 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |  |
Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohamed F N Al-Thani's Safi Al Zaman won the Rodat Al Maida Cup, a 1700m Group Two Purebred Arabian Handicap, at the 34th race meeting of the 2023/24 calendar at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Wednesday, 13th March 2024.
The 7YO horse, trained by Mohammed Salama Ashour and ridden by Alberto Sanna, finished 3½ lengths ahead of Nijinski Al Maury owned by Mohammed Bin Fahad A H Al Attiya and trained by Mohammed Ghazali, while Sun Amer, owned by Khalid Mohammed S Al-Harami and trained by Bader Al Balushi, finished third. Jockey Soufiane Saadi, who rode three winners earlier, partnered Sun Amer. Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
Jabahat, ridden by Soufiane Saadi and trained by Jihad El Ahmad, won the 1700m Group Six Local Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 25-45. The mare, owned by Injaaz Stud, secured her first win of the season with a two-length and three-quarter lead.
Jockey Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi and trainer Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi celebrated their victory in the 1700m Group Six Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4YO and older horses. The winning colt, Matwi Al Shajah), secured his first win on the track after six attempts, winning by an impressive five lengths. The victorious colt raced in the colours of Hassan bin Ali Hassan Al Matwi.
Meraj owned by Al Wasmiyah Farm and trained by Gassim Ghazali, won the 1200m Group Six Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for older horses with an impressive six-length victory. Jockey Soufiane Saadi rode him to victory, marking his second win of the day in only three races. Meraj had already finished in the top three in four of his previous six starts, and his future looks bright with such an impressive display of talent on the track.
Aldishen under jockey Abdelkabir Benlarbi, won the 1700m Group Five Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate for 3YOs. The colt, owned by Essa Mohammed A M Al Sulaiti and trained by M. Al Sulaiti, finished nine lengths clear of the field. It was his second start, showing improvement on dirt and longer distance after a fifth-place finish on debut less than two months ago.
Al Motasim won the 1700m Group Five Thoroughbred Handicap for 3YO and older horses rated 50-70. The 4YO bay gelding, owned by Al Rufaa Racing and trained by Gassim Ghazali, impressively stretched clear of the field in the closing stages of the race, with Alberto Sanna on board for the three-length victory. It was his first victory in 11 attempts and marked his maiden tag.
The Mohammed Hamad M A Al-Hajri & Sons-owned The Dunkirk Lads won the 1200m Group Four Thoroughbred Handicap for 3YO and older horses rated 60-80. Trainer Mohammed Ghazali's horse was ridden by Soufiane Saadi, who registered his third win of the day. The 5YO gelding won by six and a half lengths with an electric turn of foot, making it an easy victory.