One Nation storms clear to secure commanding Doha Cup victory
Mdmar – Doha – Mohamed Saad
Photo Juhaim
The season’s 12th race meeting at Al Rayyan Racecourse unfolded on Wednesday, 19 November, featuring a seven-race card on dirt that delivered commanding displays across the board. Wide winning margins became the theme of the afternoon. Apart from the tight wins of Ruling Master and AJS Kabul, Al Fareq, Harba Alseej, Taaghi and Za’eer Al Shahania all imposed their authority in style before One Nation sealed the evening with a decisive triumph in the Doha Cup.. The feature contest brought the curtain down in fitting fashion, with One Nation surging clear to secure the trophy, after which Mr Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya, QREC Chairman, presented the winning connections with their awards.
One Nation dominates Doha Cup with emphatic late surge
One Nation (Dubawi x Lacey’s Lane) delivered a commanding performance to land the Doha Cup, a Thoroughbred Handicap (85–105) for 4YO+ over 1700m. The 5YO chestnut gelding, owned by Hamed Ali Al-Mulla and trained by Ahmed Al Jehani, built smartly on his seasonal debut, producing an impressive winning effort under Arnaud De Lepine.
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One Nation tracked the leaders throughout, racing between third and fourth as Account (Acclamation) dictated the early pace with Coco Jack (Wings Of Eagles) close in attendance. Approaching the home turn, De Lepine asked his mount to quicken and the response was immediate. One Nation surged forward, swept past the leading pair and powered clear to seal the race with authority, scoring by three lengths. Millions (Pivotal), owned and trained by Abdulaziz Ali Al-Kathiri and ridden by Maikon De Souza, stayed on strongly from midfield to take second, two lengths ahead of Dubawi Spectre (Dubawi), trained by Gassim Al Ghazali for H.E. Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud and ridden by Marco Casamento, who finished well for third.
Al Fareq powers home to make winning seasonal return
Al Fareq (Al Mamun Monlau x Mal’lak) kicked off his new campaign in style, building on last season’s runner-up finish to double his career tally with an authoritative victory in the opening race of the seven-race card. The 4YO grey colt, trained by Julian Smart for owner Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and partnered by Alberto Sanna, asserted his class to score by 2½ lengths in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0–65), a Class 6 for 3YO+, over 1900m.
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Breaking alertly from barrier 5, Al Fareq travelled prominently throughout the 13-runner race, settling initially in third before moving smoothly into second behind early leader Alouqa (Nashmi), who dictated the pace up to the home turn. Shamshon ANR (Arkan Al Naif), Hdeedan (Mu’azzaz) and Metrash (Pharfadet) raced close behind the leading pair as the field bunched approaching the bend. Once in the home straight, Sanna asked his mount to quicken and Al Fareq responded impressively, striking the front with purpose. Aaneef Zakhir (Djendel), trained and owned by Eng. Osama Omer Al-Dafea and ridden by Lukas Delozier, produced a sharp late sweep from mid-division, briefly threatening the leader as the pair pulled well clear of the rest. But inside the final 200m, Al Fareq showed plenty more, surging again to put the race to bed decisively. Bin La Hoor (La Hoor), trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi for owner Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi and ridden by Mohammed Moussa, stayed on to take third, a sizeable 7¼ lengths behind the runner-up.
Ruling Master digs deep to land maiden victory
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Ruling Master (Holy Roman Emperor x Spring To Mind) finally opened his account in Qatar, rewarding his consistent placed efforts with a determined breakthrough win in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for 3–7YOs over 1900m (Class 6), which brought together 11 runners. The 3YO bay gelding, owned by H.E. Meshaal bin Ali Al-Attiyah, is trained by Gassim Al Ghazali and was guided to victory by Marco Casamento, scoring by a neck.
Ruling Master tracked the leaders from midfield as Zekreet (Profitable) dictated the early pace, followed by Vaha (Time Test) and Aljalta (Toronado). Around the first bend, Aljalta took over and Ruling Master made gradual headway into fourth and then third behind Aljalta and Vaha before improving to second approaching the final bend. The order remained largely unchanged until the home turn, where the field bunched up and several runners loomed with intent. Once in the straight, Ruling Master was pushed forward to take control and looked to have sealed the deal passing the 300m mark. However, Fantastic Deal (Fantastic Moon), trained by Abdulla Al-Mulla for Al Jasra Stud and ridden by Ivan Rossi, unleashed a powerful late surge from behind, rapidly narrowing the gap in the final 100m and adding real drama to the finish. Despite the strong challenge, Ruling Master held on bravely to prevail by a neck and the front pair finishing well clear of the rest. Aljalta, trained by Rashid Al Jehani for Khalid Rashid Al-Mohannadi and ridden by Lukas Delozier, stayed on for third, five lengths behind the runner-up and only a head in front of the fourth-placed finisher.
AJS Kabul edges late to seal maiden victory
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AJS Kabul (Seraphin Du Paon x Mangadore) made a winning seasonal debut, breaking his maiden with a determined late surge in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4–7YOs over 1900m (Class 6), which featured 13 runners. The 4YO chestnut colt, owned by Fahad Salem Al-Hajri and trained by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, was driven to success by jockey Youssef Lachhab, scoring by a quarter of a length.
The race unfolded in a manner reminiscent of the opening contests of the evening, with the eventual winner tracking the early leaders closely in third. Awamir (No Risk Al Maury) dictated the tempo in the early stages before Der’h Al Shahania (Gazwan) moved up to take over after the first bend. Approaching the home turn, Awamir regained command, setting the stage for a two-horse battle well clear of the rest. In the home straight, AJS Kabul began to make strong headway from the outside as Awamir responded along the rail, the pair drawing away in an intense duel. This time, unlike the earlier races, it was the late challenger who prevailed, with AJS Kabul finding extra in the final metres to edge past Awamir and secure a hard-fought win. Awamir, trained by Zuhair Mohsen for Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and ridden by Gavin Matt Ryan, finished second, six lengths ahead of Munahis (AF AlBahar), who claimed third for owner Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohamed bin Faleh Al-Thani, trainer Hadi Al Ramzani and jockey Jefferson Smith.
Harba Alseej powers clear for impressive victory
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Harba Alseej (Danadana x Oasis Spirit) continued her upward trajectory with a polished performance to claim the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0–45) for 3YO+ over 1200m, a Class 6 contest featuring seven runners. The 4YO filly, owned by Badr Batal Al-Otibi and trained by Nayef Batal Al-Otibi, secured her second career win under Marco Casamento, who completed a double on the evening.
Breaking sharply from the widest draw, Harba Alseej showed early speed before settling into second behind Bin Narain (Vedevani), who dictated the pace up to the home turn. Minsk (Danadana), trained by Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed for H.E. Meshaal bin Ali Al-Attiyah and ridden by Alberto Sanna, tracked the pair closely while Mabsam (Vedevani) and Conan Bu Thaila (Mandour) raced just behind. Around the bend, Minsk swept forward to take the lead, but once in the home straight Harba Alseej produced a decisive response, regaining control and stretching clear with authority. She drew away stylishly to win by 2¼ lengths while Minsk stayed on strongly to finish a clear second. Conan Bu Thaila, trained by Alanoud Khalifa Al-Malki for Al Anood Stud and ridden by Mourad Zabout, finished a further 5½ lengths behind in third.
Taaghi dominates from the front
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Taaghi (Al Mourtajez x Forgehill Chamille) delivered a superb pillar-to-post performance to take the Purebred Arabian Handicap (55–75) for 3YO+, Class 5, featuring 15 runners, over 1900m. The 5YO bay gelding, owned by 51 East Racing and trained by Wasim Al Sahn, broke sharply from barrier 3 and never saw a rival, stretching clear under Olivier d’Andigné to score by an emphatic 4¼ lengths. It was a commanding display from Taaghi, who was simply untouchable from start to finish.
Taaghi immediately asserted control, dictating a strong tempo and keeping the entire field at arm’s length throughout. Hidalgo Du Croate (Al Mamun Monlau) attempted to bridge the gap for much of the journey, but the leader’s unrelenting pace made it impossible for any challenger to land a blow. Around the home bend, Lavinia De Carrere (Nieshan), trained by Hamad Al-Jehani for Time Form Syndicate and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, improved to take over second while Motaghatres (AF AlBahar), representing Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, trained by Julian Smart and ridden by Alberto Sanna, stayed on well to secure third a further 4¼ lengths behind.
Za’eer Al Shahania powers clear with dominant display
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Za’eer Al Shahania (Burning Sand x Ezaajh) produced a commanding performance to land the penultimate race of the evening, a Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (60–80) for 3YO+ over 1900m, Class 4, featuring 11 runners. The 4YO grey colt, owned, trained and superbly prepared by Eng. Osama Omer Al-Dafea, secured his strongest career performance to date, storming home by resounding eight lengths under Soufiane Saadi.
Za’eer Al Shahania travelled smoothly throughout, tracking the early leader Hardan (Assy) with Dhi Qar Zakhir (Jenjal) in close attendance. Passing the 800m mark, Saadi pushed the button and the response was instant, as the colt surged forward, turning the race into a one-horse show. In the home straight, he continued to pull further and further away, never in danger and always extending his advantage with every stride. Behind the runaway winner, Burkan Zakhir (La Hoor), trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi for owner Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi and ridden by Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi, initially looked set for second, but Soufyan Al Shahania (TM Fred Texas), representing Eng. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and trained by Ahmed Kobeissi, finished strongly under Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik to claim the runner-up spot by a length.
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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.
