AlGhazali Double As Stars Shine At The HH Amir Sword Festival

Mared Al Jasra And Dubawi Spectre Dominate The Second Day

The second day of the HH Amir Sword Festival produced a string of quality performances across eight races on the dirt, with a total of US$750,000 in prize money distributed. The meeting was headlined by two championship contests worth US$110,000 apiece, and it was the powerful AlGhazali operation that left the biggest mark on proceedings.

Mared Al Jasra confirmed his standing as the leading Purebred Arabian in Qatar with a commanding victory in the US$110,000 Sand Championship Cup at the HH Amir Sword Festival. Trained by Gassim AlGhazali, the progressive performer had been building towards this performance all season, and jockey Marco Casamento ensured it all came together on the biggest stage.

Dubawi Spectre, also from the AlGhazali yard, matched that dominance in the Thoroughbred equivalent, giving the trainer a memorable double in the two feature events.

Mared Al Jasra Commands Arabian Feature

Mared Al Jasra was always travelling well from his low draw and Casamento had the race in safekeeping from a long way out, scoring by 1¼ lengths in the US$110,000 Purebred Arabian Sand Championship Cup over 1700 metres. Kamun Du Nil, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot, ran a fine race in second, finishing just ahead of Burkan, who was a further half a length back in third for trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and jockey Tomas Lukasek.

Al Nati Up, trained by Mr. Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan Al-Sulaiti and partnered by Faleh Bughenaim, was a distant fourth, some 19 lengths off the winner. Al Mustafiz plugged on in fifth under Tom Marquand for Julian Colin Smart, while Sidi Star was just a short head further back in sixth for Al-Jehani and Szczepan Mazur. Sun Amer, trained by Bader Al Balushi and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, completed the field in seventh.

Dubawi Spectre Prevails In Thoroughbred Cup

The US$110,000 Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup over 1700 metres provided another thrilling contest. Dubawi Spectre, breaking smartly from stall one, was always prominent and Casamento timed his challenge to perfection, prevailing by three quarters of a length.

Nuvolari, trained by Abdulla Al-Mulla and ridden by Marco Ghiani, ran a huge race in defeat, going down narrowly in second. Upton Park, representing Al Malki and Lukasek, kept on for third, seven lengths adrift. Cei Connah, trained by Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain with Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik claiming 2.5kg, filled fourth. Super Mo, the sole American-bred in the field, ran fifth for Wasim Al Sahn and Jefferson Smith.

Bailey Gate was sixth under Oisin Murphy for Owaida Salem Al Hajri, while Phoebus finished seventh for Al-Jehani and Boudot. Blewburton was eighth for Al-Jehani and Mazur, with Smart Hero trailing the field.

Calafiori Stakes 3YO Championship Claim

Calafiori registered an impressive success in the US$100,000 Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup for 3YOs over 1700 metres. Trained by Mohammed AlGhazali and ridden by Lukas Delozier, the British-bred 3YO strode clear to score by 2¾ lengths.

A Bit Of Spirit, partnered by Casamento for AlGhazali, chased home in second, whilst Smartman, trained by Mountain with Alabdulmalik claiming, ran well in third. Corinth, trained by Hadi Al Ramzani and ridden by Boudot, was fourth, just ahead of Marwaan, who was fifth for Al-Mulla and Saadi. Big Song filled sixth for Al Malki and Lukasek, with Victorious One seventh under Maxime Guyon for Al Malki.

Jack The Tooth, trained by Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, was eighth under Smith, followed by Awaafi in ninth for Al Ramzani and Tsubasa Sasagawa. Just A City Boy faded to tenth under Murphy for Mohammed AlGhazali. Affran, trained by Georges Mikhalides and ridden by Arnaud De Lepine, was eleventh, with Besondere, trained by Ahmed Al Jehani and ridden by Marquand, twelfth. Dapper Charm completed the field for Al-Jehani and Mazur.

Hay'er Al Shahania Powers Clear In Sprint

Hay'er Al Shahania powered to a facile 4½-length victory in the US$80,000 Local Purebred Arabian Sand Championship Cup over 1200 metres. Trained by Abdulla Mesfer Al Shahwani and ridden by Mazur, the 4YO proved far too good for his rivals. Naseeb Zakhir, trained by Osama Al-Dafea and partnered by Bughenaim, was a clear second, with Grace Secret third for Elahmed and Guyon.

Deauville was fourth by a head for Elahmed and Smith, ahead of Khaled Al Shahania, trained by Maayouf bin Hashim Al-Shamari with Salman Fahad Al-Hajri claiming 4kg. Roma, trained by Yousef Al Jumaily and ridden by Boudot, was sixth by a neck, while Al Wasmi was seventh for Mohammed AlGhazali and Casamento. SK Doctor, trained by Saeed Al Shafi and ridden by Saadi, trailed in last.

Maysara Storms Local Thoroughbred Sprint

Maysara was equally dominant taking the US$80,000 Local Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup over 1200 metres, storming clear by 5¾ lengths under Boudot for Al-Jehani. Barq Al Atam chased home in second for Al Malki and Lukasek, with Ghafan third for Elahmed and Guyon.

Mutamarrid, trained by Jihad El Ahmad and ridden by Marquand, was fourth. Moharb finished fifth for AlGhazali and Casamento, ahead of Monya in sixth for Smart and Smith. Mallhog, trained by Fahad bin Mubarak Al-Groon and ridden by Sasagawa, was seventh.

Al Nasr Al Washeek was eighth for El Ahmad and Saadi, followed by Gasham in ninth for Elahmed and Saleh Salem Al-Marri. Lulwat Al Faisal, trained by Khalifa Hamed Nasser Al Sawai and ridden by Delozier, was tenth. Shaleesh, trained by Mansoor Al Shahwani and ridden by Mazur, finished eleventh, with Madinat Bu Thaila last for Al-Jehani and De Lepine.

Townsend Manor Holds Off Safwan Challenge

Townsend Manor landed the US$70,000 Sand Sprint Cup over 1200 metres for Thoroughbreds, holding off Safwan by a quarter of a length. Trained by AlGhazali and ridden by Guyon, the topweight justified his mark in fine style.

Safwan, trained by Jean de Mieulle and ridden by Boudot, ran a cracking race in second. Return To Senders was third for AlGhazali and Casamento, 3¼ lengths further back. Weissmuller finished fourth under Marquand for Al-Jehani, with Pearling Path, trained by Al Malki and ridden by Lukasek, completing the field.

Za'eer Al Shahania Takes Middle Distance

Za'eer Al Shahania took the US$70,000 Middle Distance Cup for Local Purebred Arabians over 1700 metres, winning by 1½ lengths for Al-Dafea and Guyon. Bakir was second for Al-Jehani and Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi, who was claiming 1.5kg, with Layeq third for Smart and Boudot, 3¼ lengths behind. Al Mirage filled fourth for de Mieulle and Bughenaim, ahead of Galeb Al Shahania in fifth for AlGhazali and Casamento. Suka'ar, trained by Elahmed and ridden by Smith, was last.

Sha'alan Lands Opening Arabian Handicap

Sha'alan completed the card winning the US$50,000 Purebred Arabian Handicap Cup over 1900 metres. Trained by Mohammed AlGhazali and ridden by Saadi, the winner scored by four lengths.

Lattam was second for Al-Jehani and Boudot, with Al Kazim third under Casamento for AlGhazali, 1¾ lengths further back. Kafalat, trained by Ahmed Kobeissi and ridden by Alabdulmalik, was fourth. Farhan finished fifth for Mohammed AlGhazali and Delozier. Bojdoor was sixth for Al-Sulaiti and Sasagawa, followed by Khalil Du Croate in seventh for Smart and Marquand.

Lwich De Bozouls was eighth for Al-Jehani and Smith. Saqr finished ninth for Kobeissi and Bughenaim, ahead of Ensyaaby in tenth for Smart and De Lepine. Matwi Al Shajah, trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi and ridden by Al-Otaibi, was last.

It was a day that belonged to the AlGhazali yard, with Gassim AlGhazali saddling four winners across both Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred divisions. Marco Casamento and Pierre Charles Boudot were the leading riders on the card, enjoying multiple successes apiece, while the depth of local talent on display augurs well for the remainder of the Qatar racing season.

Purebred Arabian Sand Championship Cup
1. Mared Al Jasra (T: Gassim AlGhazali / J: Marco Casamento)
2. Kamun Du Nil (T: Hamad Al-Jehani / J: Pierre Charles Boudot)
3. Burkan (T: Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki / J: Tomas Lukasek)

Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup
1. Dubawi Spectre (T: Gassim AlGhazali / J: Marco Casamento)
2. Nuvolari (T: Abdulla Al-Mulla / J: Marco Ghiani)
3. Upton Park (T: Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki / J: Tomas Lukasek)

Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup, 3YO
1. Calafiori (T: Mohammed AlGhazali / J: Lukas Delozier)
2. A Bit Of Spirit (T: Gassim AlGhazali / J: Marco Casamento)
3. Smartman (T: Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain / J: Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik)

Local Purebred Arabian Sand Championship Cup
1. Hay'er Al Shahania (T: Abdulla Mesfer Al Shahwani / J: Szczepan Mazur)
2. Naseeb Zakhir (T: Osama Al-Dafea / J: Faleh Bughenaim)
3. Grace Secret (T: Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed / J: Maxime Guyon)

Local Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup
1. Maysara (T: Hamad Al-Jehani / J: Pierre Charles Boudot)
2. Barq Al Atam (T: Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki / J: Tomas Lukasek)
3. Ghafan (T: Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed / J: Maxime Guyon)

Sand Sprint Cup, Thoroughbred Handicap 85-105
1. Townsend Manor (T: Gassim AlGhazali / J: Maxime Guyon)
2. Safwan (T: Jean de Mieulle / J: Pierre Charles Boudot)
3. Return To Senders (T: Gassim AlGhazali / J: Marco Casamento)

Middle Distance Cup, Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 85-105
1. Za'eer Al Shahania (T: Osama Al-Dafea / J: Maxime Guyon)
2. Bakir (T: Hamad Al-Jehani / J: Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi)
3. Layeq (T: Julian Colin Smart / J: Pierre Charles Boudot)

Purebred Arabian Handicap Cup 70-90
1. Sha'alan (T: Mohammed AlGhazali / J: Soufiane Saadi)
2. Lattam (T: Hamad Al-Jehani / J: Pierre Charles Boudot)
3. Al Kazim (T: Gassim AlGhazali / J: Marco Casamento)