24 February 2015, Doha ~ On 24 February during the eight-day HH the Emir 24th International Equestrian Sword Festival, Qatar’s biggest international Arabian fixture of the season saw Al Mujahaz (Hafid Du Bac x Kerjam) with Harry Bentley guiding, take the win in the QR 500,000 Gulf Cup for GC-bred Arabians for top Qatar trainer Jassim Al Ghazali. In the Thoroughbred edition Roi De Vitesse gained the large share of the QR 1,000,000 Group 3 Qatar 2022 Invitation Cup prize money.
Raedah, representing Umm Qarn and trainer Alban de Meuille, looked to have the job sewed up from the 150m mark to near the finish. After patiently tracking the leader on the rail, Al Mujahaz angled out taking a bead on the frontrunner and pushed to the win by a length as Raedah fought on gamely.
The eight-year-old Al Mujahaz was making his third appearance at the meeting after a two-year layoff due to a serious tendon injury.
Al Ghazali commented, “I thought he would be finished, but we gave him treatment and time, and step by step he has come back. I am really pleased to see him win.”
Al Mujahaz was the last of four winners for the champion trainer-jockey partnership of Al Ghazali and Bentley, who ended the day on 102 and 58 winners respectively.
The Madjani son West de Faust won the PA Handicap over 1400m on the turf. Jockey Marco Monteriso was in the saddle for owner Dhafi Al Ardi Al Marri.
Al Ghazali had moved on to 99 wins for the season when Bentley drove Rasi (Mared Al Sahra x Dixie Darlene) to a three-length success in the 2000m maiden plate for purebred Arabians.
Stephane Ibido teamed up with fellow Italian Marco Monteriso to claim his fifth win in his first season training in Qatar with Charlie’s Wish in the 2000m Thoroughbred graduation plate and raced two lengths clear of Al Ghazali-trained Damascene.
Julian Smart trained the winner for the second race for lady amateur riders in the Fegentri series over 1400m for purebred Arabians. Hariir (Amer x Al Shahania Aseala), ridden by Norway’s Dina Heggum, surged through on the outside in the straight to catch Harran, the mount of Alice Bertiaux, from Belgium.
Hariir was three lengths to the good at the post with Harran double that distance in front of third-placed Shaklan with Omani jockey Azhar Al Wardi.
Smart said, “It’s always good to have the first two in a race, and this worked out perfectly.”
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