December 18, 2013, QREC ~ Muntasar and Fouladh win for Umm Qarn
Umm Qarn’s Muntasar (Majd Al Arab x Danie Du Cassou) with Pier Convertino up, came up with a stunning gallop down the final straight to win the Qatar National Day Trophy, a Group II Pure Arabian race, run over 2,000 metres at the Racing and Equestrian Club on Monday, December 16. Racing fifth in a field of seven, till entering the home stretch, Muntasar was pulled out to make a bid on outside and the Alban de Mieulle’s trainee came like a whirlwind to storm ahead and register an emphatic victory. La Hoor, Farraaha and Hariir filled the frame in that order. This was the fourth win in a row over the last 12 months for the 4-year-old colt. 
Umm Qarn found footing again as Fouladh (Amer x Jaljalah) enhanced his reputation with the team of De Mieulle and Pier Convertino and trounced his eight rivals in the Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Cup, a local bred Pure Arabian race run over 10 furlongs. Fouladh raced nice and easy for the first half of the journey, allowing Dahash, Raihan and Laheeb Al Shahania to show the way till that stage. Jockey Convertino showed him daylight on turning for home. The Umm Qarn-bred champion devoured ground thereafter and won with a measure of comfort. Al Shahania Stud’s Laheeb Al Shahania who did not have free run, made a late charge to beat front-running Dahash into third place.
Sinndar Perfection (Marvin Suerland up) broke through the maiden ranks in his first appearance on the Qatar race track in the TB Maiden Plate. The Yousef Bentaher-schooled Sinndar Perfection raced a handy third before taking control of the proceedings in the final furlong. Once into top gear, Sinndar Perfection went away to win by two lengths. Qatar World Cup came with a belated challenge to take the second place ahead of Taigan.
Ibrahim Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani owned Al Laheef (Kador De Blaziet x Kios Cs) shed his maiden status with a tremendous victory in the 1400m Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Coming from way off the pace, Salim Golam brought Al Laheef into contention with a ground devouring run in the final furlong. Thulfakar, which had assumed command after setting the pace, succumbed to the onslaught of Al Laheef in the final 50 metres. The Rashid Al Malki Al Jehani-trained Al Laheef was ably ridden by jockey Salim Golam to victory. Tajarub came with a rattle in the final stages of the race to take the second place ahead of Thulfakar.
Mohammed Bin Ali Al Attiya-owned Zizanie Al Maury (Akbar x Zhou Al Maury) with Yasser Rajab in the saddle, recorded a pillar to post victory in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 and below. After setting the early pace, the mare skipped away from her opponents to win from Hab Reeh and Jihad.
Al Attiya had a back to back double when Uqab (Alberto Sanna up) made every post a winning one in the local Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 0 to 60. Majd put in a spirited bid in the final stages of the race, but Uqab was simply unstoppable. Itscher was third, while Ohud completed the frame.
Mohammed Khamis Al Kaabi-owned Blackdown Fair clinched a thrilling victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 60 to 80. Though Cloudwalker had stolen a march and looked set to land the spoils, Gary Carter brought Blackdown Fair into contention with a brilliant stretch run. The Ibrahim Al Malki-trained Blackdown Fair quickly devoured ground and went past the front runner to win in an exciting finish. Seven Of Clubs also impressed while finishing a close second.
Zohair Mohsen-trained Impound with Adrie de Vries up, bounced back to winning form in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 80 to 100. This was the first victory for the Hussain Ali Bukanan-owned three year old colt. Settled in mid field till the final bend, Impound moved freely to surge ahead and later warded off the challenge of Fauvism to win quite comfortably. Rule Maker was third while Tortoni took the fourth place in a keenly contested race.
Photos Juhaim
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