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| Staff Writer |
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The Umm Al Zubar Cup was won by Safi Al Zaman, carrying the colours of Sheikh Ahmad Bin Mohamed F N Al-Thani, in the feature event of the eight-race card meeting conducted on dirt at QREC Al Rayyan Racecourse on 3rd January.
The 7YO horse waited until the final 100m of the 1400m contest, and then came with a late surge to take the lead and the Gr.2 Purebred Arabian Open Allowance Race, cosily for 4YOs and older by three quarters of a length in the hands of jockey Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri. It was the young Qatari jockey's first cup/feature race victory, making it a memorable day for him. Alhafar finished second under jockey Arnaud De Lepine, while Nijinski Al Maury owned by Mohammed Bin Fahad A H Al Attiya and trained by Mohammed Ghazali finished only a neck further in third under jockey Alberto Sanna. The trophies to the winners were presented by Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC Acting CEO.
In the day's opener, the Al Anood Stud-owned Jazi Umm Al Amad grabbed her second straight victory within a week for trainer Alanoud Khalifa Al-Malki. Under Mohammed Moussa, the 5YO mare took the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (25-45) for 4YOs and older by two lengths and a quarter.
Abdullah Nasser M K Al Attiya-owned Taaghi left his previous starts this season behind to score impressively this time around. The Wasim Al Sahn-trained 4YO gelding cruised with a bang to a smashing five-length win in the 1,700m Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4-to-6YOs, Class 6, under jockey Abdul Aziz Fahad Al Balushi.
Another wide-margin maiden winner came in the third race of the day, the 1,700m Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for f4-to-6Os, Class 6, as the Injaaz Stud-owned Monya pulled away from the field by four lengths to score for trainer Julian Smart and jockey Muanis Al Siyabi.
The Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Bin Hamad Al Attiya-owned Mobilise added a second win to his career record in the 1,700m Thoroughbred Handicap (55-75) for 4YOs and older, Class 5, winning by two lengths under jockey Stephane Ladjadj.
The Mohammed Abdulla A N Al Attiya-owned Dhi Qar proved much the best in the 1,700m Thoroughbred Handicap (65-85), for 4YOs and older, Class 4, as Rashid Al Jehani's charge sauntered away under Tomas Lukasek to win by two lengths and three quarters.
In the 1,900m Local Thoroughbred Handicap (55-75) for 4YOs and older, Class 3, the Bader Al Balushi-trained Alwaad on reappearance this season scooted five and a half lengths clear of the field under jockey Soufiane Saadi for owner Abdulatif Hussain M Z Al-Emadi.
In the day's penultimate race, the Eng. Hassan Ali A M Alabdulmalik-owned Cei Connah bounced back to winning ways for trainer Debbie Mountain, taking the 1700m Thoroughbred Handicap (80-100) for 4YOs and older, Class 2, decisively by two lengths under jockey Mirko Sanna.