Ibrahim al-Malki’s Zyzzyva entered the winner's enclosure for the fourth time in eight races this season when he sprinted to a scintillating victory in the Ain Khaled Cup at the Al Uqda Equestrian Complex near Al Khor on Thursday.
An impressive second over the trip last time round in the Dukhan Sprint (Group 3) at Al Rayyan Park last month, the six-year-old was helmed by Tomas Lukasek in the six-furlong sprint and put up a resolute run at the business end to edge out Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned Sir Arthur Dayne and Unbutton by half-a-length. Stablemates from the yards of Jassim Ghazali finished second and third under Alberto Sanna and Marco Casamento respectively.
Veteran trainer Alban de Mieulle saddled three winners yesterday, including Umm Qarn's Jabir and Abida, and Noora Racing Limited's Quepos.
In the penultimate race of the day, Jabir put up a fantastic run on the straight in the 2,200m race as Carlos Henrique's timely nudge had the five-year-old going right on time to ease past the competition, that also included three-time HH The Amir's Sword winner Ebraz, and win by more than a length, even as another De Mieulle ward, Zalek Al Cham, finished runner-up under Soufiane Saadi.
Saadi himself registered a quadruple yesterday at Al Uqda turf.
First up was the card opener where Noora Racing Limited's Quepos led a sweep of the top two spots for De Mieulle. The Purebred Arabian Novice Plate saw Saadi-ridden Quepos beat Carlos Henrique-helmed Hakida by a nose.
De Mieulle and Saadi combined for another win, this time in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap for horses rated 85 and below, which was bagged by Umm Qarn’s Abida.
The mare stayed on the heels of Rashid Ali al-Marri-ridden Shaweesh, before upping the pace coming off the bend and taking the lead. Soon Francois Herholdt and his partner Zaman joined Abida and Saadi up front, but the latter managed to hold off the challenge to win the 2,100m run by half-a-length.
Saadi also rode two Thorougbred conditions winners — Bader al-Balushi-trained Al Adheed and Jassim Ghazali-schooled Make A Wish. In the six-furlong local Thoroughbred conditions race, Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi-owned Al Adheed raced to his fifth victory this season out of seven starts with Saadi astride in four of those wins. Kicking up a gear at the business end saw Al Adheed win by almost two lengths.
Half-an-hour later, Injaaz Stud's Make A Wish steadily went past majority of the field to in the final two furlongs, and then taking the advantage in the final 100m to go one better than her last outing for a fine win. Make A Wish won by one-and-a-half lengths in front of Alberto Sanna ridden Luchador.
Anas al-Seyabi raced his fourth winner this week, having completed a treble on Wednesday, when he guided Al Shaqab Racing’s Latam to a breezy victory in the Purebred Arabian Handicap for horses rated 90 and below. Saddled by Ibrahim al-Malki in the 2,100m race, al-Seyabi was right on the button with his go-ahead and Latam just surged forward from a midfield position to win by three lengths in front of Tomas Lukasek-ridden Jamaiel.
Lukasek himself was on a flying winner just half an hour later when in the colours of HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Thani, he guided Julian Smart-trained Aspetar to the gelding’s first victory in Qatar in handsome fashion.
Aspetar had finished in the money in Qatar’s flagship Thoroughbred race, His Highness The Amir Trophy in February, which was also his debut. Yesterday’s drop in class in Thoroughbred Conditions, consequently, was no problem at all for the six-year-old as he was unstoppable once he got going in the final furlong of the 2,100m race, winning by three-and-a-half lengths
A late surge in pace in the final 150m odd saw Jassim Ghazali-schooled Al Hindi bolt to finish to win the Local Thoroughbred Handicap event for four-year-old and older horses in thrilling fashion yesterday. Ridden by Marco Casamento in the colours of Sheikh Abdullah bin Thani al-Thani, Al Hindi stayed within striking distance of the leaders for the bulk of the 2,200m run, before going very wide coming off the bend. Casamento kept him there and then blitzed to the finish to win by half-a-length.
RESULTS
Race 1: PUREBRED ARABIAN NOVICE PLATE (Distance: 1,400m)
1. Quepos (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Hakida (Carlos Henrique), 3. HM Al Bourak (Tomas Lukasek), 4. Sayaad (JP Guillambert). Won by: No, 2 ½, 3. Time: 1:33.54. Owner: Noora Racing Limited. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 2: LOCAL THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (4-year-old and older, 70-90) (Distance: 2,200m)
1. Al Hindi (Marco Casamento), 2. Abha (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Sky Blue (Soufiane Saadi), 4. Sarmad Bu Thaila (Alberto Sanna). Won by: ½, ¼, 1. Time: 2:20.33. Owner: Sheikh Abdulla Thani al-Thani. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 3: PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (90 & below) (Distance: 2,100m)
1. Latam (Anas al-Seyabi), 2. Jamaiel (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Khattab De Faust (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Dahra (Qais al-Busaidi). Won by: 3, Hd, ¾. Time: 2:22.96. Owner: Al Shaqab Racing. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 4: THOROUGHBRED CONDITIONS (Class 2) (Distance: 2,100m)
1. Aspetar (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Pazeer (Soufiane Saadi), 3. Otwo (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Hajaj (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 3 ½, 1 ½, 2. Time: 2:12.53. Owner: HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 5: LOCAL THOROUGHBRED CONDITIONS (Distance: 1,200m)
1. Al Adheed (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Al Faisaliya (Anas al-Seyabi), 3. Qatee (Marco Casamento), 4. Wadhah (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 1 ¾, 3 ¾, ¼. Time: 1:12.75. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Bader al-Balushi.
Race 6: THOROUGHBRED CONDITIONS (Fillies & Mares) (Class 2) (Distance: 1,200m)
1. Make A Wish (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Luchador (Alberto Sanna), 3. Wayside Flower (Marco Casamento), 4. Defne (Khalid al-Balushi). Won by: 1 ½, ½, Nk. Time: 1:12.65. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 7: LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (85 & below) (Distance: 2,100m)
1. Abida (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Zaman (Francois Herholdt), 3. Mahma Ygoloon (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Ghanayem (Meteb Ali al-Marri). Won by: ½, 3, No. Time: 2:29.65. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 8: PUREBRED ARABIAN CONDITIONS (Distance: 2,200m)
1. Jabir (Carlos Henrique), 2. Zalej Al Cham (Soufiane Saadi), 3. Nijinski Al Maury (Marco Casamento), 4. Ebraz (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 1 ¼, 2, 1. Time: 2:30.59. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 9: AIN KHALED CUP (THOROUGHBREDS (Class 2)) (Distance: 1,200m)
1. Zyzzyva (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Sir Arthur Dayne (Alberto Sanna), 3. Unbutton (Marco Casamento), 4. Receding Waves (Ivan Rossi). Won by: ½, 1 ¼, Hd. Time: 1:12.49. Owner: Ibrahim al-Malki. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
An impressive second over the trip last time round in the Dukhan Sprint (Group 3) at Al Rayyan Park last month, the six-year-old was helmed by Tomas Lukasek in the six-furlong sprint and put up a resolute run at the business end to edge out Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned Sir Arthur Dayne and Unbutton by half-a-length. Stablemates from the yards of Jassim Ghazali finished second and third under Alberto Sanna and Marco Casamento respectively.
Veteran trainer Alban de Mieulle saddled three winners yesterday, including Umm Qarn's Jabir and Abida, and Noora Racing Limited's Quepos.
In the penultimate race of the day, Jabir put up a fantastic run on the straight in the 2,200m race as Carlos Henrique's timely nudge had the five-year-old going right on time to ease past the competition, that also included three-time HH The Amir's Sword winner Ebraz, and win by more than a length, even as another De Mieulle ward, Zalek Al Cham, finished runner-up under Soufiane Saadi.
Saadi himself registered a quadruple yesterday at Al Uqda turf.
First up was the card opener where Noora Racing Limited's Quepos led a sweep of the top two spots for De Mieulle. The Purebred Arabian Novice Plate saw Saadi-ridden Quepos beat Carlos Henrique-helmed Hakida by a nose.
De Mieulle and Saadi combined for another win, this time in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap for horses rated 85 and below, which was bagged by Umm Qarn’s Abida.
The mare stayed on the heels of Rashid Ali al-Marri-ridden Shaweesh, before upping the pace coming off the bend and taking the lead. Soon Francois Herholdt and his partner Zaman joined Abida and Saadi up front, but the latter managed to hold off the challenge to win the 2,100m run by half-a-length.
Saadi also rode two Thorougbred conditions winners — Bader al-Balushi-trained Al Adheed and Jassim Ghazali-schooled Make A Wish. In the six-furlong local Thoroughbred conditions race, Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi-owned Al Adheed raced to his fifth victory this season out of seven starts with Saadi astride in four of those wins. Kicking up a gear at the business end saw Al Adheed win by almost two lengths.
Half-an-hour later, Injaaz Stud's Make A Wish steadily went past majority of the field to in the final two furlongs, and then taking the advantage in the final 100m to go one better than her last outing for a fine win. Make A Wish won by one-and-a-half lengths in front of Alberto Sanna ridden Luchador.
Anas al-Seyabi raced his fourth winner this week, having completed a treble on Wednesday, when he guided Al Shaqab Racing’s Latam to a breezy victory in the Purebred Arabian Handicap for horses rated 90 and below. Saddled by Ibrahim al-Malki in the 2,100m race, al-Seyabi was right on the button with his go-ahead and Latam just surged forward from a midfield position to win by three lengths in front of Tomas Lukasek-ridden Jamaiel.
Lukasek himself was on a flying winner just half an hour later when in the colours of HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Thani, he guided Julian Smart-trained Aspetar to the gelding’s first victory in Qatar in handsome fashion.
Aspetar had finished in the money in Qatar’s flagship Thoroughbred race, His Highness The Amir Trophy in February, which was also his debut. Yesterday’s drop in class in Thoroughbred Conditions, consequently, was no problem at all for the six-year-old as he was unstoppable once he got going in the final furlong of the 2,100m race, winning by three-and-a-half lengths
A late surge in pace in the final 150m odd saw Jassim Ghazali-schooled Al Hindi bolt to finish to win the Local Thoroughbred Handicap event for four-year-old and older horses in thrilling fashion yesterday. Ridden by Marco Casamento in the colours of Sheikh Abdullah bin Thani al-Thani, Al Hindi stayed within striking distance of the leaders for the bulk of the 2,200m run, before going very wide coming off the bend. Casamento kept him there and then blitzed to the finish to win by half-a-length.
RESULTS
Race 1: PUREBRED ARABIAN NOVICE PLATE (Distance: 1,400m)
1. Quepos (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Hakida (Carlos Henrique), 3. HM Al Bourak (Tomas Lukasek), 4. Sayaad (JP Guillambert). Won by: No, 2 ½, 3. Time: 1:33.54. Owner: Noora Racing Limited. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 2: LOCAL THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (4-year-old and older, 70-90) (Distance: 2,200m)
1. Al Hindi (Marco Casamento), 2. Abha (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Sky Blue (Soufiane Saadi), 4. Sarmad Bu Thaila (Alberto Sanna). Won by: ½, ¼, 1. Time: 2:20.33. Owner: Sheikh Abdulla Thani al-Thani. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 3: PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (90 & below) (Distance: 2,100m)
1. Latam (Anas al-Seyabi), 2. Jamaiel (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Khattab De Faust (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Dahra (Qais al-Busaidi). Won by: 3, Hd, ¾. Time: 2:22.96. Owner: Al Shaqab Racing. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 4: THOROUGHBRED CONDITIONS (Class 2) (Distance: 2,100m)
1. Aspetar (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Pazeer (Soufiane Saadi), 3. Otwo (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Hajaj (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 3 ½, 1 ½, 2. Time: 2:12.53. Owner: HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 5: LOCAL THOROUGHBRED CONDITIONS (Distance: 1,200m)
1. Al Adheed (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Al Faisaliya (Anas al-Seyabi), 3. Qatee (Marco Casamento), 4. Wadhah (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 1 ¾, 3 ¾, ¼. Time: 1:12.75. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Bader al-Balushi.
Race 6: THOROUGHBRED CONDITIONS (Fillies & Mares) (Class 2) (Distance: 1,200m)
1. Make A Wish (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Luchador (Alberto Sanna), 3. Wayside Flower (Marco Casamento), 4. Defne (Khalid al-Balushi). Won by: 1 ½, ½, Nk. Time: 1:12.65. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 7: LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (85 & below) (Distance: 2,100m)
1. Abida (Soufiane Saadi), 2. Zaman (Francois Herholdt), 3. Mahma Ygoloon (Anas al-Seyabi), 4. Ghanayem (Meteb Ali al-Marri). Won by: ½, 3, No. Time: 2:29.65. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 8: PUREBRED ARABIAN CONDITIONS (Distance: 2,200m)
1. Jabir (Carlos Henrique), 2. Zalej Al Cham (Soufiane Saadi), 3. Nijinski Al Maury (Marco Casamento), 4. Ebraz (Tomas Lukasek). Won by: 1 ¼, 2, 1. Time: 2:30.59. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 9: AIN KHALED CUP (THOROUGHBREDS (Class 2)) (Distance: 1,200m)
1. Zyzzyva (Tomas Lukasek), 2. Sir Arthur Dayne (Alberto Sanna), 3. Unbutton (Marco Casamento), 4. Receding Waves (Ivan Rossi). Won by: ½, 1 ¼, Hd. Time: 1:12.49. Owner: Ibrahim al-Malki. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
