt, representing Suhaim Mohammed Salama Ashour and saddled by Jihad El Ahmad, was guided to an authoritative 3¼-length victory by Alberto Sanna.
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Breaking sharply from barrier 10, Maarek moved quickly into second before taking control from Karla Du Croate (Mahabb), and once in front, he dictated the pace throughout. He travelled comfortably at the head of affairs, first stalked by Karla Du Croate and, around the home bend, by AA Trunk Monkey (Burning Sand), who attempted to close the gap in the home straight. However, once Sanna asked for more, Maarek quickened smartly and drew clear with ease for a commanding success. Munahis (AF AlBahar), representing Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohamed bin Faleh Al-Thani and trained by Hadi Al Ramzani under Jefferson Smith, delivered a powerful late run from mid-division to take second, 2½ lengths ahead of AA Trunk Monkey, who kept on for third for Al Shahania Stud and trainer Rudy Nerbonne under Lukas Delozier.
Thanks Forever sweeps through late for stylish success
Thanks Forever (Kessaar x Forevertwentyone) continued his progression this season, producing a strong performance to land the Thoroughbred Handicap (45–65) for 3YO+ over 1200m (Class 6), which was run as Race 4 on the card and drew a field of 13 runners. The 4YO bay gelding, representing Injaaz Stud, was saddled by Jihad El Ahmad and guided by Alberto Sanna, who steered him to an authoritative 2½-length victory, completing a quick-fire double for the trainer-jockey combination.
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Breaking from barrier 5, Thanks Forever settled in fourth through the early stages before being shuffled back to mid-division after the 800m mark. Up front, Valdarann (Siyouni) made the early running before Mockirr (Tasleet) assumed command approaching the final furlong, with Torgot (Tasleet) also prominent. As the tightly packed field turned for home, Thanks Forever began to unwind a powerful run from behind, surging past his rivals in the final 100m and stretching clear for a cosy success. Jungle The Bank (Bungle Inthejungle), owned by Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and trained by Debbie Mountain under Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, also finished strongly from mid-field to claim second, two lengths ahead of Mockirr. The latter, representing Al Jasra Stud for trainer Abdulla Al-Mulla under Ivan Rossi, kept on gamely for third, just a neck in front of the fast-finishing Delirious Dream (Oasis Dream), who finished a further neck ahead of Al Saif (Exceed And Excel) in fifth.
Mared Al Jasra asserts superiority
Mared Al Jasra (Mared Al Sahra x Alghasa) made his early-season consistency count, producing a strong performance to land Race 5, the Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate for 4YOs over 1700m (Class 4), which brought together a competitive field of 11 runners. The 5YO grey horse, representing Al Ghazali Stud, was saddled by Gassim Al Ghazali and guided by Marco Casamento to a decisive two-length success.
Breaking smartly, Mared Al Jasra settled in mid-division while Zidane (General) set a sharp early pace. Taaghi (Al Mourtajez) soon took over in front, with Mared Al Jasra and Nemr (TM Fred Texas) making notable progress to position themselves directly behind the new leader. Once in the home straight, Mared Al Jasra was asked to quicken and he responded immediately, sweeping past Taaghi before asserting further authority inside the final furlong to put the race to bed with conviction.
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Nemr, representing Al Meqdam Racing for trainer Maayouf bin Hashim Al-Shamari under Salman Fahad Al-Hajri, stayed on strongly to secure second after a fierce duel with Yaqoob (Al Mourtajez). The latter, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani for owner Hamad Meret Al-Hajri and ridden by Arnaud De Lepine, closed late, but was denied by only a short head in a gripping contest for the minor honours.
Roma sweeps past rivals for decisive success
Roma (Al Mourtajez x Niriam) made her second appearance of the season count, producing a sharp closing effort to land Race 6, the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (75–95) for 4YOs over 1200m (Class 3), which featured a field of 7 runners. The 6YO grey mare, representing Sharida bin Nasser bin Sharida Al-Kaabi, was prepared by Yousef Al Jumaily and guided to a smooth 2½-length victory by Szczepan Mazur, who recorded his second win in the evening.
Breaking well from the widest draw, Roma was settled in third, tracking the early tempo set by Deauville (AF AlBahar) and Tayyar Al Shahania (Jaafer ASF), who shared the lead through the initial stages. The pair continued to dictate matters up to the early part of the home straight, where Roma delivered a sharp turn of foot, moving up to join them before asserting command and drawing clear with authority. Behind the winner, Habes (Harran ASF), representing Abdulaziz Saleh Al Jaber for trainer Hadi Al Ramzani under Jefferson Smith, stayed on strongly from off the pace to finish second. Khaled Al Shahania (Assy), trained by Maayouf bin Hashim Al-Shamari for Al Meqdam Racing and ridden by Salman Fahad Al-Hajri, kept on well to take third, half a length behind the runner-up.
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Nibras Al Marroona dazzles with runaway display
Nibras Al Marroona (Hilal Al Waab x Okelana AF) produced a stunning turn of foot on debut, dominating the evening’s penultimate race, the Purebred Arabian Show Horses & Mares (4YOs) over 1000m, which 3 runners heading to the starting gates, the second ever contest for this emerging category. The 4YO colt, representing Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi, was saddled by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi and partnered by Salman Fahad Al-Hajri, who guided him to an extraordinary 13-length triumph.
The trio, Jabbar Al Shaqab (Gazal Al Shaqab), Nibras Al Marroona and Hejazi Alduhail (Fares Al Rayyan, raced in single file through the early stages, with Jabbar Al Shaqab dictating the pace in an attempt to go one better than his debut second two weeks ago. Nibras Al Marroona tracked him closely, while Hejazi Alduhail, trained by Mansoor Al Shahwani for Mr Mansoor Mesfer Al-Shahwani and ridden by Louis Nomis, followed in third. Once the small field straightened for home, Nibras Al Marroona unleashed a breath-taking acceleration, sweeping past the long-time leader and powering clear in a class of his own. Jabbar Al Shaqab, representing Al Hamama Stud for trainer Gassim Al Ghazali under Marco Casamento, had to settle for second once again while Hejazi Alduhail finished third—a huge 38 lengths behind the runner-up as the first two drew miles clear.
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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.
