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| Staff Writer |
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The talented mare Roma, sporting the distinguished silks of Sharida bin Nasser bin Sharida Al Kaabi, produced a scintillating performance to claim the prestigious Zekreet Cup at Al Rayyan on Wednesday, powering home under a masterful ride from Szczepan Mazur.
The 5YO, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani, showcased her class in the 1200m Local Purebred Arabian Handicap, surging clear in the closing stages to score by a commanding 1¾ lengths.
Historic Winners Roll Of Honour
The Zekreet Cup has been a launching pad for several champions, with last year's victor Desert Force going on to claim three Group Three contests, while 2022 winner Al Ghashamiya later secured the prestigious Qatar Gold Sword.
Mazur's memorable afternoon continued as he completed a riding double aboard the progressive Pockett Rockett in the Thoroughbred Handicap. Fellow rider Lukas Delozier matched this feat, steering both Imaginary World to victory in the Graduation Plate and Mastoora to an emphatic 21-length romp in the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate.
Not to be outdone, Gavin Matt Ryan also celebrated a double, partnering Nadiraha and Al Mosayterah to success for trainer Julian Colin Smart.
The day's racing commenced with Dawn Vega breaking her maiden under Marco Casamento, while Youssef Lachhab demonstrated his skills by guiding Meraj to victory in the Qatari Riders' contest for trainer Jassim Ghazali.
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club's Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi was on hand to present the trophies to the successful connections, bringing the curtain down on another spectacular day of racing at Al Rayyan.