Strong performances headline 8-race turf card
Mdmar – Doha – MohamedSaad
Photo Juhaim
A race meeting was conducted at Al Rayyan on turf on Saturday, 18 April. The eight-race card was added to the programme at this stage to provide additional opportunities for lightly raced horses this season.
The day’s contests delivered a sequence of notable performances across the card. Dark Shore broke his maiden in convincing style, Dawrah made a striking debut to score impressively and Tuscan dominated from the front to return to winning ways. Aludaid Alseej made all to shed his maiden tag, Al Mehrab stormed home from the rear in a dramatic finish and Asfaan Al Shahania confirmed his liking for the mile with a strong late surge. Royalty turned his race into a one-horse show with a commanding display before Bin La Hoor swept clear to land the concluding race.
Dark Shore breaks through in commanding style
Dark Shore (Dark Angel x Vivionn) landed the opening race, a Thoroughbred Maiden Plate over 2000m for three-year-olds, with nine lining up for the contest, drawing clear by 4½ lengths. The grey gelding, owned by Sheikh Abdul Rahman Rashid Al-Thani, is trained by Gassim Al Ghazali and had Alberto Sanna aboard, opening his account at the 12th attempt with a decisive display.
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Breaking from barrier 1, Dark Shore was eased into midfield and travelled comfortably behind the leading group through the early and middle stages. Zabeel Flower (Ardad) set the pace, tracked by Son Of Sarabi (Cable Bay) and Lightning Stone (Earthlight). The trio held a clear advantage over the remainder. Passing the second bend, Dark Shore improved into third behind the leader and Son Of Sarabi, with the order largely unchanged as they approached the final turn. Near the home turn, Dark Shore was asked to quicken and responded immediately, moving through to take control before straightening. From there, he asserted with authority, stretching further clear with every stride and putting the race beyond doubt well inside the final furlong, even as his rider eased him late. Swansea, representing Khalid Rashid Al-Mohannadi and from the Rashid Al Jehani yard, with Saleh Salem Al-Marri in the saddle, stayed on from off the pace to take second, ½ length ahead of the Ahmed Al Jehani-trained Besondere, who kept on for Abdulrahman Fahad Al-Attiyah under Faleh Bughenaim to finish third, both never posing a threat to the runaway winner.
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Dawrah dazzles on debut with dominant display
Dawrah (AF AlBahar x Najlaa) landed the second race, a Purebred Arabian Handicap (0–60) over 1600m for four-year-olds and upwards, with 14 runners in the fray, surging clear by 5 lengths. The five-year-old grey horse, representing Al Jasra Stud, from the Bader Al Balushi yard, had Salman Fahad Al-Hajri in the saddle He produced a remarkable debut performance, defying the widest draw and brushing aside experienced rivals, including previous winners, to make an immediate impact.
Despite breaking from the outside stall, Dawrah raced prominently from the outset, positioned wide, but well within striking distance behind the early leader Lattam Al Shajah (Al Mourtajez). Gudari Du Paon (Aim South), Siwar (Majd Al Arab) and Arenteiro (Mahabb) were also in close attendance behind the leader. Approaching the home turn, Dawrah was urged forward from the outside and moved up to challenge, drawing alongside Siwar as the pair took control. Soon after straightening, Dawrah settled the race in a matter of strides, quickening sharply to open up a decisive lead. He continued to lengthen clear inside the final 200m. His momentum carried him further away from the field with none able to match his finishing speed. Siwar, in the colours of Al Shaqab Racing, under the care of Jean de Mieulle, with Youssef Lachhab aboard, kept on for second, 1¼ lengths clear of the Khalifa Saif Al-Kubaisi-owned Arenteiro, trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali and ridden by Salem Alajmi, who stayed on to take third without troubling the winner.
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Tuscan dominates from the front
Tuscan (Churchill x Orcia) landed the third race, a Thoroughbred Handicap (0–65) over 2000m for four-year-olds and upwards, with nine going to post, making all to score by 5 lengths. The seven-year-old bay gelding, racing for M Racing Syndicate, is trained by Bader Al Balushi and was partnered by Maikon De Souza. He produced his best effort of the season to open his account at the sixth attempt this campaign and register a third career success, his first since the 2021/22 season, having been placed on several occasions in the interim.
Tuscan broke sharply from barrier 4 and went straight to the front, setting a steady tempo. Katleiya (Gleneagles) and Ana Hadi (Equiano) tracked in behind, but the leader always held a clear advantage of at least a length. The order remained unchanged through the early and middle stages. On straightening, Tuscan found more and quickly asserted, stretching further clear with each stride and effectively settling the race well before the line. His dominance was never in doubt as he powered away from his rivals. Katleiya, racing for Abdulaziz Saleh Al Jaber, from the Hadi Al Ramzani stable and partnered by Alberto Sanna, stayed on to take second, but was never able to challenge. She finished 2½ lengths clear of the Debbie Mountain-trained It’s A Hot One, who came home strongly from off the pace for Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik under Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik to take third, both well held by the impressive winner.
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Aludaid Alseej makes all on second start
Aludaid Alseej (Mister Ginoux x Al Ryma Monlau) landed the fourth race, a Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate over 1600m for three-year-olds, featuring 12 runners, making all to score by a length. The three-year-old grey colt, in the colours of Alseej Stud, is trained by Jassim Hamad Al-Atteya and was ridden by Mohammed Moussa, improving on a debut placing to open his account at the second attempt with a determined front-running display.
Breaking from barrier 11, Aludaid Alseej went straight to the lead, setting the tempo ahead of Amrood Al Shahania (Assy), with El Harith (Mister Ginoux) and Assufurrat (Al Mountasser) among the closest pursuers. The order remained largely unchanged through the early and middle stages. In the straight, Amrood Al Shahania began to close rapidly, cutting into the leader’s advantage inside the final 200m, with Bint Tayf (Tayf) also making notable headway from the outside. Despite the pressure, Aludaid Alseej showed strong resolve, finding enough to repel the challengers and hold on to the line. Amrood Al Shahania, representing HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and prepared by Rudy Nerbonne, with Alberto Sanna aboard, finished strongly to take second, ½ length ahead of the Hamad Ateeq Mohammed Al Marri-owned Bint Tayf, trained by Abdulaziz Hamad Al Marri and ridden by Saleh Salem Al-Marri, who finished well from off the pace to claim third.
Al Mehrab storms home from last to land spoils
Al Mehrab (Zarak x Angel Oak) landed the fifth race, a Thoroughbred Handicap (55–75) over 1600m for three-year-olds and upwards, with 14 declared runners, drawing clear by 2 lengths. The seven-year-old bay horse, in the ownership of Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Fadala, is trained by Ali Yousuf Al-Kubaisi and was partnered by Lukas Delozier. He was rewarded for a sequence of placed efforts as he secured his first success of the season and a fifth career win.
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Al Mehrab broke from the widest draw and was settled at the rear, eventually dropping to last through the early and middle stages. Up front, Kaytwo (Kodiac) set a strong pace, closely followed by Glengarra (Profitable). The pair stretched clear and opened a notable gap on the remainder. As they approached the home turn, that leading duo still held a commanding advantage and looked set to decide the outcome between them. Turning into the straight, Al Mehrab was still well adrift with plenty to do. While attention remained fixed on the front pair, he produced a remarkable burst, making rapid ground from the rear inside the final 300m. His progress was striking, slicing through the field to move into contention within a matter of strides. By the final 100m, he had reeled in the leaders and surged past them, completing a dramatic turnaround from last to first with a sustained and powerful finish. Flame Fair, representing Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and from the Debbie Mountain yard, with Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik in the saddle, finished strongly after tracking the pace to take second, just a nose ahead of the Rashid Mohammed Alathba-owned Kaytwo, who faded late after setting the tempo, but held third for Ali Al-Marri under Maikon De Souza.
Asfaan Al Shahania powers clear late
Asfaan Al Shahania (Assy x Kampanule De Ghazal) landed the sixth race, a Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate over 1600m for four-year-olds, with 14 runners in attendance, pulling clear by 2¾ lengths. The grey colt, in the colours of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, was saddled by Rudy Nerbonne and partnered by Lukas Delozier, who completed a quick-fire double. The son of Assy broke his duck at the third attempt after a recent third over the same course and distance, confirming his effectiveness at the mile.
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Asfaan Al Shahania broke from the widest draw and was settled just off the pace, tracking the leading group through the early stages. Raqeeq (Mister Ginoux) set the tempo ahead of Sahrawi (Mared Al Sahra) and Al Molheb Zakhir (Meghwaar), with the pair disputing positions behind the leader as the field travelled towards the home turn. Approaching the bend, Al Molheb Zakhir moved forward to take over, with Raqeeq and Sahrawi still in close attendance while Asfaan Al Shahania edged closer into fourth. In the straight, Raqeeq began to fade, leaving Al Molheb Zakhir in front as Sahrawi pressed and Asfaan Al Shahania continued to close. Passing the 300m marker, Asfaan Al Shahania moved into second and soon began to wear down the leader, drawing alongside inside the final 100m before asserting and pulling clear with a strong late surge to seal a decisive success. Al Molheb Zakhir, in the colours of Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi, is trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi and was partnered by Maikon De Souza. He finished second, a length ahead of the Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned Ghada, who is trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and was ridden by Faleh Bughenaim.
Royalty makes it a one-horse show
Royalty (Migwar x Al Faraj) landed the seventh race, a Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0–55) over 2000m for three-year-olds and upwards, with eight lining up, drawing clear by 4½ lengths. The six-year-old dark bay gelding, owned and trained by Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, was ridden by Saleh Salem Al-Marri, producing a markedly improved performance and dominating from start to finish, as if racing his own shadow and in a race of his own league.
Royalty went straight to the front and quickly put distance between himself and the field. Through the middle stages, he had built a remarkable advantage, at one stage stretching around 20 lengths clear, effectively racing in isolation well ahead of his rivals.
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Despite expectations that he might come back to the field in the closing stages, he continued to travel strongly and even found more in the straight, extending his dominance while running unchallenged for much of the run-in. The chasing pack attempted to close the gap late, but none could make any meaningful inroads. Nooran, racing for Wael Nassan Barazi and trained by Owaida Salem Al Hajri, with Alberto Sanna aboard, finished second, only a head ahead of the Ali Hamad Al-Atteya-owned Shagran Alseej, who is trained by Jassim Hamad Al-Atteya and was ridden by Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik.
Bin La Hoor sweeps clear in decisive fashion
Bin La Hoor (La Hoor x Ghaya) landed the eighth race, a Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0–65) over 2000m for four-year-olds and upwards, with ten going to post, pulling clear by 3 lengths. The five-year-old grey horse, owned by Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi, trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, returned to winning form to register a third success of the campaign.
Bin La Hoor was settled in midfield through the early stages as Rabee’ Al Shahania (Asraa Min Albarq) set a strong pace and quickly opened up a clear advantage. Chakib (Kalino), Mared Al Zaeem (Mared Al Sahra) and Dhi Qar Zakhir (Jenjal) formed the chasing group. Dhi Qar Zakhir improved into second passing the first turn. The order remained largely unchanged, with the leader still several lengths clear heading towards the home turn. Around the bend, Mared Al Zaeem began to close on the long-time leader, who continued to dictate on straightening. However, the complexion changed dramatically inside the final 200m as Bin La Hoor produced a sharp burst from midfield, sweeping past the leaders and quickly putting the race beyond doubt with a decisive late run. Khaeer Al Shahania, racing for Mansoor Mesfer Al-Shahwani and from the Abdulla Mesfer Al Shahwani yard, with Youssef Lachhab aboard, finished strongly from off the pace to take second. He finished well clear of the remainder, 5½ lengths ahead of the Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik-owned Za’al Al Shahania, who is trained by Ahmed Kobeissi and was ridden by Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi and finished third.
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