Tiding powers home late to claim Al Shaqab Cup

Mdmar – Doha -Mohamed Saad

Photo Juhaim

Al Shaqab Cup Day delivered a vibrant seven-race programme on the turf track at Al Uqda Racecourse on Thursday, 11 December, with Aktolgali, Al Jaish, Chakib, Jeb’ran Al Shahania, Mai Dubai, Aneed Al Shahania and Tiding emerging as the stars of the meeting. The card concluded with the prestigious Al Shaqab Cup, bringing the day to a fitting finale. Across the afternoon and evening, several contests produced some of the tightest and most thrilling finishes of the season so far, showcasing the rising form of numerous improvers and delivering compelling action from start to finish. Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of QREC Racing Operations Section, awarded the winners of the final and feature race.

Tiding sweeps from last to victory

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Tiding (Dubawi x Sun Maiden) produced a sparkling late surge to land the Al Shaqab Cup, a Thoroughbred Handicap (70–90) for 4YO+ over 2200m (Class 3), contested by 14 runners. The 4-year-old chestnut colt, representing Sheikh Abdul Rahman Rashid Al-Thani, trained by Gassim Al Ghazali and ridden by Alberto Sanna, continued his upward trajectory this season, following a third-place finish last time with an emphatic 3½-length victory today.

Once the gates opened, Tiding was eased back and held up at the rear, with Sanna electing to wait for a late run. Warming (Too Darn Hot) was first to show the way before Sussex (Dubawi) advanced past him to dictate the race at a steady tempo. Sussex maintained control for much of the journey, chased throughout by Blazing Sunset (Bated Breath) and Warming, and still looked a major threat entering the home straight. However, the early exertions began to tell on Sussex approaching the final 300m. That was the moment Tiding burst into contention from well off the pace, unleashing a devastating turn of foot. Sweeping past the entire field with ease, he powered clear in deeply impressive style, putting the race to bed long before the line. Leopards Park (Siyouni), carrying the colours of Nasser Saif Al-Kubaisi for trainer Mohammed Al Ghazali under Louis Nomis, stayed on strongly from behind to secure second, finishing 3⅕ lengths ahead of Mia Man (Almanzor) in third, the Sharq Stud runner trained by Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Hasan Al-Sulaiti and ridden by Fayos Martin Borja.

Aktolgali edges tight finish to open account this season

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Aktolgali (Al Mourtajez x Divine Class) produced a determined late surge to land Race 1, a Purebred Arabian Handicap (45–65) for 3YO+ over 1400m (Class 6) with 14 runners. The 6YO dark bay gelding, racing for Khalifa bin Abdullah bin Ali Al Attiyah, trained by Ahmed Kobeissi and ridden by Jefferson Smith, secured his first win this season with a narrow, but assertive finish, scoring by a quarter of a length.

Al Madkhoor (AF AlBahar) was first to show speed, but Solmax (Mahabb) soon assumed control and dictated a steady tempo, keeping a clear margin over the chasing pack. Aktolgali, drawn wide in barrier 11, dropped towards the rear early, allowed to find his rhythm while the field compressed behind the long-time leader. Approaching the home turn, the complexion of the race began to change as the challengers closed in. Zidane (General) loomed as the nearest pursuer to Solmax while Aktolgali improved smoothly into midfield, never far enough away to be discounted. Once in the home straight, Solmax continued to lead, but the gap swiftly diminished. Aktolgali, now angled out for a run, unleashed an electrifying burst inside the final furlong to sweep past and hit the front. For a moment, he looked set for a cosy success until RB Hot Mess (Rathowan), representing Yosuf Ahmad Telfat, trained by Bader Al Balushi and ridden by Maikon De Souza, emerged from the blind side with a thunderous late run, turning the closing stages into a gripping duel. Aktolgali, however, held firm to prevail by a narrow margin. Fateh HCM (Nizam), owned and trained by Osama Omer Al-Dafea and partnered by Gavin Matt Ryan, delivered a strong late finish of his own to claim third, a further 1¾ lengths behind the runner-up.

Al Jaish shines early to break maiden in commanding style

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Al Jaish (Galileo Gold x Marmogah) delivered a professional and decisive performance to land the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, a 3–7YO contest over 2200m (Class 6) featuring 8 runners. The 4YO bay gelding, racing for Al Shaqab Racing, trained by Jean de Mieulle and partnered by Faleh Bughenaim, opened his account at just the second time of asking with an authoritative 4-length success.

Thaye (New Bay) was the first to show from barrier 3, but Al Jaish, breaking from stall 5, quickly moved forward to take over the running. Once in front, he dictated the pace with confidence, keeping a clear advantage over the tightly grouped field, with Reman (Tribal Beat) and Thaye following closest behind. The order remained unchanged for much of the way, but approaching the home turn Al Jaish began to lift the tempo. His rivals responded, yet the leader was already travelling smoothly and looked firmly in command. In the home straight, he drew further clear with every stride, putting the race beyond doubt well before the line. Inbihar (Footstepsinthesand), who had raced in fourth for most of the journey for Fahad Salem Al-Hajri and trainer Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi under Salman Fahad Al-Hajri, finished best of the remainder to secure second, albeit still well adrift of the winner. A further 6 lengths back came Alinjak (Erdogan), representing Mubarak Saqr Al-Mansouri and trainer Alanoud Khalifa Al-Malki with Mourad Zabout aboard, staying on late from the rear to claim third.

Chakib goes back-to-back with a determined late surge

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Chakib (Kalino x Bint Amir) continued his upward trajectory with a resolute performance to clinch the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap, a 1400m Class 6 contest for 3YO+ that drew 14 runners. The 5YO bay horse, racing for Fahad Salem Al-Hajri, trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi and ridden by Salman Fahad Al-Hajri, secured his second straight win, having never finished outside the first four in his six career outings. He scored today by 1¾ lengths.

Hardan (Assy) set the initial tempo before Chakib briefly moved up to share the lead. Just before the 1000m mark, Al Amir (Al Mamun Monlau) surged forward to take control, dictating the pace with Hardan and Chakib in close attendance. The order remained steady until the home turn where Hardan briefly regained the lead, only for Al Amir to reclaim it soon after and look the likely winner entering the straight. But inside the final 300m, Chakib unleashed his challenge. Responding willingly to Salman Fahad Al-Hajri’s urgings, he swept past the leaders and maintained a strong, sustained gallop to assert clear superiority to the line. Behind him, Al Qaws (Dahess), representing Injaaz Stud for trainer Zuhair Mohsen under Gavin Matt Ryan, finished powerfully from midfield to take second. Ta’hoos Al Shahania (Harran ASF), running in the colours of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani for trainer Rudy Nerbonne and jockey Lukas Delozier, also closed strongly from the rear to claim third, a further 1¼ lengths behind.

Jeb’ran Al Shahania prevails in a photo

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Jeb’ran Al Shahania (Amer x Margouia) delivered a determined performance to open his account in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Rated Plate for 4YOs over 2200m (Class 9), run with 9 runners. The grey gelding, representing H.E. Sheikha Iman bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani, trained by Rudy Nerbonne and partnered by Lukas Delozier, was rewarded for his promising seasonal debut when beaten only a neck, this time prevailing by a short head.

Der’h Al Shahania (Gazwan) set the early tempo, with Jeb’ran Al Shahania immediately tracking him while Dahman Al Shahania (Jaafer) and Caid Du Soleil (Al Mourtajez) followed in close order. The leading trio held their positions around the home turn before the race ignited in the straight. Delozier urged Jeb’ran Al Shahania to challenge and Smith produced Fadi (General), who had raced in mid-division for most of the journey, with a strong run to his outside. The pair quickly drew clear of the remainder, engaging in a gripping duel inside the final 300m. Stride for stride they surged to the line, forcing the judge to call upon the photofinish, which went narrowly the way of Jeb’ran Al Shahania. Der’h Al Shahania stayed on to finish the best of the rest, 2½ lengths behind the runner-up, confirming his consistency in third.

Mai Dubai edges a thriller in a three-way finish

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Mai Dubai (Frankel x Tai Hang Dragon) produced a sharp and spirited display to land one of the season’s tightest finishes in the Thoroughbred Handicap (55–75) for 3YO+ over 1400m, run with 14 runners. The 4YO bay gelding, racing for Bandar Dahawi Al Shamari, trained by Nayef Batal Al Otibi and partnered by Maikon De Souza, won his second start in Qatar by a neck.

Glengarra (Profitable) broke well to dictate the early pace, with Mai Dubai settling neatly behind him in second and Noble Patron (Shamardal) close in pursuit. The order remained unchanged around the bend, where Mai Dubai travelled smoothly and poised for his challenge. Once in the home straight, Mai Dubai quickened assertively to take the lead, but the race was far from over. Morello Man (Footstepsinthesand), representing Rashid Awajan Al-Khayarin for trainer Hamad Al-Jehani under Pierre Charles Boudot, unleashed a powerful and sustained surge from just behind midfield to press the leader strongly. Noble Patron, carrying the colours of H.E. Meshaal BIN Ali Al-Attiyah for trainer Mohammed Balasim Al Jumaili with Fayos Martin Borja aboard, also joined the fight, the three runners pulling clear of the rest to serve up a fierce battle to the line. The trio flashed past the post almost in unison, separated only by a neck and a short head, requiring the judge’s decision. Mai Dubai was declared the winner, with Morello Man taking second and Noble Patron finishing a very close third. A further 1½ lengths back, the nearest pursuers dead-heated for fourth in what was an electrifying finish befitting the competitive nature of the contest.

Aneed Al Shahania extends sparkling record with dominant victory

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Aneed Al Shahania (Azadi x Al Anga) reaffirmed his rising-star credentials with a commanding display in the Local Purebred Arabian Conditions for 4YO+ over 2200m (Class 2), contested by four runners. The 5YO grey horse, racing for H.E. Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani, trained by Rudy Nerbonne and partnered by Lukas Delozier, secured his second straight win and the sixth of his exceptional seven-race career, stretching clear by 4 lengths. Remarkably, the only time he was beaten, he finished runner-up by just a head.

Talg’at Al Shahania (Mared Al Sahra), representing the same owner-trainer combination as the winner under Damien Morin, dictated a steady tempo throughout the early and middle stages, with the runners travelling in single file: Aneed Al Shahania tracking closely, followed by Habes (Harran ASF) and Galeb Al Shahania (Burning Sand), the latter racing for Al Eida Racing and trainer Gassim Al Ghazali under Marco Casamento. The order remained unchanged until the approach to the home turn where Talg’at Al Shahania attempted to lift the pace. All four runners straightened for the run-in together, but as soon as Delozier asked the question, Aneed Al Shahania delivered a decisive and electrifying response. He surged to the front with authority, opening a widening gap that left no room for doubt. Galeb Al Shahania stayed on best of the remainder for second, finishing 3½ lengths ahead of Talg’at Al Shahania in third, but the race was all about Aneed Al Shahania, who once again underlined his status as one of the most exciting local Purebred Arabians in training.

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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.