Naseeb Zakhir lands Al Mafiar Cup day with thrilling victory
Mdmar – Doha – MohamedSaad
Photo : Juhaim
The 69th race meeting of the 2025/26 season, Al Mafiar Cup Day, was conducted at Al Rayyan Racecourse on dirt on Wednesday, 22 April. The eight-race card was highlighted by the Al Mafiar Cup, which was presented by Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of the QREC Racing Operations Section.
The day’s contests delivered a sequence of notable performances across the card. Silver Spirit surged late to land the opener, Zabeel Flower struck to break her maiden and Raphello made all to get off the mark. Jabra’an Al Shahania pulled clear with authority, Mawhob finished best to seal victory and Blazing Sunset edged a thrilling finish. Damaah asserted with ease before Naseeb Zakhir prevailed in a gripping duel to land the feature.
Naseeb Zakhir edges epic duel on the line
Naseeb Zakhir (AF Al Bahar x Zajeel) landed the eighth race, a Local Purebred Arabian Conditions over 1200m (Class 2) for four-year-olds and upwards, with five runners going to post, prevailing by a nose. The five-year-old grey horse, owned and trained by Osama Omer Al-Dafea, was partnered by Faleh Bughenaim, making it back-to-back wins and bringing up a fifth success this campaign while extending a remarkable sequence of finishing in the first three in his last 11 starts.
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Naseeb Zakhir tracked the early leader Muqtarib (AF Al Bahar), with Hay’er Al Shahania (Harran) close behind, the trio maintaining their order through the early and middle stages. On straightening, Naseeb Zakhir moved up to challenge and soon took the lead, but Hay’er Al Shahania responded strongly, setting up a gripping duel between the pair. Inside the final 300m, Naseeb Zakhir appeared to have the race under control. Soon after, Hay’er Al Shahania surged back to take a narrow advantage and looked set to prevail. The contest shifted again in the closing strides as Naseeb Zakhir rallied. The pair went head to head inside the final 50m before hitting the line together, with the photo finish confirming Naseeb Zakhir the winner by the narrowest of margins ahead of the resolute Hay’er Al Shahania in the most thrilling finish of the evening, befitting the feature and final race. Hay’er Al Shahania, representing Mansoor Mesfer Al-Shahwani and from the Abdulla Mesfer Al-Shahwani yard, with Soufiane Saadi aboard, was denied by the smallest margin and narrowly missed out on completing a treble on the evening. He finished 4 lengths clear of the Umm Al Shukhut Farm-owned Deauville, who is trained by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed and was ridden by Alberto Sanna to take third, highlighting how the first two home were in a race of their own in the closing stages.
Silver Spirit surges late to land opener
Silver Spirit (Inns Of Court x Saphira Silver) landed the opening race, a Thoroughbred Handicap (45–65) over 2500m (Class 6) for three-year-olds and upwards, with 13 runners in the fray, getting up by ½ length. The five-year-old grey gelding races for Eng. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik. He is trained by Debbie Mountain and was ridden by Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik. It was his best effort for some time, as he opened his account in Qatar and doubled his career tally. His first success came at Clairefontaine in 2023.
espite a wide draw, Silver Spirit settled in fifth early on, tracking the leaders as Billabong (Oasis Dream) set a steady tempo. Margesson (Pride Of Dubai) and Acclaim To Royalty (Acclamation) were closest in pursuit. Through the middle stages, Silver Spirit and stablemate It’s A Hot One (Too Darn Hot) were restrained towards the rear, conserving energy, a tactic that proved decisive in the closing stages. Approaching the home turn, It’s A Hot One began to advance, moving into contention just behind the long-time leader, with Thunder Valley (Night Of Thunder) also close up. On straightening, Billabong and Acclaim To Royalty still held sway and looked set to fight out the finish. The race then changed complexion inside the final 200m as Silver Spirit arrived with a powerful late run, quickly closing on the leaders. By then, It’s A Hot One had struck the front, setting up a stable duel. Inside the final 100m, Silver Spirit found extra, edging past his stablemate to secure victory in a tight finish, completing a one-two for the owner and the trainer. It’s A Hot One, under Alberto Sanna, held second, 2½ lengths clear of Perfect Approach (New Approach), who finished strongly from off the pace for Omer Seyfi Aktulun, from the Gassim Al Ghazali yard and with Salem Alajmi aboard to take third.
Zabeel Flower strikes late to break maiden
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Zabeel Flower (Ardad x Queen of Zabeel) landed Division 1 of the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate over 1200m (Class 6) for three- to seven-year-olds, with 11 runners in attendance, drawing clear by 1¾ lengths. The three-year-old bay filly, representing Al Gaiah Racing, is trained by Abdulla Dhabit Aldosari and was ridden by Salman Fahad Al-Hajri, getting off the mark at the eighth attempt after two recent placed efforts.
Zabeel Flower was held in midfield through the early and middle stages as Fine Art Dealer (Blue Point) dictated matters up to the final bend. Mizahim (Inns Of Court), Dreadfort (Ribchester) and View Taken (Oasis Dream) tracked closely behind, with Zabeel Flower travelling just in behind that group. On straightening, Mizahim moved forward to take the lead, only for View Taken to challenge and briefly head the field, the pair engaging in a duel at the front. Inside the final 200m, Zabeel Flower produced a sustained run, joining the leaders before quickening away in the closing stages, asserting decisively inside the final 100m. Mizahim, owned and trained by Jassim bin Hamad Al-Atteya and ridden by Arnaud de Lepine, kept on for second, but could not match the winner late. However, he finished 4¼ lengths clear of the Hadi Al Ramzani-trained Rose Of Spain, who ran on strongly from the rear for Osama Omer Al-Dafea under Salem Alajmi to take third after View Taken weakened.
Raphello makes all to open his account
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Raphello (Starspangledbanner x Floriade) landed Division 2 of the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate over 1200m (Class 6) for three- to seven-year-olds, with 11 declared runners, scoring by 1½ lengths. The three-year-old bay colt, racing for Mohammed Nawaf Al-Rayes, is trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali and was partnered by Soufiane Saadi. He was rewarded for a series of consistent efforts, as he broke through at the tenth attempt.
Raphello broke sharply from barrier 2 and went straight to the front, setting the pace throughout. Forteleza (Zoustar) briefly challenged for the lead, but the response was immediate as Raphello quickly reasserted. Forteleza, Saniyaat’s Star (Ardad) and Mockirr (Tasleet) tracked closely in the early stages, with the order largely unchanged as the race developed. Through the middle stages, Forteleza began to weaken, leaving Saniyaat’s Star and Mockirr as the main pursuers, both poised to challenge. Inside the final 300m, Saniyaat’s Star closed in sharply on the leader, but the move proved short-lived as Raphello found more again, quickening to extend his advantage inside the final 100m. Saniyaat’s Star, representing Nayef Mohammed Al-Hajri and from the Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed yard, with Anas Al Seyabi aboard, finished second, ½ length ahead of the Al Jasra Stud-owned Mockirr, trained by Abdulla Al-Mulla and ridden by Alberto Sanna, who kept on, but could not bridge the gap to the runner-up
Jabra’an Al Shahania pulls clear with authority
Jabra’an Al Shahania (Gazwan x Gazelle Du Paon) landed the fourth race, a Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate over 1200m (Class 6) for four- to seven-year-olds, with 13 runners heading to post, drawing clear by 3½ lengths. The four-year-old bay colt, in the ownership of Hamad Khalid Al-Qahtani, is trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali and was partnered by Soufiane Saadi, both completing quick-fire doubles. Jabra’an Al Shahania broke through at the 12th attempt after a couple of near misses, including a recent runner-up effort.
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Jabra’an Al Shahania raced prominently in second, taking cover behind Motaghatres (AF AlBahar), with Dahman Al Shahania (Jaafer) tracking in third. The trio maintained their positions through the early and middle stages, setting a steady tempo clear of the remainder. In the straight, Jabra’an Al Shahania was asked to challenge and moved alongside Motaghatres, who initially responded, the pair locked together approaching the 300m marker and stretching clear of the rest. The contest changed quickly inside the final 200m as Jabra’an Al Shahania found another gear, quickening decisively to open up a clear advantage. He extended further in the closing strides, asserting his superiority with a commanding finish. Motaghatres, representing Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and from the Hamad Al-Jehani yard, with Pierre Charles Boudot aboard, kept on for second, 6 lengths ahead of the Mohammed Balasim Al Jumaili-trained Dahman Al Shahania, who finished a distant third for Jassim bin Ali Al-Attiyah under Muanis Al Siyabi, unable to match the first two in the closing stages.
Mawhob finishes best to seal victory
Mawhob (Zelzal x Mahabba) landed the fifth race, a Thoroughbred Handicap (45–65) over 1200m (Class 6) for three-year-olds and upwards, with nine lining up for the contest, pulling clear by 2 lengths. The six-year-old gelding, in the colours of Al Raheeb Racing, is trained by Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hajri and was guided by Salman Fahad Al-Hajri, who completed a double. The bay gelding put his recent efforts behind him to return to the form he showed earlier in the season and record a third success this term.
The early stages were marked by constant changes at the head of affairs, with Cloak And Dagger (Lope De Vega), Delirious Dream (Oasis Dream) and Spycraft (Siyouni) all taking turns in front. Mawhob was held up towards the rear before beginning to make ground through the middle part of the race, moving into third approaching the home turn. In the straight, Spycraft and Delirious Dream again disputed the lead and looked set to fight it out. However, inside the final 300m, Mawhob was produced with a well-timed run, closing quickly on the leaders before striking the front. He soon drew clear in the closing stages, putting the race beyond doubt with a decisive finishing effort. Spycraft, racing for Rashid Ali Al-Adgham and from the Bader Al Balushi yard, with Lukas Delozier aboard, held second, a head in front of the Mohammed Al Ghazali-trained Ana Hadi, who finished strongly for Sharida bin Nasser bin Sharida Al-Kaabi under Salem Alajmi to take third after a close battle with Delirious Dream near the line.
Blazing Sunset edges thriller on the line
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Blazing Sunset (Bated Breath x Solar Pursuit) landed the sixth race, a Thoroughbred Handicap (55–75) over 1900m (Class 5) for three-year-olds and upwards, with 14 runners in attendance, getting up by a short head. The six-year-old bay gelding, in the ownership of Khalid Rashid Al-Mohannadi, was prepared by Rashid Al Jehani and partnered by Maikon De Souza, producing his best effort since his last success in November 2024 to record a fourth career win.
Breaking from barrier 3, Blazing Sunset was settled towards the rear in the early stages as Ready Reckoner (Showcasing) and Due To Dance (Due Diligence) alternated the lead, with Glengarra (Profitable) and Mobilise (Footstepsinthesand) disputing the next positions. The order held steady through the middle part of the race, with Due To Dance appearing to have matters in hand approaching the home turn. Around the bend, Glengarra moved forward strongly to take over and looked set to go on. Soon after straightening, Blazing Sunset and Lord Deputy (Dubawi) began to close rapidly, joining the leading pair as Due To Dance faded from contention. The trio of Blazing Sunset, Lord Deputy and Glengarra were locked together for much of the straight, with the pace unrelenting. Inside the final 100m, Glengarra began to tire after earlier exertions, leaving Blazing Sunset and Lord Deputy to fight it out. The pair went stride for stride to the line, crossing almost as one, with the photo finish awarding the verdict to Blazing Sunset in one of the closest finishes of the evening. Lord Deputy, representing Al Ghazali Stud and from the Gassim Al Ghazali yard, with Muanis Al Siyabi aboard, was narrowly denied, finishing 1¼ lengths clear of the Saleh Naji Al Yafei-trained Glengarra, who kept on for Al Thumama Racing under Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi to take third.
Damaah asserts with authority
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Damaah (AF AlBahar x Farashat Yasmina) landed the seventh race, a Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (55–75) over 1200m (Class 5) for four-year-olds and upwards, with 11 going to post, drawing clear by 3¾ lengths. The five-year-old bay mare, racing for Abdulaziz Saleh Al Jaber, is trained by Hadi Al Ramzani and had Alberto Sanna aboard, rewarded for two recent runner-up efforts as she went one better this time to record a second career success.
From the widest draw, Damaah raced prominently in second behind the early leader Tayyar Al Shahania (Jaafer ASF), with Kanz Al Adeed (AF AlBahar), Hardan (Assy) and Al Maqam (No Risk Al Maury) following in behind. The order remained unchanged through the early and middle stages, with the field well strung out. Approaching the home turn, the eventual first three moved clear of the rest. Passing the 300m marker, the gaps between them began to widen and the outcome quickly became evident. Damaah asserted decisively, drawing away from her rivals with ease.
Munhamik, racing for Nasser Owaida Salem Al Hajri and from the Owaida Salem Al Hajri yard, with Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri aboard, finished second, 3 lengths clear of the Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned Al Maqam. Trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot, Al Maqam held on for third by a head from Khaled Al Shahania.
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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.
