Mohamed Saad

H.E. Sheikha Yasmeen bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani’s Mkaee'lat Al Shahania (FR) (TM Fred Texas x Mkeefa) took a superb victory in the Al Wakra Cup, a 1600m Class 2 for four-year-old Purebred Arabian fillies, wrapping up the day’s racing in spectacular style at QREC Al Rayyan Racecourse on Thursday, 21st March 2024. Under Lukas Delozier, the Rudy Nerbonne-trained grey filly tracked the leaders until she was produced in the final furlong to speed past her rivals and record an impressive win by three quarters of a length. The Eng. Dhafi Rashid H A Al-Marri-owned and Yousef Ben Taher Mehaoued-trained Djedahess (FR) (Dahess) finished second under jockey efferson Smith. The Wathnan Racing-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained Farida (FR) (TM Fred Texas) finished further four lengths behind in third under jockey Soufiane Saadi. Abdulaziz Jassim Al Boenain, Al Uqda Complex Manager, crowned the winners.

Moharb

Trainer Gassim Ghazali opened the day picking up where he left off the evening before, as he saddled Moharb (QA) (Sea's Legacy x River of Silence), in the colours of Al Wasmiyah Farm, to win the 1600m Class 6 Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for three-to-six-year olds in good style. Jockey Louis Nomis kept the four-year-old bay colt prominent throughout and he showed a good turn of foot to go clear in the straight, winning by two lengths clear at the line.

Dabas

The Abdulrahman Batal A A Al-Otibi-owned Dabas (FR) (AF AlBahar x Vega De Faust) blew away the field in the 1600m Class 6 Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, for four-to-six-year olds, for his trainer Nayef Batal Al-Otibi. Under a front-running ride from jockey Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi, the six-year-old bay horse galloped well clear in the closing stages to win by four and a half lengths.

Bailey Gate

There was an exciting finish to the third race in the card, as the Mubarak Ali M Al-Nuaimi-owned and Owaida Salem Al Hajri-trained Bailey Gate (IRE) (Shamardal x Castleacre) held off the charge of the Khalid Nawaf M A Al-Maadheed-owned and Hamad Al-Jehani-trained Pherenikos (IRE) (Shamardal) in the closing stages of the 1400m Class 5 Thoroughbred Handicap for four-year-old and older horses rated 55-75. Ridden by Tomas Lukasek, Bailey Gate just stole a march on the Soufiane Saadi-ridden Pherenikos by coming into the final 200m and held on to win by the smallest of margins, a nose.

Bucanero

The 2000m Class 3 Purebred Arabian Handicap for four-year-old and older horses rated75-95 went to Bucanero (FR) (AF AlBahar x Josbella) for owner Nasser Saif Al Kubaisi and trainer Mohammed Ghazali. The five-year-old grey horse lived up to the expectations under jockey Faleh Bughanaim by stretching on well in the final stages and winning fairly easily with one and a half lengths being the final margin of victory.

Jungle Mate

The fifth race of the evening was the 1600m Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap for three-year-olds rated 70-90 and there was an appropriately classy winner in Jungle Mate (IRE) (Bungle Inthejungle x Play Mate), owned by Saeed Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and trained by Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki. Under the ride of Tomas Lukasek, the bay gelding bolted through the field and stormed clear in the final stages of the race to win by easy three lengths and complete a double on the card for the jockey.

Duhail

In the 1600m Class 2 Thoroughbred Conditions for three-year-old and older horses, jockey Chloe Mignonneau partnered the Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Jean de Mieulle-trained Duhail (IRE) (Lope De Vega x Single) to his tenth career win. The eight-year-old gelding raced prominently throughout and went nicely clear in the final 200m to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Taxiwala

The Eng. Osama Omer E Al-Dafea-owned and trained Taxiwala (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperor) got back to winning ways after four placed finishes. The star sprinter won the1100m class 2 Thoroughbred Conditions for three-year-old and older horses. Ridden by Soufiane Saadi, the seven-year-old bay gelding challenged for led from start and eventually went clear in the straight to win by one and a quarter lengths at the line.