23 April 2015, Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, Doha ~ Making his 100th win for the season, jockey Harry Bentley took Roman Legend home to win the Al Gharafa Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) on Thursday, 23 April.
In one of the two Arabian races for the evening, the Hassan Ali Hassan Al Matwi owned and trained Tibr Al Shajaa broke through the maiden ranks with a three-quarters length win over Ostorah Dukhan in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate for three year olds. Jockey Marco Monteriso was astride the winner.
Umm Qarn’s Muhjah (Majd Al Arab x Mayasah) put in a dazzling display while shedding her maiden status with an emphatic victory in the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. After racing a handy second until the home turn, jockey Gaetan Faucon put Muhjah to the task at hand and the Alban de Mieulle trainee stretched away in fine fashion to win with a great deal of comfort from Thabit and Bayriq.
Mekhbatt keeps Raedah at bay to win Al Zubara Cup
22 April 2015, Doha ~ Al Jasra Stud’s Mekhbatt (Burning Sand x Gardenia Gora) was confidently ridden by jockey Tadgh O’Shea to a thrilling victory in the Al Zubara Cup, a Local Bred Pure Arabian Conditions race, the highlight of the races on the sand track for the evening. The seven-year-old grey trained by Badr Al Abid clocked a smart time of 2:09:33 for the 1900-metre contest. Though Raedah put up a spirited effort, Mekhbatt held on to win by a head. Rassan and Mowhoubat Al Zaidy finished third and fourth respectively.
Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiya owned Saint De Faust (Dormane x Brume Correzienne) was a runaway winner of the Pure Arabian Special Conditions race for retiring horses. Under the riding of Almotasem Al Balushi, Saint De Faust made every post a winning one while stretching away in the final furlong to win by a widening margin of five lengths from Al Mostrasil in a field of six horses.
Injaaz Stud’s Saintloup (Njewman x Neva Du Loup) ridden by J.P. Guilliambert was an impressive performer in the Pure Arabian Graduation Plate. The Al Ghazali schooled Saintloup raced a handy second before stretching away to win in fine style from Kimfalah and Al Khattaf.
HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani owned Qassy (Mared Al Sahra x The Write Stuff) was ridden to a confident victory by jockey Bentley in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 70 to 100, run over 1800 metres. Sand Legend finished second ahead of Ashkal.
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