The Dunkirk Lads storms home to win Rowdat Rashid Cup
Mdmamr – Doha – Mohamed Saad
Rowdat Rashid Cup Day unfolded in fine fashion at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, marking the seventh meeting of the 2025/26 racing season. The dirt track hosted seven competitive races, featuring a mix of Thoroughbreds and Purebred Arabians over varying distances. The day was characterised by wide winning margins in several contests, showcasing decisive performances and doubles for both trainers and jockeys. The highlight came in the final race, the Rowdat Rashid Cup, where The Dunkirk Lads produced a thrilling late surge to capture the feature event. Following the race, Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners.
The Dunkirk Lads (Pivotal x Spatial) produced a thrilling late charge to capture the Rowdat Rashid Cup, the Thoroughbred Handicap (85–105) for 3YO+ over 1200m, Class 2, which featured ten runners. The 6YO gelding, owned by Mohammed Hamad Al-Hajri & Sons and trained by Hadi Al Ramzani, delivered a perfectly timed performance under Jefferson Smith to prevail by half a length in a pulsating finish.
Settled towards the rear for much of the race, The Dunkirk Lads travelled comfortably as Weissmuller (Bungleinthejungle) made the early running before Jungle Mate (Bungle Inthejungle), trained and owned by Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki under Tomas Lukasek, took over in the home straight. Jungle Mate opened up what looked a decisive advantage, but The Dunkirk Lads unleashed a powerful surge down the outside in the closing stages, sweeping past his rivals to seal victory in the day’s feature race. Return To Senders (Sir Prancealot), representing Al Eida Racing and trained by Gassim Al Ghazali with Louis Nomis aboard, finished strongly to claim third, a length and three-quarters behind the runner-up, Jungle Mate.
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Estithmar extends unbeaten seasonal streak with commanding performance
Estithmar (Dariyan x Sarlima) continued his fine form this season, making it two wins from as many starts with a decisive victory in the opening race, the Thoroughbred Handicap (45–65), Class 6, for 3YO+ over 1900m, which drew a competitive field of 14 runners. The 4YO bay gelding, owned by Injaaz Stud, once again displayed his consistency and class under the care of trainer Jihad El Ahmad and the confident handling of jockey Alberto Sanna, scoring by two lengths.
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After settling in mid-division, Estithmar bided his time behind the early leader Dance Acclaim (Acclamation), who set a solid tempo before being joined by Princess Alice (U S Navy Flag) and Ruling Master (Holy Roman Emperor). Passing the 800m mark, Ruling Master took control, but Estithmar began to make steady progress around the home turn, moving into contention. Once in the straight, he quickened impressively to sweep past the leader midway down the line and draw clear for a comfortable success. Ruling Master battled bravely to keep second for H.E. Meshaal bin Ali Al-Attiyah and trainer Gassim Al Ghazali under Marco Casamento while the fast-finishing Wadhnan (Shalaa), representing Sharq Stud and trained by Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan Al-Sulaiti, finished a neck away in third under Lukas Delozier.
Jungle The Bank storms to maiden success
Jungle The Bank (Bungle Inthejungle x Flaunting) produced a powerful display to break his maiden in style in the second race, the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, Class 6, for 3–7YOs over 1200m, which featured 11 runners. The 3YO bay colt, drawn in barrier 6, built on his promising fifth-place finish on seasonal debut three weeks ago to open his account on only his third career start. Trained by Debbie Mountain for owner Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and partnered by jockey Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, he scored decisively by five and a half lengths.
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Breaking smartly, Jungle The Bank settled in third behind the early pace set by Boss Dog (Zoustar), who led throughout the early and middle stages, with Qatar Wave (Churchill) close behind. Always travelling comfortably, the eventual winner loomed menacingly turning for home before quickening effortlessly in the straight to take control and draw clear with every stride. Al Saif (Exceed And Excel), trained by Hadi Al Ramzani and ridden by Damien Morin for owner Faisal bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Attiya, stayed on well to finish second while Brave Warrior (Dubawi), representing Al Eida Racing and trained by Gassim Al Ghazali under Marco Casamento, was a further two lengths behind in third.
Fatack Al Shahania impresses on second career start
Fatack Al Shahania (Burning Sand x Fiha) confirmed the promise he had shown on debut when he finished 2nd on debut toward the end of the last season, beginning his new campaign in perfect fashion by landing the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, Class 6, for 3–7YOs over 1200m, which drew 12 runners. The 4YO colt, breaking from barrier 6, scored stylishly by four lengths for H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and trainer Rudy Nerbonne, with Damien Morin in the saddle.
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Fatack Al Shahania broke smartly to race just behind the early leader Karar Al Farres (Harran ASF), with Windsor (AF AlBahar) and Thaar (La Hoor) close up. Around the home turn, Morin urged the colt forward, and he responded generously, quickening to take command and stretch clear in the home straight. Ta’hoos Al Shahania (Harran ASF), also representing H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and Rudy Nerbonne under Lukas Delozier, made steady headway from midfield to secure second completing a one-two for the connections, while Windsor stayed on for third a further 1¼ lengths behind.
Jabahat secures commanding victory
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Jabahat (Holy Roman Emperor x Means Of Assent) justified favouritism with a dominant display in the fourth race of the day, the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0–45), a Class 6, for three-year-olds and older over 1900m, which featured eight runners. The 6YO bay mare, breaking from barrier 10, confirmed her class by cruising to a 4½-length success, completing a double on the day for Injaaz Stud, trainer Jihad El Ahmad, and jockey Alberto Sanna.
Settled in midfield early, Jabahat watched the pace unfold as Mustakshif (Vedevani) took up the running, closely pursued by Maksab (Toast Of New York) and Elaaf (Domestic Fund). Around the second bend, Sanna urged Jabahat forward and she responded decisively, sweeping into contention before surging to the front in the home straight. From there, she powered clear to score convincingly. Duphor Bu Thaila (Dubday), trained by Fahad Rashid Al Khayarin and ridden by Salman Fahad Al-Hajri, produced a late rally to snatch second from
Maksab (Toast Of New York), trained by Owaida Salem Al Hajri and ridden by Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri for owner Nasser Owaida Salem Al Hajri, stayed on for third three-quarters of a length further behind.
Al Hemroor continues fine form on seasonal debut
Al Hemroor (Al Mamun Monlau x Alamriya) maintained his strong consistency, beginning his new campaign with an emphatic win in the fifth race of the day, the Purebred Arabian Handicap (0–75) for Qatari jockeys over 1900m, Class 5, which featured 12 runners. The Hamad Al-Jehani-trained runner, owned by Ali Yousuf Al-Kubaisi, had ended his previous campaign with a win and three placed finishes, and this time proved far superior under Hamad Meshlesh Al-Khayarin, storming home by six lengths.
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Always prominent, Al Hemroor travelled just behind the early leader Hidalgo Du Croate (Al Mamun Monlau) before taking charge mid-race. Once in front, he maintained a relentless gallop, steadily stretching his advantage to put the race beyond reach. Achmed (Tabarak), representing Wathnan Racing and trained by Alban de Mieulle with Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri aboard, ran a solid race from behind to claim second, while Lavinia De Carrere (Nieshan), owned by Time Form Syndicate and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani, gave the winning trainer another podium finish, finishing a distant third, further four lengths behind, under Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi.
Afandem holds on bravely in penultimate race
Afandem (AF AlBahar x Maboud) displayed grit and determination to land the penultimate race on the card, the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (75–95) for 4YO+ over 1200m, Class 3, which drew eight runners. The 8YO veteran, owned by Nasser Hamad Al-Naimi and trained by Ahmed Kobeissi, overcame a competitive field to claim victory by a length and a half under Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik, who completed a double on the day.
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From the outset, Afandem was among the frontrunners, racing in second and third behind the early pace set by Ietibar (Al Mamun Monlau) and Khaled Al Shahania (Assy). After the first bend, he began to improve steadily and moved into second approaching the home turn. Once in the straight, Afandem quickened to take the lead and drew clear, seemingly set for an easy success. However, the closing stages turned competitive as Khaled Al Shahania, representing Al Meqdam Racing and trained by Maayouf bin Hashim Al-Shamari with Salman Fahad Al-Hajri aboard, and Roma (Al Mourtajez), owned by Sharida bin Nasser bin Sharida Al-Kaabi and trained by Yousef Al Jumaily under Szczepan Mazur, finished powerfully from behind. Despite their late surge, Afandem held on bravely to prevail, with just a neck separating the second and third home.
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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.
