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| Staff Writer |
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On Thursday, 21 December, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organized Qatar International Derby Day at the Al Rayyan Racecourse turf track, under the patronage of His Excellency Salah Bin Ghanem Al-Ali, Minister of Sports and Youth. During the event, His Excellency the Minister crowned Wathnan Racing as the winners of the final race of the day, the Gr.1 Qatar Derby for Thoroughbreds. The trophy presentation ceremony was attended by Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya, Vice Chairman of QREC and Chairman of the Asian Equestrian Federation.
On Derby Day, Jeff Koons won the Gr.1 QA Qatar Derby for Thoroughbreds in a victory for trainer Hamad Al-Jehani and jockey Faleh Bughanaim. The 3YO colt has never been out of the first four in eight career starts so far and it was the fourth victory on the card in the colours of Wathnan Racing.
Azka finished three quarters of a length behind in second, followed by Coco Jack who finished third in the 2000m contest for 3YOs.
In the Gr.2 Qatar International Derby for Purebred Arabians, Ska De L’Aigle won by a comfortable one-length victory under Maxime Guyon, followed by Ghadah and A A Feel The Burn. Sami Jassim Al Boenain, Adviser to QREC Chairman, crowned the winners.
Kanti De Bozouls marked his Qatar debut with a black-type victory, landing the Gr.3 Qatar Purebred Arabian Derby for trainer Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte and jockey Aurelien Lemaitre.
AJS Burkaan was the runner-up, followed closely by Al Zeer. Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya, Vice Chairman of QREC and Chairman of the Asian Equestrian Federation, crowned the winners.
Balzac won the 1600m Local Thoroughbred Premium Maiden Cup for horse ages three to 6YO, a distance of eight and a half lengths between him and the rest. Ponga got off the mark on third career start to win the Al Rayyan Thoroughbred Handicap Cup (0-85) cosily for trainer Bader Al Balushi.
Matawar remained unbeaten on fourth career start, winning the Local Thoroughbred Derby. AJS Kabul won the 1600m Local Purebred Arabian Derby for 3YOs by half a length. Layeq won the Qatar National Derby for Local Purebred Arabians, and Soldier’s Gold won the 1400m Al Rayyan Stakes for 2YO Thoroughbreds.