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| Staff Writer |
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The prestigious H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day takes centre stage at QREC Al Rayyan Racecourse this Saturday, featuring a compelling ten-race programme starting at 11:00 AM local time.
Defending champion Simca Mille heads a competitive field in the feature US$100,000 Class 1 contest over 2,200m. The Alban de Mieulle-trained son of Tamayuz, owned by Wathnan Racing, will be partnered by Maxime Guyon as he bids to secure his spot in next month's Shalfa race at the H.H. The Amir Sword Festival.
Leading the opposition is stablemate Haunted Dream, with James Doyle taking the ride for trainer Hamad Al Jehani. The Oasis Dream colt faces stern competition from Aafoor, representing Al Jeryan Stud for trainer M.H.K Al Attiyah with Szczepan Mazur aboard.
Gassim Ghazali sends out Aemilianus for Sheikh Mohammed Salman Al-Thani, with Marco Casamento in the saddle, while Alberto Sanna partners Inherent for owner-trainer Abdulaziz Ali A Al-Kathiri. The field is completed by Al Wasmiyah Farm's Maraseem, trained by Georges Mikhalides and ridden by Jefferson Smith.
The penultimate race features the Gr.3 PA H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for Purebred Arabians over 2,200m, carrying a purse of US$100,000. Earlier on the card, four-year-old Purebred Arabians contest a US$100,000 trophy race over 1,750m.
The programme includes several other notable contests, with Thoroughbreds competing in open races over varying distances from 1,200m to 1,750m, each offering US$50,000 in prize money. Local Thoroughbreds get their chance in a US$55,000 contest over 1,750m.
Traditional heritage racing also features prominently, with the final qualifiers of the Al Sabiq races determining this year's champions. The meeting opens with two US$30,000 races for local Purebred Arabians, including a maiden plate over 1,750m and a novice cup across 1,400m.
Last year's renewal saw Wathnan Racing dominate the feature races, with Simca Mille claiming the Rifle trophy, while Abbes secured the Gr.3 PA Trophy for Purebred Arabians. The traditional Al Sabiq racing champions were also crowned, with Saleh Salem Al Marri, Omar Ahmed Al Khayareen, Mohammed Kamaan Al Hajri, and Abdulla Rashid Al Hajri taking the top four positions.