Mohamed Saad
KADUPUL and AMEL shine in Oaks Trials
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 16th race meeting in the 2021-22 season at the Al Rayyan Racecourse turf track on Thursday, 2 December. It was a bumper eight race card, including five Oaks and Derby Trials. The day was wrapped up with Thoroughbred Derby Trial, a Class 2 Conditions. Umm Qarn’s KING SHALAA (FR) (Shalaa x Baki) landed the 1750m contest for trainer Alban de Mieulle. He was ridden by Ronan Thomas to take the race by ¾ lengths in front of the Khalifa Bin Sheail KH J Al Kuwari-owned and Mohammed Ghazali-trained Devious Company (IRE) (Fast Company), who was ridden by Soufiane Saadi. Eng. Hassan Ali A M Alabdulmalik’s Always Waitin (USA) (Tamarkuz) was 1¼ lengths behind in third for trainer Debbie Mountain and jockey Eduardo Pedroza.
KING SHALAA wins Thoroughbred Derby Trial
KING SHALAA’s victory relatively makes up for the hard luck he faced nearly two weeks ago when he was beaten into second by only a short head in the Gr3 QA Guineas. He also hit more than one bird with this stone. He now boasts a superb strike rate of four victories in eight career-starts, placing himself firmly among the favourites in the Derby itself later this month. He further confirmed his talent and brilliant start he had in Europe where he won his first three starts as well as his two-start career where he finished second and then landed this victory. Moreover, he not only gave Ronan Thomas his third win on the day, but also completed a massive quartet for his French master Alban de Mieulle. It was a day to remember for de Mieulle, who saddled four winners, one-two-three twice in a row and a one-two in the penultimate race.
Sami Jassim Al Boenain, Adviser of QREC Chairman, presented the trophies to the winners.
HM JALFANE prevails in Purebred Arabian Derby Trial
In the penultimate race, Abdullah Bin Fahad Al Attiyah’s HM JALFANE (FR) (Dahess x Al Musck) won the 1750m Purebred Arabian Derby Trial by 1¾ lengths. Helmed by Soufiane Saadi, the bay colt not only completed a double and enhanced his strike rate to 4 wins in six career-starts, but also gave the third win on the day to trainer Alban de Mieulle, who saddled a one-two with his ward First Class (Dahess) finishing runner-up. Tarek Du Soleil (FR) (Dahess) was further 2 ½ lengths behind in third.
Dahess
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
KADUPUL takes Thoroughbred Oaks Trial
In race 6, Al Wasmiyah Farm’s homebred KADUPUL (FR) (Dark Angel x Cup Cake) completed a double as she took the 1750m Thoroughbred Oaks Trial by 1¾ lengths for trainer Georges Mikhalides. Ronan Thomas steered the bay filly to success chalking up his second victory on the day. With this win under her belt, KADUPUL has won twice and been placed once in four start this season. Attasha (GB) (Le Havre) finished second a short head in front of Pom Malpic (FR) (Pomellato)
Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC Actin CEO, presented the trophies to the winners.
AMEL tops Purebred Arabian Oaks Trial
In the fifth race in the card, Mohammed Bin Hamad Khalifa Al Attiyah’s AMEL (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Al Hanoof) landed the 1750m Purebred Arabian Oaks Trial by 1¼ lengths with Ronan Thomas in the saddle for trainer Alban de Mieulle who had a quick-fire one-two-three with AL Arabie (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau) and Muqla (FR) (Tabarak) finishing second and third with another 1¼ lengths. Separating them. That was AMEL’s debut in Qatar and it was a perfect one the way she had done on her initial debut, which was in France in March this year. She certainly has more to offer, especially as she has had only four career-starts and she has already won two of them.
Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC Actin CEO, crowned the winners.
SWISS GIFT wins Local Thoroughbred Derby Trial
Al Rabban Racing’s homebred SWISS GIFT (QA) (Swiss Spirit x Emma’s Gift) emerges on top in race four, the 1750m Local Thoroughbred Derby Trial by a quarter of a length as she reeled in her stablemate Good Day (QA) (Lancelot) under a great ride by Carlos Henrique in a superb one-two-three for trainer Alban de Mieulle with Bayar (QA) (Lancelot) finishing far five lengths behind in third. Like other winners on the day, SWISS GIFT sent a strong message with a victory on her second career-start having finished sixth among 15 runners in the Guineas on her debut nearly a fortnight earlier, which was a fair start. No doubt, she will be one to follow in coming weeks.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
Roman Number a star in the making!
The third race in the card saw Eng. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s Roman Number (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperor x Divisme) prevail by the smallest of margins for trainer Debbie Mountain in a thrilling end to the 1400m Thoroughbred Plate for 2YOs. Eduardo Pedroza rode the gelding to victory. Mount Snowdon (IRE) (War Front) was the runner-up a length ahead of Scherzo (FR) (Wootton Bassett). Roman Number has had only two starts so far and both were at the course and over the same distance. He finished second on debut in late November and emerged winner here in the second, which suggests he could be a star in the making.
GHADANFFAR AL CHAM gest off the mark
Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s GHADANFFAR AL CHAM (FR) (Dahess X Al Tarfah) opened his account as he took the 1500m Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate for three-year-olds, hacking up by 4½ lengths under Marco Casamento for trainer Jassim Ghazali. That was the sixth attempt of the three-year-old colt, which finished placed in his penultimate start, indicating his progress this term. For the runner-up place, it was a dead heat between two of Mister Ginoux’s progeny; namely Alrugrog (FR) and Hiba (FR). Drop Al Maury (FR) (AF AlBahar) was a neck behind this duo in third. While GHADANFFAR AL CHAM dominated with a large margin, the battle for minor honours was fierce with such tiny margins between the second and the third placed.
AL HARQAH on a roll
In the opener, the Alanoud Khalifa Al Malki-owned and trained AL HARQAH (QA) (Storm Account x Adventuress) completed a double only a week after her first success. Ridden once again by Ivan Rossi, the five-year-old mare stayed on best of all to win the 1500m Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate for fillies and mares by two lengths. It seems that having known her way to the winners’ enclosure for the first time in her 16th attempt, the bay mare likes the taste of success. It will be quite interesting to see whether she will make one or more visits there in the next weeks. Ijtihaad (QA) (Bated Breath) and Irtiqaa (QA) (Kendargent) completed the frame in this order and the margin between them was a quarter of a length.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club