 |
|
| Staff Writer |
 |  |
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) is gearing up to host an exhilarating horse racing weekend, culminating in back-to-back feature races at Al Rayyan Racecourse tomorrow night for the Qatar Gold Sword and Trophy Day.
The QREC has just unveiled the top contenders set to compete for prestigious titles in the Gr.1 Qatar Gold Sword for Purebred Arabians and the Gr.1 Qatar Gold Trophy for Thoroughbreds. Each of these international races offers a prize purse of US$250,000.
Abbes, owned by Wathnan Racing and trained by Alban Elie De Mieulle, will be competing to seal a hat-trick of Qatar Gold Sword titles after winning in the last two seasons in the 2000m feature. The 7YO, to be ridden by James Doyle, will face a tough challenge in the race as the likes of Al Wakrah, Eifrit, and Alsaher are also among the 14 challengers vying for the coveted title.
The 2200m contest for Qatar Gold Trophy is also expected to witness a thrilling battle with Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi-owned Jewel House ready to defend the title. A total of 18 horses will take part in the feature, which will be the penultimate race of the 41st Al Rayyan Meeting. Wathnan Racing’s Bolthole, Toromona, and Saqr are among the other competitors in the race.
The meeting will also witness the Gr.1 Qatar Silver Sword - Purebred Arabian, Gr.1 Qatar Silver Trophy - Local Purebred Arabian, and Gr.1 Al Wajba Trophy - Thoroughbred contests as eight races will take place tomorrow night.
The action will kick off tonight with the 40th Al Rayyan Meeting that will decide seven races, including the feature Gr.2 Al Mamoura Cup - Local Thoroughbred Handicap 60-80. Last year’s winner of the race, Ushayqer, owned by Mohamed Abdulla Al Abdulmalik, is also present in the line-up that has a total of eight runners.
The Al Rayyan Racecourse will host a total of 47 meetings this season while Al Uqda Racecourse has already completed its scheduled 22 events recently.