Al Faisal Shares Breeders Cup With Doha Bu Thaila
Rasasi Sprints To Listed Glory On Action-Packed Card
The third day of the expanded four-day HH Amir Sword Festival delivered high-quality racing across eight contests on the Al Rayyan turf, headlined by a sensational dead heat in the US$400,000 feature and a dominant Listed sprint success from a UAE raider. With over US$1.36 million in total prize money on offer, the card attracted a stellar cast of international jockeys including Pierre Charles Boudot, Christophe Soumillon, James Doyle and Oisin Murphy.
Wathnan Racing's Doha Bu Thaila and Al Emadi Racing's Al Faisal could not be separated in the US$400,000 Al Rayyan Breeders Cup, delivering a remarkable dead heat in the richest contest on the third day of the HH Amir Sword Festival. Khalifa Hamed Nasser Al Sawai-trained Al Faisal, a proven performer in Qatar's top local Thoroughbred events, hit the line locked together with the Alban Elie De Mieulle-trained Doha Bu Thaila in a thrilling climax to the 2000m feature. Maxime Guyon partnered Al Faisal from draw six while Soufiane Saadi produced Doha Bu Thaila from stall three, the pair finishing inseparable after a sustained duel through the final furlong.
De Mieulle secured his second winner of the afternoon as he also saddled Equinoxe into third, 1¾ lengths back under James Doyle. Rayyan Bu Thaila took fourth under Christophe Soumillon for Jihad El Ahmad, while Saida completed the first five for Hamad Al-Jehani with apprentice Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi aboard.
Rasasi Powers Clear In Listed Sprint
UAE raider Rasasi, representing Al Rahmani Racing, extended his impressive record to three wins from five career starts when landing the US$200,000 Purebred Arabian Sprint Cup (Listed) over 1200m. Trained by Ahmed Al Mehairbi in the UAE, the talented 5YO made every yard of the running under Soumillon, powering 3 lengths clear of Posuelo Py for Al-Jehani. Nah'ash Al Shahania stayed on 2¼ lengths further back in third for Rudy Andre Nerbonne and Lukas Delozier, while Waseelh was fourth for Julian Colin Smart under Marco Casamento and Ilasad completed the places for Ahmed Kobeissi.
Zah'ran Al Shahania Makes It Four In A Row
North Racing's Zah'ran Al Shahania maintained a perfect record with his fourth consecutive victory when landing the US$200,000 Al Zubara Cup over 2000m for local Purebred Arabians. The progressive performer drew 1¼ lengths clear under Pierre Charles Boudot, handing the French jockey his third winner of the meeting for Al-Jehani. Aneed Al Shahania ran well in second for Nerbonne and Delozier, with Razy 3 lengths further back in third for De Mieulle and Saadi. Mubkhar Al Shahania filled fourth for Nerbonne under Guyon, and Al Mutaghatris rounded off the first five for Smart under Tom Marquand.
Khaddah And Fatack Al Shahania Take Arabian Features
Wathnan Racing's Khaddah recorded a second consecutive victory when taking the US$120,000 Purebred Arabian 4YO Cup over 1750m by 2 lengths under Doyle for De Mieulle. Stablemate Dabida chased home in second under Saadi, with Guindol Dei Ribo ¾ of a length back in third for Al-Jehani and Szczepan Mazur. Monaafasah was fourth for Smart under Marquand and Wahdan fifth for Al-Jehani.
The US$120,000 Gulf Cup for GCC-bred Purebred Arabians over 1600m produced a blanket finish, with rising star Fatack Al Shahania prevailing by ¼ of a length under Delozier for Nerbonne. AJS Kabul ran a fine second for M.H.K Al Attiyah under Oisin Murphy, 3 lengths clear of Arman in third for De Mieulle and Doyle. Toufik was fourth for De Mieulle under Saadi and AJS Jassas fifth for Al Attiyah.
Al Wasmiyah Stud's Ghara dominated the US$110,000 Purebred Arabian Filly and Mare Seada Cup over 1750m, scoring by 2 lengths under Boudot for Al-Jehani. Intisar De Monlau chased home for De Mieulle under Doyle, with Lady De Faust 3½ lengths back in third for Smart and Marquand. Medan was fourth for Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi and Alnood fifth for Smart under Murphy.
Warming captured the US$110,000 Thoroughbred Filly and Mare Oryx Cup over 1750m by 2½ lengths under Soumillon for Al-Jehani. Its All Peachy stayed on for second for Al Attiyah and Mazur, a short head ahead of Kerindia in third for Zuhair Mohsen. September Leaves was fourth for Gassim AlGhazali under Casamento and Blessed Star fifth for Al-Jehani.
Thunder Flow opened the card in commanding fashion, streaking 5¾ lengths clear in the US$100,000 Thoroughbred Sprint Cup over 1200m under Boudot for Al-Jehani. Al Mundher kept on for second for Owaida Salem Al Hajri under apprentice Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri, with Jayyash a neck back in third for Mohammed AlGhazali under Murphy. Rebel Diamond was fourth for De Mieulle under Doyle and Lil' Frank fifth for Ahmed Al Jehani.
Boudot was the standout rider on the afternoon, recording a treble aboard Thunder Flow, Ghara and Zah'ran Al Shahania. Soumillon also enjoyed a fine meeting with wins on Rasasi and Warming, while Doyle and Saadi each contributed two winners for the in-form De Mieulle stable.
The eight-race card underlined the growing strength and international appeal of Qatar's racing programme, with the expanded HH Amir Sword Festival continuing to attract world-class talent to Al Rayyan. Attention now turns to the fourth and final day of the festival, where the showpiece contests are expected to provide a fitting climax to one of the Middle East's premier racing weeks.
Al Rayyan Breeders Cup
1. Al Faisal (T: Khalifa Hamed Nasser Al Sawai / J: Maxime Guyon)
2. Doha Bu Thaila (T: Alban Elie De Mieulle / J: Soufiane Saadi) DH
3. Equinoxe (T: Alban Elie De Mieulle / J: James Doyle)
Purebred Arabian Sprint Cup (Listed)
1. Rasasi (T: Ahmed Al Mehairbi / J: Christophe Soumillon)
2. Posuelo Py (T: Hamad Al-Jehani / J: Pierre Charles Boudot)
3. Nah'ash Al Shahania (T: Rudy Andre Nerbonne / J: Lukas Delozier)
Al Zubara Cup
1. Zah'ran Al Shahania (T: Hamad Al-Jehani / J: Pierre Charles Boudot)
2. Aneed Al Shahania (T: Rudy Andre Nerbonne / J: Lukas Delozier)
3. Razy (T: Alban Elie De Mieulle / J: Soufiane Saadi)
Purebred Arabian 4YO Cup
1. Khaddah (T: Alban Elie De Mieulle / J: James Doyle)
2. Dabida (T: Alban Elie De Mieulle / J: Soufiane Saadi)
3. Guindol Dei Ribo (T: Hamad Al-Jehani / J: Szczepan Mazur)
Gulf Cup
1. Fatack Al Shahania (T: Rudy Andre Nerbonne / J: Lukas Delozier)
2. AJS Kabul (T: M.H.K Al Attiyah / J: Oisin Murphy)
3. Arman (T: Alban Elie De Mieulle / J: James Doyle)
Purebred Arabian Filly And Mare Seada Cup
1. Ghara (T: Hamad Al-Jehani / J: Pierre Charles Boudot)
2. Intisar De Monlau (T: Alban Elie De Mieulle / J: James Doyle)
3. Lady De Faust (T: Julian Colin Smart / J: Tom Marquand)
Thoroughbred Filly And Mare Oryx Cup
1. Warming (T: Hamad Al-Jehani / J: Christophe Soumillon)
2. Its All Peachy (T: M.H.K Al Attiyah / J: Szczepan Mazur)
3. Kerindia (T: Zuhair Mohsen / J: Pierre Charles Boudot)
Thoroughbred Sprint Cup
1. Thunder Flow (T: Hamad Al-Jehani / J: Pierre Charles Boudot)
2. Al Mundher (T: Owaida Salem Al Hajri / J: Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri)
3. Jayyash (T: Mohammed AlGhazali / J: Oisin Murphy)