RAQEE winner of THE LATE RASHID MUBARAK AL SHAFI CUP
14 February 2019, Doha, Qatar ~ HE Mohammed bin Hamoud Al Shafi, Chairman of Municipal Council, crowned the winners of the Late Rashid Mubarak Al Shafi Cup race meeting held on dirt at QREC Al Rayyan Park on Thursday, 14 February 2019. Present during the trophy presentation were the brothers and sons of the late Rashid Mubarak Al Shafi as well as Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager.
Brushing aside a dip in the mile-long Trial earlier this month, Hassan Ali Hassan Al Matwi’s RAQEE (Mared Al Sahra x Cath by Burning Sand) was back in the winner’s circle adding to his C&D victory last month. In the six-furlong race, THE LATE RASHID MUBARAK AL SHAFI CUP (4yo & older PA), at the dirt track at Al Rayyan Park, the 5yo was once again partnered by Saleem Golam, and the duo did well to win a duel by a quarter of a length with the Mohammed Ali Yousef Al Sheeb-trained KASSER (AF Albahar x Wujdan), ridden by Stephan Ladjadj. Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi’s ward, RASSAN (Amer x Sandytiki), completed the top three under Theo Bachelot.
Qatari apprentice rider Rashid Ali Al Marri notched his second victory of the day with the Abdullatif Saad Al Muslamani-trained ESKANDER YAR (Jaafer ASF x Marwa Bint Oseilah). In a fantastic ride over six furlongs in the LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (85 & below), Al Marri and his ride won by one and a quarter lengths for a fine win.
For the second straight race on the day, a Qatari rider helmed the winner when Faleh Bughanaim guided the Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani-trained ELLIANKA (Majd Al Arab x Billou Al Maury) to a thrilling victory in the PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (75 & below). In the 1700m run, Bughanaim, riding in the colours of Mohanad Jassim Al Yaqout, guided the filly to her second career victory, having earlier guided the 5yo to her maiden victory in December over a mile.
Al Jasra Stud’s ISKANDAR (TM Fred Texas x La Maha) had done little to impress in his first two outings, but all that changed on Thursday when the Tareq Essa Abdulla-trained colt registered his first career victory. With Ivan Rossi in the saddle, the 4yo edged out the Marco Casamento-ridden Jalal and the Jimmy Quinn-helmed Diyala in a thrilling finish at the post, topping the 1700m LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE (4-6yo).
~ end Arabian racing at QREC
photos by Juhaim