Qatar Gold Sword meeting at Al Rayyan
QREC stages major raceday today amid strong anticipation
International field primed for high-class contest for major honours
Al Sabiq Championship Finals and Arabian show horse race series conclude
Mdmar -Doha – QREC
The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC), chaired by Mr Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, stages the Qatar Gold Sword raceday this evening, Thursday 23 April 2026, on the turf track at Al Rayyan Racecourse. The nine-race card features a mix of distances and horse categories. It marks the final major fixture of the domestic season, which is approaching its conclusion following a campaign defined by strong and competitive racing among owners, trainers and jockeys.
Significant attention surrounds today’s meeting, given the stature of the event and the prize money on offer across the programme, notably the eighth and ninth races, run for the Qatar Gold Trophy and the Qatar Gold Sword, respectively. The raceday also hosts the finale of the Al Sabiq Championship, organised by QREC for Qatari riders, a competition that continues to draw strong interest owing to the closely matched nature of the participants and the strong interest it attracts whenever staged, particularly alongside major meetings.
In addition, the programme includes the Finale of the Purebred Arabian show horse race series, held for the first time this season at QREC.
International contest for Gold Sword
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QREC has completed its preparations for the meeting, with the final declarations confirmed for the nine-race card. The feature, the ninth race, will be run for the Qatar Gold Sword, with prize money of USD 250,000, matching the Qatar Gold Trophy as the richest contests on the programme. The main event is a Gr1 PA international contest for Purebred Arabians over 2000 metres, with one overseas runner set to line up among the field.
A total of nine runners have been declared, namely: Aneed Al Shahania (Azadi x Al Anga), representing HE Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani; Hadi De Carrere (Nieshan x Viki De Carrere), racing for Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohamed bin Faleh Al-Thani; Jenkille Hipolyte (Al Mamun Monlau x Via Hipolyte), owned by Osama Omer Al-Dafea; Kanti De Bozouls (No Risk Al Maury x Mesk De Bozouls), in the colours of Abu Dhabi Racing; Nasser Al Shahania (Jaafer ASF x Nacree Al Maury) and Samsa Al Shahania (Assy x Salma Al Khalediah), both representing Al Shahania Stud; Chdia (Al Mourtajez x Rkaya), carrying the banner of Wathnan Racing; Ghara (Azadi x Jade Du Paon), from Al Wasmiyah Farm; and Medan (Assy x Djergali), owned by Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi.
13 runners declared for Qatar Gold Trophy
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Another feature contest on the card is the eighth race, run for the QA Gr1 Qatar Gold Trophy for Thoroughbreds. It is also an international race over 2000 metres, featuring one overseas runner, and carries prize money of USD 250,000, matching the feature ninth race. A field of 13 has been declared, namely: Aafoor (Qurbaan x Filfila) representing Al Jeryan Stud; Basalt (Pinatubo x Alienate) and Dubawi Spectre (Dubawi x Spectre), both racing for HE Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud; Dumonet (Soldier Hollow x Empty Pages), owned by Nasser Essa Al-Kuwari; Fighter (Frankel × Night Visit), in the colours of Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik; Foehn (Johnny Barnes x Love and War), owned by Hamad Ramzan Al-Naimi; Jeff Koons (Frankel x Quidura), Supercooled (Lope De Vega x Liquid Amber) and Wafei (American Pharoah x Flying), carrying the Wathnan Racing silks; Pacifiste (Saxon Warrior x Lady of Shamrock), representing Sharq Stud; Sovereign Spirit (Le Havre x Shutka), from Al-Afoo Racing Stable of Bahrain; Sussex (Dubawi x Kissed), owned by Al Jeryan Stud; and Tiding (Dubawi x Sun Maiden), representing Sheikh Abdul Rahman Rashid Al-Thani.
Supporting races on the card
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Aside from the eighth and ninth races, a further seven contests complete the programme. The opener is a Local Purebred Arabian Handicap over 1600 metres, with prize money of USD 50,000. The following race is the Sealine Sprint Cup for Thoroughbreds over 1200 metres, carrying USD 80,000 while the next contest is run for the Local Thoroughbred Cup over 2000 metres, also worth USD 80,000. The fourth race is the Al Wajba Trophy for three-year-old Thoroughbreds over 2000 metres, with USD 80,000 on offer. The fifth race stages the Finale of Purebred Arabian Show Horse Race Series (stallions and mares) over 1200 metres, with prize money of QAR 75,000. The sixth race is the Qatar Silver Trophy for Local Purebred Arabians over 1600 metres, carrying USD 80,000. The seventh race on the card is run for the Qatar Silver Sword for four-year-old Purebred Arabians over 2000 metres, with a purse of USD 150,000.
Results from last season’s meeting
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The Gr1 PA Qatar Gold Sword for Purebred Arabians, staged last season on turf at Al Uqda, was won by Luwsail (Al Mourtajez x Al Dowha), owned and bred by Al Shaqab Racing, under the care of trainer Jean de Mieulle and ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot.
In the QA Gr1 Qatar Gold Trophy for Thoroughbreds, Bolthole (Free Eagle x Weekend Getaway), representing Wathnan Racing, secured the title for a second successive year, trained by Alban de Mieulle and again partnered by Pierre-Charles Boudot.
The Qatar Silver Trophy for Local Purebred Arabians was claimed by Hadlan (AF AlBahar x Brasilya), owned by Abdullah bin Saeed Abdullah Al Mesnad, with Wasim Al Sahn overseeing his preparation and also Pierre-Charles Boudot in the saddle.
Meanwhile, the Qatar Silver Sword for Purebred Arabians went to Ghara (Azadi x Jade Du Paon), who provided Al Wasmiyah Farm with the honours, trained by Hamad Al Jehani and ridden by Lukas Delozier.
*“mdmar” website for horse racing and equestrian News
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.
