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| Staff Writer |
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A seven-race card meeting was held on turf at Al Uqda Racecourse, showcasing some brilliant performances by the participating horses. In the 1200m Class 2 Local Thoroughbred Open Race for 4YO and older horses, the Julian Smart-trained 5YO gelding, Al Nasr Al Washeek, owned by Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari, put up an excellent show, winning by four lengths and a quarter under jockey Muanis Al Siyabi, to clinch the Marmi Cup. Initially, it was Al Harqah, owned and trained by Alanoud Khalifa A A Al-Malki, who took the lead under jockey Jefferson Smith from the widest barrier.
However, Al Nasr Al Washeek made his move and challenged at the 900m mark, eventually taking the lead and keeping his rival at bay. Tafaahum, owned by Injaaz Stud and trained by Jihad El Ahmad, finished second under jockey Ivan Rossi, while Al Harqah had to settle for third.
Tayyar Al Shahania, owned by Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi and trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi, won the 1400m Class 6 Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4-to-6YOs. The 5YO horse put up an impressive show and was ridden to victory by Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri, winning by a length and a quarter, after finishing in the placings on several occasions recently.
Boshra, bred by Al Shaqab Racing, put up a stunning performance in the 1400m Class 6 Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4-to-6YOs. After an eight-month break, the 4YO filly won her Qatar debut and fourth career start by a whopping seven and a half lengths. Trainer Jean de Mieulle and jockey Chloe Mignonneau were delighted with the win.
Mitwaa, owned by Nasser Saeed M S Al-Eida and trained by Gassim Ghazali, won the 1400m Class 5 Thoroughbred Handicap for 3YOs rated 55-75 under jockey Lukas Delozier, defeating the rest of the field by half a length.
Nano Toro, owned by Hassan Ali A M Alabdulmalik and trained by Debbie Mountain, won her second straight victory. The 4YO filly had to battle it out with Opera Legend, owned by Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani, ridden by Szczepan Mazur. Eventually, Nano Toro, ridden by Mirko Sanna, managed to find the extra edge to land the spoils by a short head.
In the Class 4 Purebred Arabian Handicap for 4YO and older horses rated 65-85, owned by Triple Two Racing, Ikef De Bozouls scored his first win in six starts this season, adding a third win to his record in general. The 6YO gelding won the 2100m race by half a length under jockey Soufiane Saadi, completing a double for trainer Gassim Ghazali.
Jockey Soufiane Saadi recorded a quick-fire double in the penultimate race on the card, onboard Neat And Dandy, owned by Wathnan Racing. The race ended in another thrilling finish, with only a head separating the winner from the runner-up, Pedro Cara, owned by H.E. Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani and trained by Rudy Nerbonne, ridden by Lukas Delozier.
It was a heated battle between the two runners, but it was Alban de Mieulle-trained 5YO, Neat And Dandy, who pushed his head in front at the line. Kadovar, owned by Al Wasmiyah Farm and trained by Georges Mikhalides, finished third, only a quarter of a length further behind, ridden by Jefferson Smith.