12 January 2017, QREC, QATAR ~ Another brilliant evening of racing at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.

H.H SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN KHALIFA AL THANI TROPHY (Local PA – 4yo & older)

Majeed and Peslier

Majeed (Amer x Zabieh) topped off a brilliant evening for Umm Qarn with Alban de Mieulle’s charge winning the big feature over a mile under Olivier Peslier’s ride on Thursday, 12 December. A smart performer Majeed stayed on the outside in the midfield, while stablemate Raedah set the pace up front. Coming off the bend, Raedah made way for the rest of the field, while down the field Majeed and Julian Smart’s Taraf (Burning Sand x Gethaabah) piloted by Sanna upped their pace. With 100m to go, the race was about Majeed and Taraf, and Peslier’s mount held on well with a neck being the margin of victory. Reda (Burning Sand x Ba’scherit), also owned by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani and trained by Smart, finished third.

H.H SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN KHALIFA AL THANI CUP (Gr3 PA)

TM Thunder Struck

TM Thunderstruck connections

Qatar Gold Sword winner TM Thunder Struck (Majd al Arab x Bonnett) was in a league of his own as the Umm Qarn trainee (Alban de Mieulle), romped to victory in the mile-long race he had also won last year. Olivier Peslier had his mount track early leader Carab (Majd Al Arab x Cassels Celeste) ridden by Pierantonio Convertino. Coming on to the final bend, Peslier hit the button and TM Thunder Struck was off, pulling away even as Julian Smart schooled Ba’sil (Amer x Somra) pursued with Carab behind him. The -7yo won by five lengths, while Ba’sil edged out Carab for the second spot.

H.H SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN KHALIFA AL THANI SILVER CUP (4yo PA)

Three for three for Peslier – After finishing behind Julian Smart saddled Shabih Alreeh (Jaafer ASF x Queen Kong) in the Derby Trials last month, Umm Qarn’s Yazeed (Munjiz x Al Dahma) did well to shed his maiden status in a race that was a stamina test for the entire field with everyone stepping up to 2200m. Smart’s ward had taken the lead under Alberto Sanna but was joined by stablemate Ebraz (Amer x Massamarie) ridden by Marco Monteriso in the colors of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani as the race reached the business end. Alban de Mieulle schooled Yazeed helmed by Olivier Peslier moved up from midfield and had little difficulty easing past the leaders to win by half a length.

MAJD AL ARAB P/A SPRINTER CHAMPIONSHIP (Gr3 PA) (4yo & older)

Trainer Jassim Ghazali registered a one-two in the 1100m sprint with Al Jeryan Stud’s Almuheet (AF Albahar x Maboud) edging out Injaaz Stud’s Istibdad (AF Albahar x Mari Chou) in the duel over the last furlong. Marvin Suerland had kept his ride Mutazz (Amer x Zeinah) up front with Istibdad and another Al Jeryan Stud horse AJS Qahir following. As the action heated up, Almuheet under JP Guillambert, joined the party up front. Mutazz’s run weakened and soon it was Almuheet in pursuit of the victory along with Istibdad. At the post Almuheet emerged stronger over his rival, registering his second career victory, while Mutazz did enough for a third spot for trainer Hadi Al Ramzani.

Photos by Juhaim

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