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| Staff Writer |
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Jungle Mate (Bungle Inthejungle) showed his class with a commanding performance to land the Fuwairit Cup at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Wednesday, handing trainer Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki a notable double on the card.
The 4YO gelding, who had finished second on his previous outing, tracked the early pace set by Townsend Manor (Advertise) before asserting in the home straight to score by a comfortable one and a half lengths under jockey Tomas Lukasek.
Townsend Manor, representing Al Rufaa Racing and trained by Gassim Ghazali, held on for second with Marco Casamento aboard, while Silver Jubilee (Dubawi) finished strongly to take third for owner North Racing, trainer Hamad Al-Jehani and jockey Pierre Charles Boudot, three lengths behind the runner-up.
The victory completed a double for both Al Malki and Lukasek, who had earlier combined to land the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate with Burkan.
Sir Palamedes (Footstepsinthesand) opened his Qatari account in fine style when running out an impressive winner of the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-80) for 3YOs.
The Hamad Al-Jehani-trained colt, owned by Rashid Awajan K A Al-Khayarin, surged from mid-division to score by three lengths under Pierre Charles Boudot, who was also completing a double on the card.
Early leaders Perfect Dark (Ardad) and Sands Of Marra (Sands Of Mali) were overtaken in the home straight, with Wathbah (Night Of Thunder) claiming second and Flashy Dark Angel (Dark Angel) just a head further back in third.
Del Piero (Atlantic Air) made a triumphant return to the winner's enclosure in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap, securing his first victory since December 2021.
The 7YO gelding, originally a reserve, was owned by Mubarak Mohd R S Al-Kuwari and trained by Mohamed Rashid Seif Al Kuwari. He produced a strong late run under Youssef Lachhab to score by a length and a quarter, catching early pacesetter S K Azam (Oasis Dream) and Mallhog (Hockney).
Estoori (Vedevani) finished second with Al Maher (Pivotal) just a head back in third after a thrilling battle for the minor placings.
Gassim Ghazali and Marco Casamento enjoyed a remarkable evening, combining for a treble in the first four races on the card.
Their successful partnership began when Ensyaaby (Al Mamun Monlau) landed the opening Purebred Arabian Handicap, pulling clear for a comfortable two and a quarter length victory over Lavinia De Carrere (Nieshan), with Billythekid Pompadour (Al Mamun Monlau) well behind in third, having tracked early leaders Zidane (General) and AJS Sinjaar (AF AlBahar).
The duo quickly doubled up as Al-Yaseen Zakhir (Al Mamun Monlau) battled to a determined half-length victory in the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, overcoming Al Jasur (Pharfadet) after early leaders Al Refaa Al Sakab (Al Mourtajez) and Battash Al Shahania (Mahabb) faded. Al Qaws (Dahess) was also in the mix.
Mesaieed (Majd Al Arab) completed their treble with a pillar-to-post success in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, holding off Jubran (AF AlBahar) and Texas Pride CS (TM Fred Texas) by three-quarters of a length, with Damaah (AF AlBahar) also prominent.
French jockey Pierre Charles Boudot was enjoying a productive evening, partnering Axiome (Dubawi) to victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap (45-65), denying Siegen (Blue Point) and early leader Funny Bunny (Trade Storm), with Gaallib (Territories) also featuring.
Leicester Square (Masar) claimed a narrow triumph in the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-75) under Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi. The Al-Jehani trainee produced a strong late surge to deny Al Motasim (Lope De Vega) by a quarter of a length, with Almotawakel (Acclamation) finishing strongly for third, after Pockett Rockett (Cotai Glory), He's A Dream (Oasis Dream), Himyan (Olympic Glory) and Loaded Gun (Magna Grecia) had all featured prominently at various stages.
Burkan (Al Mourtajez), owned and bred by Al Rabban Racing and trained by Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, made it two wins in a row under Tomas Lukasek in the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate, beating Ajlaan (AF AlBahar) by two lengths, with Asedah (Al Mourtajez) third and early leader Safre Tourettes (Mister Ginoux) fading.
Mubarak bin Ali Al-Nuaimi, President of the Qatar Swimming Association, was on hand to present the trophy to the Fuwairit Cup winners.