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| Staff Writer |
Balzac has underlined his class with a resolute defence of the Al Rayyan Breeders Cup for Local Thoroughbreds at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club's Al Rayyan track on Friday. The 7YO, trained by Alban de Mieulle and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, powered clear in the closing stages to score by three lengths, completing a remarkable treble for connections.
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In the day's penultimate contest, Aneed Al Shahania maintained his unblemished record, securing a fourth consecutive victory with an authoritative display in the Al Zubara Trophy for Local Purebred Arabians. The 5YO, owned by Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani and handled by Rudy Nerbonne, delivered a perfectly-timed challenge under Lukas Delozier to prevail by one and a half lengths.
The Listed Purebred Arabian Sprint Cup provided a thrilling conclusion as Posuelo Py claimed victory in a photo finish. The 7YO gelding, representing owner Ibrahim Mohammed M I al-Fadala and trainer Hamad al-Jehani, produced a determined late surge under Szczepan Mazur to secure success by a nose in a blanket finish.
Earlier, Chdia preserved her perfect record with an emphatic victory in the Purebred Arabian Filly and Mare Seada Cup. The Wathnan Racing-owned 4YO filly extended her unbeaten sequence to four, delivering another success for de Mieulle and Saadi.
The opening race saw Greer deliver a determined performance to land the Thoroughbred Open Sprint Cup. Trained by Mohammed Ghazali, the 4YO colt built on recent form with a well-timed finish under Tom Marquand to score by half a length for owner Nasser Saif A R al-Kubaisi.
Lippo De Carrere maintained his unbeaten Qatar record with an impressive five-length success in the Purebred Arabian Cup, while Al Shomos claimed a hard-fought victory in the Local Thoroughbred Filly and Mare Desert Rose Cup, edging out last year's winner, Maysara, by a nose.
The card concluded with AJS Agadir securing back-to-back wins in the Local Purebred Arabian Filly and Mare Al Na'ama Cup. The M H K al-Attiyah-trained 5YO mare tracked the leaders before asserting in the straight to score by two and a quarter length under Mazur.