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| Staff Writer |
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Kimnkate produced a thrilling late surge to seize victory in Saturday's Al Ghariyah Cup at Al Rayyan Racecourse, capping a day of dramatic racing action on the Qatar dirt track.
The 5YO mare, owned by Al Hajaj Stud, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and ridden with perfect timing by Szczepan Mazur, was delivered right on cue to get up in the closing stages of the Class 2 contest for Thoroughbred Fillies and Mares over 1200m.
Perfect Dark dictated the early fractions, chased by stablemates Nano Toro and Lady Of Sardinia, while Kaliysta and Vieux Carre kept close order. Kimnkate travelled smoothly just off the pace, biding her time as the field rounded the home bend.
As Perfect Dark began to feel the pressure, Nano Toro surged to the front with Kaliysta throwing down her challenge. However, Kimnkate, unleashed with a withering run from the rear, swept past the duelling leaders to triumph by a decisive one and a half lengths. Nano Toro, under Jefferson Smith for trainer Debbie Mountain, stayed on well to finish second, while Kaliysta secured third, three-quarters of a length further behind.
The opening race of the day saw a commanding performance from Jaazmina Du Soleil in the Class 6 Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for fillies and mares. The 4YO filly, representing Sharq Stud, gave her connections a perfect start under a confident ride from Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri for trainer Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan Al-Sulaiti, drawing clear to win by an impressive four and a half lengths.
All 11 fillies and mares were quickly into stride, with Karla Du Croate seizing the early initiative, closely tracked by Zuhour Al Sulaimi and Al Gharafah. Jaazmina Du Soleil settled toward the rear but stayed within striking distance. As they approached the home turn, Shimvere Du Raynal mounted a strong challenge while Karla Du Croate tried to hold her advantage, with Miss Al Tair also closing in. Once Al-Hajri urged his mount for her effort in the home straight, the response was electric as she powered past the field to open up a decisive lead. Shimvere Du Raynal gave chase for second, with Karla Du Croate staying on for third.
The second race produced one of the day's most dramatic finishes when Liable snatched victory by a nose in the Class 6 Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. The Frankel gelding, trained by Gassim Ghazali and ridden by Marco Casamento, came flying down the centre of the track with an electrifying finish.
Neither Liable nor Salah Al Deen, the eventual runner-up, were prominent early. Approaching the home turn, Alhoby and Salah Al Deen vied for the lead. For much of the home straight, it seemed the winner would emerge from the leading pair. But Liable, unleashed from well back, produced a tremendous final burst to snatch victory in a photo finish that saw less than a quarter of a length covering the first three past the post.
The most spectacular performance of the day came in the third race when Al Hattan crushed the field with a dominant 14-length victory in the Class 6 Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. The 4YO filly, owned by Abdulatif bin Hussain Z Al-Emadi, trained by Khalifa Hamed Nasser Al Sawai and ridden by Pranil Arvind Kharat, broke her maiden in commanding style.
Al Hattan broke smartly and immediately took up the lead, dictating terms throughout. She was initially challenged by Thunder AT before Black Diamond and Muraykh (QA) moved into striking positions approaching the 800m mark. Once in the home straight, she drew clear without being asked for full effort, racing away as if in a contest of her own. Under a hands-and-heels ride, she increased her advantage with every stride for an impressive wide-margin win. Muraykh (QA) finished second, with Black Diamond a further two and a quarter length behind in third.
Thayir made a memorable breakthrough on Qatari soil, landing the fourth race in convincing style. The 4YO colt, owned by Al Rufaa Racing, trained by Mohammed Ghazali and ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot, doubled his career tally with a dominant three and a half-length success.
Breaking from stall 10, Thayir quickly secured a handy position just behind the early leaders, where Hamas La Gloire and Thahan were vying for the lead, closely followed by Kanz Al Adeed and Ghayat Al Matloub. With 800m to run, Boudot urged Thayir forward and the colt responded instantly, moving to the front with Hamas La Gloire and Khaeer Al Shahania giving chase. Despite the pressure, Thayir proved much too strong in the closing stages. Hamas La Gloire stayed on for second while Ghayat Al Matloub finished third.
The Ghazali-Boudot combination struck again in the following race when Due To Dance turned the fiercely contested Thoroughbred Handicap into something of a solo performance. The 3YO colt, owned by Aldeebl Racing, improved on his recent third-place finish to claim his third career victory.
Breaking with perfect timing, Due To Dance was content to watch the early theatrics unfold as Margesson set the pace ahead of Dance Acclaim and Axiome. As the field swung into the early home straight, Boudot gave the signal, and Due To Dance responded like a colt possessed, launching an irresistible challenge to storm home by seven and three-quarter lengths. Mashhoor stayed on for second, with Margesson clinging on for third.
The penultimate race saw Ghanem bounce back to winning ways in the Class 3 Purebred Arabian Handicap. The 5YO horse, owned by Nasser Saeed M S Al-Eida and trained by Gassim Ghazali, showed resilience as he put his last two starts behind him to secure a hard-fought victory under Casamento.
Breaking from the wide barrier 12, Ghanem settled just behind the early leaders. Jazz De Nacre dictated the pace early in the 14-runner field, followed by Kawaii D'Vialettes and Saqr keeping close order. The front runners maintained their positions until approaching the home turn, where Ghanem quickened impressively to move from fourth to the lead. Once in front, Ghanem was all heart, bravely fending off the strong late challenges from Bojdoor, who finished second just half a length behind, and Sha'alan, who was a further one and a quarter lengths adrift in third.