Shagraan claims Msheireb Cup in emphatic style
Mdmar – Doha – Mohamed Saad
Photo Juhaim
The 63rd race meeting of the season was held at Al Rayyan on dirt on Wednesday, 8 April and featured an eight-race card marked by strong individual performances and notable achievements across the programme. Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of the QREC Racing Operations Section, awarded the Msheireb Cup.
Across the eight races, the winners in order were Atlantic Convoy breaking through in commanding fashion, Al Murqab showing marked improvement to open his account, Afran dazzling on debut with a dominant display, Lucentio swooping late in a thrilling finish, Al Wazeer maintaining his unbeaten record in commanding style, Byblos surging late to score, Jungle Monarch keeping his perfect Qatar record intact and Shagraan storming home to land the Msheireb Cup. The meeting was also highlighted by a remarkable start for trainer Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki, who landed the opening three races in succession while Soufiane Saadi recorded a quick-fire double. Jefferson Smith, Marco Casamento and Saleh Salem Al-Marri each added a double on the card, underlining a day of standout performances in the saddle.
Shagraan storms home to take feature honours
Shagraan (AF AlBahar x Miss Ginioux) won Race 8, the Msheireb Cup, a Purebred Arabian Handicap (85–105) over 1400m (Class 2) for four-year-olds and upwards, featuring a field of 12. The six-year-old bay gelding, representing Saeed Mohammed Shafi Al Shafi, who also oversees his preparation, and with Saleh Salem Al-Marri doing the steering, returned to winning form in the day’s feature, producing a powerful late surge to score by two and a half lengths while his rider completed a double on the card.
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Settled in midfield through the early and middle stages, Shagraan travelled comfortably as Waseelh (No Risk Al Maury) set the pace from the outset, tracked by Posuelo Py (AF AlBahar) before the latter was gradually eased back, with Al Zwair (TM Fred Texas) and the eventual winner also positioned off the tempo. Approaching the home straight, Nah’ash Al Shahania (AF Al Buraq) moved up to challenge and briefly took the lead, but the race quickly turned as the closers began to emerge. Inside the final 200m, Shagraan unleashed a decisive turn of foot, sweeping past his rivals and asserting with authority to put the result beyond doubt. Al Zwair, representing Al Shaqab Racing and prepared by Jean de Mieulle, finished second with Pierre Charles Boudot aboard, a quarter of a length ahead of Posuelo Py, who stayed on for Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Fadala, from the Hamad Al-Jehani yard and with Szczepan Mazur in the saddle to take third, both having come from off the pace with strong late runs.
Atlantic Convoy breaks through in commanding fashion
Atlantic Convoy (Galileo x Take Me With You) won the curtain-raiser, a Thoroughbred Maiden Plate over 2000m (Class 6) for four- to seven-year-olds, featuring a field of 13. The five-year-old bay gelding, from the ownership of Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki, who also oversees his preparation, and with Saleh Salem Al-Marri doing the steering, finally got off the mark on his 13th career start, scoring by three lengths.
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Maraaheb (Sottsass) showed early speed to lead briefly after the start, but Atlantic Convoy quickly moved forward to take control and set the pace. Passing the first bend, Combat Soldier (Soldier’s Call) improved into second ahead of Maraaheb, with the field beginning to settle. Approaching the final bend, Maraaheb moved back into second while Freedom Charter (Mondialiste) progressed into third ahead of Combat Soldier, but Atlantic Convoy remained firmly in command, dictating throughout with no real pressure from behind. In the home straight, Maraaheb attempted to close in on the long-time leader, but Atlantic Convoy always had more in reserve and, inside the final 200m, he quickened again to pull clear for a decisive success. Maraaheb, representing Khamis Ali Khamis Al-Sulaiti and prepared by Hadi Al Ramzani, finished second with Alberto Sanna aboard, two lengths ahead of Princess Alice, who stayed on from midfield for Mohammed Hamad Al-Jehani, from the Hamad Al-Jehani yard and with Pierre Charles Boudot doing the steering to take third, though never threatening the leading pair.
Al Murqab shows improvement to break maiden
Al Murqab (AF AlBahar x Madhkoora) won the first contest following the opener, a Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Plate over 2000m (Class 6) for four- to seven-year-olds, featuring a field of 12. The four-year-old bay colt, in the colours of Mohammed Abdulhadi Al-Hajri, trained by Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki and with Jefferson Smith aboard, showed marked improvement to open his account on his fourth career start and his first on dirt, which may well have proved the key to his success while his trainer completed a quick-fire double.
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Settled in midfield after breaking well, Al Murqab travelled comfortably as Motaghatres (AF AlBahar) set the early pace up to the second bend, tracked by Der’h Al Shahania (Gazwan) and Dahman Al Shahania (Jaafer). Approaching the home turn, Wahdan (Mister Ginoux) produced a strong move from off the pace to briefly take the lead, but Motaghatres soon regained control, with Der’h Al Shahania improving again into third as the race began to develop. In the early part of the straight, the focus appeared to be on the front pair, but inside the final 300m, Al Murqab produced a sharp turn of foot to move into contention and join Motaghatres. The pair engaged in a brief duel before Al Murqab asserted inside the final 200m to settle matters. Motaghatres, representing Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and prepared by Hamad Al-Jehani, finished second with Szczepan Mazur doing the steering, two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Dounia, who stayed on from midfield for Wathnan Racing, from the Alban de Mieulle yard and with Youssef Lachhab in the saddle to take third, without posing a serious threat to the first two home.
Afran dazzles on debut in dominant display
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Afran (Noor Al Hawa x Amber Heights) won Race 3, a Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate over 1400m (Class 5) for three-year-olds, featuring a field of six. The bay filly, in the colours of Al Wasmiyah Farm, trained by Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki and guided by Marco Casamento, made a striking impression on debut, producing a pillar-to-post performance to score by four lengths and confirm herself as a filly of considerable promise. The success also completed a notable hat-trick on the day for her trainer, who sent out the winners of the opening three races.
Breaking smartly from barrier one, Afran quickly went to the front and dictated the pace, travelling comfortably into the first bend where Halitan (Al Wukair) moved up to apply pressure and the pair opening a clear advantage over the remainder of the field. Sharifa K A (Money Multiplier) improved into third, but remained a couple of lengths behind the leading duo, who continued to control the race approaching the straight. On entering the home straight, Afran quickly asserted, showing a sharp turn of foot to pull further clear. Inside the final 200m, she extended her advantage with ease, stretching clear with every stride to seal an emphatic victory. Halitan, representing Umm Al Shukhut Farm and prepared by Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, finished second with Alberto Sanna aboard, two and one-fifth lengths ahead of Sharifa K A, who kept on for Al Meqdam Racing, from the Maayouf bin Hashim Al-Shamari yard and with Salman Fahad Al-Hajri doing the steering to take third.
Lucentio swoops late in blanket finish
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Lucentio (Too Darn Hot x Blue Chip) won Race 4, the Thoroughbred Handicap (55–75) over 2000m (Class 5) for three-year-olds and upwards, featuring a full field of 16 in what proved the most thrilling finish on the card so far. The five-year-old bay horse, carrying the colours of Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, trained by Ahmed Kobeissi and partnered by Jefferson Smith, returned to winning ways with his first success in Qatar on his thirteenth start in the country, adding to three consecutive wins at Windsor in 2024 while his rider completed a double on the evening, scoring by half a length.
Settled at the rear in the early stages, Lucentio was content to bide his time as Billabong (Oasis Dream) set the early pace from Assertively (Acclamation) and Leicester Square (Masar). Passing the first bend, Wonder Smile (Exceed And Excel) moved forward to take control and dictated the tempo, with Billabong and Liable (Frankel) in close attendance. As the race developed, Due To Dance (Due Diligence) made a strong move from the back to move into second approaching the home turn, challenging for position behind the long-time leader while the rest of the field began to close in. Entering the straight, the field compressed rapidly, with runners across the track still in contention and the outcome far from certain as both front-runners and closers converged. Inside the final 300m, Lucentio produced a powerful surge from off the pace to hit the front, with Lightning Leo (Night Of Thunder), Al Mehrab (Zarak) and Fylde Coast (Birchwood) all finishing strongly and closing in to set up a dramatic finish. Lucentio, however, held on gamely inside the final 100m to secure victory. Lightning Leo, representing Bakhit Ali Mashan and prepared by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi, finished second with Saleh Salem Al-Marri at the reins, just a neck ahead of Al Mehrab, who stayed on for Al Fadala Racing, under the care of Ali Yousuf Al-Kubaisi and with Pierre Charles Boudot doing the steering. Fylde Coast, racing for HE Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud and trained by Gassim Al Ghazali, was a further head away in fourth with Lukas Delozier aboard, confirming the exceptionally tight nature of the finish among the principals.
Al Wazeer remains unbeaten in commanding style
Al Wazeer (Marid x Faiha) won Race 5, a Purebred Arabian Novice Plate over 1400m (Class 5) for three-year-olds, featuring a field of 13. The grey colt, carrying the colours of Wathnan Racing, trained by Alban de Mieulle and with Soufiane Saadi doing the steering, maintained his unbeaten record with a second successive victory following his winning debut less than three weeks ago, dominating throughout to score by four and a half lengths.
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Breaking sharply from barrier four, Al Wazeer went straight to the front and quickly established control, dictating the tempo without pressure. He was tracked early by AJS Ehteraz (Muraaqib) before Mutheer Al Zaeem (Jenjal) moved into second through the middle stages. Turning into the straight, Baghia Al Shahania (Assy) produced a strong run from off the pace to take second, with Al Zoor (Mister Ginoux) and Amrood Al Shahania (Assy) also closing in behind. However, Al Wazeer always had matters in hand and, inside the final 200m, increased the tempo again, pulling further clear before putting the race to bed in the closing stages. Baghia Al Shahania, representing Al Wakra Racing and prepared by Zuhair Mohsen, finished second with Faleh Bughenaim at the reins, five and a half lengths ahead of Amrood Al Shahania, who stayed on from off the pace for HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, from the Rudy Nerbonne yard and guided by Alberto Sanna to take third, underlining the clear superiority of the winner.
Byblos surges late to break through in Qatar
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Byblos (Frankel x Bird Flown) won Race 6, the Thoroughbred Handicap (65–85) over 2000m (Class 4) for four-year-olds and upwards, featuring a field of 14. The four-year-old bay gelding, carrying the colours of Al Hedfa Stud, trained by Bader Al Balushi and guided by Soufiane Saadi, overcame the widest draw to record his first win in Qatar on his fourth start in Doha, having finished placed on his previous two outings, including a runner-up effort over 2500m on the same course last week, scoring by two and a half lengths and providing his rider with a quick-fire double.
All three of the eventual placegetters were settled off the pace, with Byblos initially in midfield before dropping further back, Mysteryofthesands (Footstepsinthesand) at the rear and Elliptical (Footstepsinthesand) also positioned towards the back. Rathmoy (Blue Point) set the tempo for much of the race, tracked by See All Match (Acclamation), with Lil’ Frank (Frankel) and Coco Jack (Wings Of Eagles) close behind as the field remained well strung out. Passing the second turn, Mysteryofthesands began to make steady progress, improving into midfield as the pace held up front. On entering the home straight, See All Match kicked clear and looked the likely winner in the early stages, but the complexion changed quickly in the closing stages as several runners finished strongly from off the pace. Inside the final 100m, Byblos, Mysteryofthesands and Elliptical all arrived together to contest the finish, but Byblos found more to assert and pull clear late. Mysteryofthesands, representing Nasser Saif Al-Kubaisi and prepared by Mohammed Al Ghazali, finished second with Salem Alajmi aboard, a quarter of a length ahead of Elliptical, who stayed on for HE Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, from the Gassim Al Ghazali yard and with Marco Casamento doing the steering to take third.
Jungle Monarch keeps perfect Qatar record intact
Jungle Monarch (Bungle Inthejungle x Lady Spangles) won Race 7, the Thoroughbred Handicap (0–90) over 1400m (Class 3) for three-year-olds, featuring a field of 11. The bay gelding, carrying the colours of HE Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud, from the Gassim Al Ghazali stable and with Marco Casamento doing the steering, remained unbeaten in Qatar with a third consecutive success, having previously scored twice on dirt, and continued his consistent profile following five placed efforts earlier in the UK, prevailing by one and a half lengths while his rider recorded a double on the card.
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Breaking well, Jungle Monarch initially took the lead before being eased into second to obtain cover behind Calafiori (Ardad), who dictated the pace through the early and middle stages. Tuyoof (Pinatubo) tracked in third, maintaining a close position just behind the leading pair. Turning for home, Jungle Monarch moved back up to challenge and quickly regained the lead, with Calafiori still in close attendance and Tuyoof holding third as the tempo lifted. Inside the final 200m, Jungle Monarch asserted decisively, drawing clear to secure victory. Brotherhood Of Man (Siyouni), representing Nasser Saif Al-Kubaisi and prepared by Mohammed Al Ghazali, finished second with Soufiane Saadi doing the steering, having travelled in midfield throughout before producing a strong late run to snatch second without threatening the winner. Zoiros (Sioux Nation), for Al Falah Stud, from the Hamad Al-Jehani yard and with Pierre Charles Boudot aboard, finished strongly from midfield to take third, just a short head behind the runner-up and a neck ahead of Tuyoof, who kept on after racing prominently for Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, also trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and partnered by Arnaud de Lepine.
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