Mohamed Saad

Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki saddled General Panic (GB) (Outstrip x Dominance), in the colours of Mohammed Abdulhadi S Al-Hajri, to wrap up the day’s racing, and the 2023/24 racing season, in spectacular style, winning the End Of Season Cup on turf at QREC Al Rayyan Racecourse on Thursday, 25th April 2024. In a thrilling finish to the 1600m Class 1 race for three-year-old and older Thoroughbreds, General Panic just touched off Aemilianus (GER) (Holy Roman Emperor), owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Salman M Al-Thani and trained by Gassim Ghazali, by a head under Tomas Lukasek, denying jockey Marco Casamento a fourth win in the evening. The Wathnan Racing-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained King Shalaa (FR) completed the frame in third as he finished a further length behind under jockey Soufiane Saadi. Abdulaziz Jassim Al Boenain, Al Uqda Complex Manager, crowned the winners.

Hargan wins Al Utouriya Cup

HE Sheikha Iman bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani’s Hargan (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Mkeefa) scored for the second straight time, winning the Al Utouriya Cup, a 1600m Class 2 open race for four-year-old and older Purebred Arabians. The six-year-old trainee of Rudy Nerbonne came with a massive sweep from the back of the 16-runner filed to go past his rivals one by one to take the lead in the final 100m and score by over three lengths with Lukas Delozier in the saddle. The battle for the minor honours was too tough and two runners dead heated for the runner-up place. These were the Sabhea Awad Ibrahim-owned and the Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed-trained Suka'ar (QA) (Burning Sand) who was ridden by jockey Alberto Sanna and the Osama Omer E Al-Dafea-owned and trained Jenkille Hipolyte (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau), who was ridden by jockey Anas Al Seyabi. The Abdulla Bin Mohammed BinAbdulla H Al-Attiya-owned and Ahmed Kobeissi-trained Ilasad (FR) (AF AlBahar) was further one and a quarter lengths behind under jockey Faleh Bughanaim. Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.

Keheilah Al Sakab wins Al Karana Cup

The Khalid Hamad M A Al-Atteya-owned Keheilah Al Sakab (QA) (AF AlBahar x Keheilah), on second career start, took a spectacular victory in the Al Karana Cup, a 1400m Class 5 Novice for three-year-old Purebred Arabians. Under Alberto Sanna, the grey filly tracked the leaders until she was produced in the final 200m to speed past her rivals and record a comfortable two-length win for trainer Jassim Hamad Al-Atteya. The Al Bida Racing-owned and Mohamed Khaled Elahmed-trained Taymoor Al Shahania (FR) (Asraa Min Albarq) finished second under jockey Saleh Salem Al-Marri. The Sabhea Awad Ibrahim-owned and Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed-trained Sobheya Umm Fadi (QA) (Alam Al Khalediah) finished further three lengths behind in third under jockey Anas Al Seyabi.

Dukhan Alseej

The first of the day’s 12 race was taken in thrilling style by the Ali Hamad M A Al-Atteya-owned Dukhan Alseej (QA) (Gazwan x Dheba Dukhan), who made a nice debut to win the 1600m Class 6 Maiden for three-year-old Purebred Arabians. While the grey colt, trained by Jassim Hamad Al-Atteya, was green on his first experience ever, which is quite normal, he showed a brave attitude in the final stages of the race. Under jockey Anas Al Seyabi, the son of Gazwan did not impress much after the start and was always in the rear tailing the five-runner field. It was rather Deauville (QA) (AF AlBahar) who led throughout and, only 200m before the finish line, almost everyone believed he would be the eventual comfortable winner. However, Dukhan Alseej, surprised everyone by earnestly starting to make ground in the home straight. While racegoers were following Deauville in front, they had to look back to follow the sudden impressive sweep by Dukhan Alseej, who made all in the final 200m to clinch victory by a short head from the long-time leader Deauville, who is owned by Umm Al Shukhut Farm and trained by Khaled Mohamad Alahmad and was ridden by jockey Muanis Al Siyabi. The Al Tamimi Racing-owned and Khaled Mohamad Alahmad-trained Thakheera (QA) (AF AlBahar) completed the frame in third under jockey Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi although she was out of contention with the winner and the runner up as she finished further five lengths behind.

Raslaan

The same short-head winning margin was repeated at the end of the second race, the 1600m Class 6 Maiden for four-to-six-year-old Local Purebred Arabians and it was the Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani-owned and Mohamed Khaled Elahmed-trained Raslaan (QA) (AF AlBahar x Al Ahwaz), who emerged victorious. Jockey Muanis Al Siyabi kept the four-year-colt in mid-position throughout the early and middle stages and approaching the final bend, the asked the grey son of AF AlBahar for more and the response was immediate, as Raslaan accelerated and once in the straight, he improved from outside to quickly reach the long-time leader and pass him in the final stride to land the spoils and break his duck. The long time-leading Al Maqam (QA) (No Risk Al Maury), owned by Khalifa Bin Sheail KH J Al Kuwari and trained by Julian Smart, had to settle in second under jockey Alberto Sanna. The Al Jasra Stud-owned and Abdulla Al-Mulla-trained, who was having her first start ever, finished third as she was further two and a quarter lengths behind under jockey Marco Casamento.

Zakadir

In the 1600m Class 4 Graduation for four-year-old and older Purebred Arabians, the Wathnan Racing-owned Zakadir (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Al Dahma) bounced back quickly to winning ways, adding third victory to his record. The Alban de Mieulle-trained four-year-old grey colt, stayed in mid-position in the early and middle stages in the tightly-bunched field and around the first bend improved to take third position. After the final bend, he responded well to jockey Soufiane Saadi’s urgings and closed to take second position. In the final 200m, Zakadir accelerated more to take the lead and went on to score by a length. The Al Ghazali Stud-owned and Nasser Ghazali-trained HM Zabraj (FR) (TM Fred Texas), who led most of the race, finished second under jockey Marco Casamento. The Raed (FR) (Amer) secured the third place for the winning owner and the winning trainer as he finished further two and half lengths behind under jockey Maxim Bozzio.

Torkia

Having finished third and second in the second and the third races of the day, Marco Casamento was in the winner’s enclosure after the fourth race, the 2000m Class 4 Handicap for four-year-old and older Local Thoroughbreds rated (45-65). The Italian jockey steered Torkia (QA) (Migwar x Firdous), in the colours of Hamad Salem A A Al-Marri to a comfortable one and a half-length pillar-to-post victory for trainer Mohammed Ghazali. The Injaaz Stud-owned and Jihad El Ahmad -trained Tafaahum (QA) (Rio de La Plata) finished second under jockey Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi only a short head in front of the Mohammed Abdulhadi S Al-Hajri-owned and Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki Achika (QA) (Migwar), who was ridden by jockey Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik.

Sardem

Trainer Bader Al Balushi and jockey Maikon De Souza again teamed up with the Al Azraq Stable-owned Sardem (FR) (Siyouni x Sarkiyla) to good effect as the pair guided the four-year-old gelding to win the first division of the 1600m class 4 Handicap for three-year-old Thoroughbreds rated (60-80) and score for the second time in a row in a span of eight days only. Sardem broke well from the barrier four and went directly to track the early leaders. Approaching the first bend, he improved to take and maintain the lead and was challenged all the way by Road To The East (GB) (Pivotal) and Katleiya (FR) (Gleneagles) who were close behind him. However, the son of Siyouni found more gas in the final 100m and that was enough for him to increase the gap and win by a length and a quarter. The Hassan Ali A M Alabdulmalik-owned and Debbie Mountain-trained Road To The East finished second under jockey Arnaud De Lepine. The Abdulaziz Saleh Al Jaber-owned and Hadi Al Ramzani-trained Katleiya completed the frame in third as she was further two lengths behind under jockey Alberto Sanna.

Pagliacci

The Al Fakhama Racing-owned Pagliacci (IRE) (Gleneagles x California) was another winner who scored for the second straight time within a span of eight days only. It was an impressive performance from the Ahmed Al Jehani-trained three-year-old gelding under a well-timed ride by jockey Saleh Salem Al-Marri, who steered him to victory last time as well. Pagliacci travelled well tracked the leaders throughout and in the final 100m, he showed an impressive turn of foot to close the gap and take the lead and once there, he kept improving to win the 1600m Class 3 Handicap for three-year-old Thoroughbreds rated (70-90) by two lengths and three quarters. The Mohammed Shaheen A A Al-Kuwari-owned and Hamad Al-Jehani-trained Handsome Chap (IRE) (Camacho) finished second under jockey Arnaud De Lepine. The Saif Rashid Saif Al Khayarin-owned First Encore (IRE) (Acclamation) finished third as he was further two and a half lengths behind under jockey Szczepan Mazur, giving trainer Hamad Al-Jehani another placed finish in the race.

Sarangani

Jockey Marco Casamento had his second winner in the evening when he guided the Al Ghazali Stud-owned Sarangani (GB) (Shamardal x Tasaday) to win the 1600m Class 3 Handicap for four-year-old and older Thoroughbreds by three quarters of a length for trainer Gassim Ghazali. The five-year-old gelding travelled well and ran upside the early leader throughout. Passing the 300m mark, Casamento asked for more and the chestnut gelding responded perfectly and accelerated to expand his lead and win the race. Al Wasmiyah Farm-owned and Georges Mikhalides-trained Kadovar (IRE) (Dark Angel) finished runner-up under jockey Jefferson Smith. The Nasser Saeed M S Al-Eida-owned Mystical Music (GB) (Al Kazeem) finished only a further head behind under jockey Louis Nomis, giving the winning trainer another prize in the race.

Tenjin

Jockey Marco Casamento continued his superb evening recording a quick-fire double and his third win on the day. This time he rode the Nasser Saif A R Al-Kubaisi-owned Tenjin (GB) (Night Of Thunder x Notary) to win the 1200m Class 3 Handicap for three-year-old and older Thoroughbreds, giving trainer Mohammed Ghazali a second winner in the evening. Casamento kept the four-year-old gelding in mid-position throughout. In the home straight, he was still in mid-position in the tightly bunched 16-runner field, but he stormed brilliantly, pushing up through the middle of the pack to take the lead around the 200m mark and kept on well to win the race in style by half a length. The Mohammed Abdulhadi S Al-Hajri-owned and Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-trained Pearling Path (FR) (Holy Roman Emperor) and the Al Hajaj Stud-owned and Hamad Al-Jehani-trained Zwelela (FR) (Toronado) battled it out for the minor honours and only a short head separated these two fast finishing runners to take the second and the third places in this order under jockeys Maikon De Souza and Salman Fahad Al-Hajri respectively.

Glengarra

The Al Thumama Racing-owned Glengarra (IRE) (Profitable x Puzzled) continued his series of good runs with a victory in the second division of the 1600m Class 4 Handicap for three-year-olds and older Thoroughbreds rated (60-80). The five-year-old gelding won a race and was placed twice in his most recent three runs. Under a front-running ride by jockey Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi, Glengarra led comfortably throughout and eventually was able to hold at the bay the challenge of the fast finishing Enforced (IRE) (Zoffany) and win by half a length for trainer Saleh Naji SH A Al Yafei. The Nasser Bin Faleh Bin Nasser S S Bughenaim-owned and Ahmed Al Jehani-trained Enforced finished second under jockey Szczepan Mazurb. The Al Bida Racing-owned and Mohamed Khaled Elahmed trained Balmari (IRE) (Mukhadram) finished third as he was further tow and a half lengths behind under jockeyAnas Al Seyabi.