Nasser Al Shahania captures Eraida Cup in determined fashion
Doha – Mdmar – Mohamed Saad
Photos By Juhim
Eraida Cup race meeting held at Al Rayyan Racecourse on turf on Wednesday, 18 March, staged an eight-race card highlighted by a series of notable riding performances and a strong supporting programme beneath the feature. Across the eight races, the winners in order were Al Wazeer making a winning debut in the opener, Nahar doubling his tally for the campaign with a determined success, Delirious Dream getting his head in front for the first time this season, Big Song securing his first win in Qatar, Mohimma producing a late surge to land a thrilling finish, Albatar scoring on his Qatar debut, Jenkille Hipolyte returning to winning ways and Nasser Al Shahania capturing the Eraida Cup in determined fashion. The card also featured a quick-fire double for Arnaud de Lepine and a standout performance from Faleh Bughenaim, who delivered a sensational four-timer across the evening.
Saad Ali Al Kubaisi, Deputy Director of the QREC Registration & Studbook Department, awarded the Eraida Cup following the evening’s feature.
Nasser Al Shahania holds firm in stirring finish
Nasser Al Shahania (Jaafer ASF x Nacree Al Maury) landed the Eraida Cup in the evening’s final and feature race, a Purebred Arabian Handicap over 2200m (Class 2) for five-year-olds and older, with seven runners going to post. The six-year-old chestnut, racing in the colours of Al Shahania Stud and prepared by Rudy Nerbonne, who secured a one-two, was steered by Lukas Delozier and recorded his first win in just three outings this campaign, prevailing by half a length, with a decisive gap back to third.
Settled towards the rear in the early exchanges, Nasser Al Shahania travelled comfortably as Alshanfara (AF AlBahar) showed the way initially from Al Kazim (Al Mamun Monlau) and Medan (Assy) before the latter took over. The pace then shifted again through the middle stages when Lattam (No Risk Al Maury) surged forward to assume control, setting the race up for a late challenge. Approaching the home turn, Nasser Al Shahania made his move from the back of the field, sweeping into contention with a powerful surge to take the lead. His stablemate Caid Du Soleil (Al Mourtajez), carrying the same colours and also representing the Nerbonne yard, produced a matching effort to join him and the pair quickly drew clear of the remainder in the straight. The final 200m developed into a duel between the stable companions, with Caid Du Soleil, partnered by Soufiane Saadi, closing strongly, but Nasser Al Shahania found enough to hold him at bay to the line. Lattam, representing Abdulrahman Fahad Al-Attiyah, under the guidance of Hamad Al-Jehani and with Arnaud de Lepine in the saddle, finished a further four lengths adrift in third, underlining how the first two home had settled the outcome between themselves in the closing stages.
Al Wazeer makes winning debut
Al Wazeer (Marid x Faiha) took the opener, a Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate over 1200m (Class 6) for three-year-olds, with a field of 10. The grey colt, carrying the colours of Wathnan Racing, under the care of Alban de Mieulle and partnered by Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri, made a successful debut from a wide draw in barrier 9, showing determination to score by one and a quarter lengths.
Breaking well, Al Wazeer settled just behind the early leader Edham (Haddaj Dukhan), travelling prominently ahead of Bint Tayf (Tayf) and Al Zoor (Mister Ginoux) as the field progressed through the early and middle stages. Approaching the final bend, he moved up to challenge and briefly took the lead before Edham responded to reclaim it. Around the turn, Al Zoor produced a forward move to take command on entering the straight, setting up a competitive finish. Al Wazeer, however, was not done, and under pressure he rallied strongly to close on the new leader. Inside the final 200m, he joined Al Zoor and quickly asserted, pulling clear to register an impressive victory on debut. Al Zoor, also making his first start for Umm Al Shukhut Farm, trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and jockey Lukas Delozier, stayed on for second, three lengths ahead of Baghia Al Shahania (Assy), another debutant who finished strongly from midfield for Al Wakra Racing, trainer Zuhair Mohsen and jockey Faleh Bughenaim to take third.
Nahar returns to winning form
Nahar (Charm Spirit x Spritza) took Race 2, the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0–45) over 1200m (Class 6) for three-year-olds and upwards, with 13 declared runners. The six-year-old bay gelding, carrying the colours of Al Hajaj Farm, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and partnered by Faleh Bughenaim, bounced back to winning form to double his tally for the season, scoring by one and three-quarter lengths from barrier two.
At the start, Shaha (Lethal Force) stood flat-footed and took no effective part in the race. Muraykh (Vedevani), Achika (Migwar) and Harba Alseej (Danadana) contested the early lead, with the latter soon assuming control while Nahar settled in fourth just behind the leading trio and ahead of Minsk (Danadana). Passing the first bend, Nahar improved smoothly into second before quickly striking the front, taking the field into the home straight in command. Minsk began to close from behind, moving into contention alongside Achika as the challengers converged on the leader. Inside the final 200m, Nahar found extra under pressure and kept his rivals at bay, maintaining a clear advantage to the line. Minsk, representing HE Meshaal bin Ali Al-Attiyah and trained by Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, finished strongly under Damien Morin to take second, a length ahead of Achika. The latter, owned by Mohammed Abdulla Al-Jumaily, with Yousef Al Jumaily responsible for training duties, stayed on to finish third under Saleh Salem Al-Marri.
Delirious Dream lands first win of campaign
Delirious Dream (Oasis Dream x Papaver) won Race 3, the Thoroughbred Handicap (0–60) over 1400m (Class 6) for three-year-olds and upwards, featuring the maximum field of 16. The six-year-old bay gelding, representing Nasser Owaida Salem Al Hajri, saddled by Owaida Salem Al Hajri and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, improved on a recent second-place finish to record his first success of the campaign, getting up late to score by three-quarters of a length and provide his rider with a quick-fire double.
Settled around midfield through the early and middle stages, Delirious Dream travelled comfortably as Acclaim To Royalty (Acclamation) dictated the pace, leading throughout ahead of Gannas (Harry Angel), Alhoby (Kodiac) and War Effort (Mehmas), with the leading quartet well established. Approaching the final bend, the field began to bunch as several runners attempted to close in while Delirious Dream was still travelling in behind the main group as the race developed into the straight. With attention focused on the leaders, Delirious Dream began to make his move from the centre of the pack inside the final 300m, weaving through and quickening with purpose. He surged past rivals with every stride to hit the front and, once in command, showed determination to hold on gamely to the line. Acclaim To Royalty, in the colours of Fahad Salem Al-Hajri and trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi, stayed on under Szczepan Mazur to take second, half a length ahead of Alhoby, who kept on for Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, with Debbie Mountain overseeing training duties and Soufiane Saadi in the saddle.
Big Song secures first Qatar success
Big Song (Earthlight x Nadein) won Race 4, the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate over 2000m (Class 4) for three-year-olds, with 11 runners going to post. The bay gelding, owned and trained by Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, recorded his third career victory and his first in Qatar, his previous two wins having come in the UK, getting up late to score by three-quarters of a length and provide his rider with a quick-fire treble.
Held up towards the rear through the early and middle stages, Big Song conserved energy as Corinth (Dubawi) and Swift Winds (Kodiac) disputed the lead throughout, with Just A City Boy (Sioux Nation), Reverberate (Night Of Thunder) and Victorious One (Siyouni) tracking closely behind in a race where the order at the front remained largely unchanged. Approaching the home turn, Victorious One improved into third behind the leading pair while Big Song began to make headway from the rear, moving into contention and entering the straight in fourth, still with ground to make up. Inside the final 100m, Big Song produced a sharp turn of foot to surge past his rivals and take the lead, holding on gamely in the closing strides. Victorious One, representing Al Wasmiyah Farm and also trained by Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, stayed on under Lukas Delozier to secure second, three lengths ahead of the third placed Corinth, owned by Abdulaziz Saleh Al Jaber, trained by Hadi Al Ramzani and ridden by Alberto Sanna.
Mohimma snatches victory in thrilling finish
Mohimma (Al Mourtajez x Nyriad) won Race 5, the Purebred Arabian Handicap (60–80) over 1400m (Class 4) for four-year-olds and upwards, with nine runners going to post, and produced the most thrilling finish of the evening. The lightly raced five-year-old bay gelding, representing Al Shaqab Racing, trained by Jean de Mieulle and partnered by Faleh Bughenaim, registered his first victory in just his third start of the campaign, putting two previous efforts behind him with a powerful late surge to score by a neck, while Bughenaim completed a sensational four-timer on the card.
Settled at the rear in the early and middle stages, Mohimma conserved energy as Dabas (AF AlBahar) set a solid pace from Tayyar Al Shahania (Jaafer ASF) and Midrass (Amer), opening up a two-length advantage over the field through the first half of the race. Passing the 800m marker, Al Ryan Park (AF Al Bahar) began to improve from third, reducing the deficit to a length behind the leader, with Midrass tracking closely. Al Ryan Park continued to close on Dabas and soon struck the front, shaping as the likely winner as the pair moved clear of the rest. However, inside the final 300m Mohimma emerged with a powerful late surge from the rear, rapidly making up ground to join the leaders. In the closing stages, he and Al Ryan Park pulled well clear of the remainder and in a dramatic finish, Mohimma edged ahead right on the line. Al Ryan Park, in the colours of Al Eida Racing and under the guidance of Gassim Al Ghazali, finished second with Marco Casamento in the saddle, three lengths ahead of Dabas, representing Abdulrahman Batal Al-Otibi, from the yard of Nayef Batal Al-Otibi, with Saleh Salem Al-Marri in the saddle.
Taftan edges thrilling photo-finish success
Taftan (AF Al Buraq x Zaaqya) won Race 6, the Purebred Arabian Open Race over 2000m (Class 2) for four-year-olds, featuring a small but classy field of five. The four-year-old bay gelding, from the ownership of Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani and handled by Hamad Al-Jehani, with Arnaud de Lepine aboard, returned to winning ways to record his third career victory from eight starts in his first season, getting the verdict by a head in a nail-biting finish that required a photo.
Breaking sharply from the outside barrier, Taftan went straight to the front and set the tempo, with the field strung out in close order behind him. La Quyood (Nieshan), Dawod (Mister Ginoux), Nerci D (Muraaqib) and Wahdan (Mister Ginoux) tracked in line, separated by only narrow margins through the early and middle stages as the pace remained steady. Approaching the final turn, the field began to close up, with Dawod improving into second as the tempo lifted. The margins fluctuated slightly, but the order remained largely unchanged, with Taftan still dictating in front. In the home straight, Dawod ranged up alongside the leader and the pair engaged in a sustained duel. Inside the final 200m they pulled clear of their rivals and battled stride for stride to the line where Taftan just managed to get his head in front. Dawod, carrying the colours of Al Wasmiyah Farm and also from the Hamad Al-Jehani yard, finished second under Szczepan Mazur, three lengths ahead of La Quyood, who races for Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, with Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani responsible for training duties and Soufiane Saadi in the saddle, holding third by a neck from the fast-finishing Wahdan.
Jenkille Hipolyte regains winning touch
Jenkille Hipolyte (Al Mamun Monlau x Via Hipolyte) took Race 7, a Purebred Arabian Conditions contest over 2000m (Class 2) for five-year-olds and older, featuring just four runners. The seven-year-old bay horse, the property of Osama Omer Al-Dafea, who also oversees his preparation, was partnered by Arnaud de Lepine, who completed a quick-fire double, and returned to winning ways with a second success of the season, prevailing by half a length.
Sent straight to the front, Jenkille Hipolyte established the early lead ahead of Samsa Al Shahania (Assy), Khalil Du Croate (No Risk Al Maury) and Ghara (Azadi), with the quartet racing in close order. The pattern shifted at the first bend when Khalil Du Croate moved through to take over, relegating the eventual winner to second while the others tracked closely behind as the margins between them gradually tightened. The order remained unchanged through the middle stages, but the field began to bunch approaching the straight. Turning in, Khalil Du Croate still held sway, with Jenkille Hipolyte poised just behind and the other two within striking distance. Inside the final 200m, Jenkille Hipolyte responded strongly when asked, reclaiming the lead and holding firm under pressure. Samsa Al Shahania, representing Al Shahania Stud and prepared by Rudy Nerbonne, with Lukas Delozier up, chased him all the way to the line to take second while Ghara, racing for Al Wasmiyah Farm and saddled by Hamad Al-Jehani, with Szczepan Mazur aboard, stayed on to finish third, just a neck behind the runner-up.
