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| Staff Writer |
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The 2024 edition of The Late Yousef Al Romaihi Cup headlined the turf race meeting at QREC Al Rayyan Racecourse on Thursday, 7th March. Jockey Alberto Sanna secured his second triumph of the day, partnering with trainer Gassim Ghazali for Seulomonde, owned by Nasser Saeed M S Al-Eida, to clinch The Late Yousef Al Romaihi Cup, a 3200m Class 2 Thoroughbred Open Race for 4YO and older horses.
The 6YO surged to victory, triumphing by a quarter of a length. Hamaki, owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by Alban de Mieulle, secured the runner-up spot, replicating his previous performance, with jockey Soufiane Saadi.
It was a thrilling finale, with three contenders vying in the last strides of the marathon distance. Toromona, owned by Rashid Awajan K A Al-Khayarin and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani, finished a mere neck behind in third, guided by jockey Tomas Lukasek. Sons of the late Yousef Al Romaihi presented the awards to the winners.
Maza'aj Al Shahania
The event showcased tight finishes, notably in the 1600m Class 6 Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4-to-6YOs. Maza'aj Al Shahania, owned by Al Shahania Stud and trained by Rudy Nerbonne, narrowly triumphed over Dabas, owned by Abdulrahman Batal A A Al-Otibi and trained by Mohammed Ali Al Saaq. Maza'aj Al Shahania, ridden by Lukas Delozier, secured victory by a head in the final strides, with Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri aboard Dabas as a commendable runner-up.
In the 1600m Class 5 Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate, Royalty, owned by Sabhea Awad Ibrahim and trained by Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, clinched its second consecutive win under jockey Muanis Al Siyabi. Racing prominently throughout, Royalty surged ahead in the final furlong to win by three-quarters of a length.
The 1600m Class 5 Thoroughbred Novice Plate witnessed Georges Mikhalides' colt Kadovar, owned by Al Wasmiyah Farm, seizing victory under jockey Alberto Sanna. The 4YO displayed a strong finish in the straight, winning by one and a half lengths.
Trainer Hamad Al-Jehani celebrated success in the 1600m Class 4 Thoroughbred Handicap race, as his 5YO Al Mehrab, owned by Ibrahim Mohammed M I Al-Fadala, surged in the final stages under jockey Tomas Lukasek. The bay horse emerged victorious, defeating Chorus Line, owned by Mohammed Khamis Eisa Al-Kaabi and trained by Mohammed Khamis Al-Kaabi, by a quarter of a length.
Ajaayeb Al Jasra
The Al Jasra Stud-owned Ajaayeb Al Jasra trained by Mohammed Ghazali and ridden by Ivan Rossi, secured victory in the 1600m Class 4 Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate. With a well-timed challenge, Ajaayeb Al Jasra triumphed by a length over the nearest rival.
Casimir De Codines
In the 2000m Class 4 Purebred Arabian Handicap, Casimir De Codines (FR) (Majd Al Arab x E, trained by Abdulrahman Abdulwahed, emerged victorious, defeating Saqr, owned by Hamad Nasser H Al-Naimi and trained by Ahmed Kobeissi, by just a neck. Guided by jockey Giuseppe Cultraro, Casimir De Codines surged in the final furlong to secure victory.
The 2000m Class 3 Local Thoroughbred Handicap witnessed a close battle, with Al Shomos, owned by Saeed bin Mubarak Saeed Aljafali Al Naimi and trained by Ahmed Kobeissi, narrowly defeating Al Faisal. Al Shomos secured its second consecutive victory under jockey Faleh Bughanaim, emerging as the winner by a neck.
For the third consecutive race, the 1850m Class 2 Purebred Arabian Conditions saw Dawi, owned by HE Sheikha Iman bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani, triumphing under trainer Rudy Nerbonne and jockey Lukas Delozier. Dawi secured victory by a neck over Eifrit, owned by Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohamed F N Al-Thani and trained by Mohammed Salama Ashour, denying jockey Alberto Sanna his third victory of the day.