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| Staff Writer |
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At the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 31st Race Meeting, jockey Andrea Atzeni guided Scherzo to a stunning photo-finish victory, marking a third consecutive win in the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle for Al Wasmiyah Farm.
Despite a slow start in the prestigious Thoroughbreds Group Two race, Scherzo, trained by Georges Mikhalides, gradually picked up pace in the 2200m feature race. Engaging in a neck-to-neck battle with Bolthole, ridden by Ronan Thomas, Scherzo ultimately triumphed by a head in the US$100,000 race.
In The Night, ridden by Tomas Lukasek, secured third place, while Semper Augustus, ridden by Soufiane Saadi, came in fourth.
The HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day, held under the patronage of Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, created a festive atmosphere at the Al Rayyan Racecourse, attracting racing enthusiasts for a thrilling 10-race card accompanied by various entertainment activities.
Earlier in the day, Abbes, representing Wathnan Racing, dominated the Group Three HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4yo+ Purebred Arabians over 2200m, securing a four-length victory. This victory marked a double win for trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Mickael Barzalona.
The closing races of the meeting witnessed Al Wakrah from Al Shaqab Racing triumphing in the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians over 1750m, while Stylish Performer, trained by Hamad Al Jehani, emerged victorious in the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy.
The 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds category saw Equinoxe, representing Wathnan Racing and trained by De Mieulle, clinching the title under Thomas, who secured a double win.
Additionally, Classic Order, trained by Zuhair Mohsen, secured a double win by triumphing in the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 3YO Thoroughbreds over 1500m. Saadi achieved a double victory by guiding Concorde to success in the Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Cup.
Ridden by Maxime Guyon, Come Quick, owned by Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi, claimed victory in the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, a Thoroughbred Sprint for 3YO+ over 1200m.
QREC 31st Race Meeting - HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle - Thoroughbreds (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Scherzo, Georges Mikhalides, Andrea Atzeni
2 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 Pa) - Purebred Arabians (Far Bend)
Abbes, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
3 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - 4yo Purebred Arabians (Far Bend)
Bucanero, Mohammed Ghazali, Mickael Barzalona
4 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Purebred Arabians (Far Bend)
Al Wakrah, Eric Lemartinel, Faleh Bughanaim
5 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Thoroughbred Open Race (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Stylish Performer, Hamad Al Jehani, Hugo Besnier
6 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Local Thoroughbreds (Far Bend)
Equinoxe, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas
7 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - 3yo Thoroughbreds (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Classic Order, Zuhair Mohsen, Soufiane Saadi
8 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Thoroughbred Sprint (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Come Quick, Bader Al Balushi, Maxime Guyon
9 - Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup (Far Bend)
Al Ehdaashari, Zuhair Mohsen, Ronan Thomas
10 - Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Cup (Far Bend)
Concorde, Mohammed Nasser Al-Naimi, Soufiane Saadi.