19th Dec 2013, QREC ~ The Alban de Mieulle-trained Nashmi (Amer x Danie Du Cassou) won the Al Wajba Cup in a tight finish on Thursday, 19 December 2013. The Pure Arabian Advanced Plate, run over 1,850-metre race featured the card of nine races at the Racing and Equestrian Club.
Jockey Marvin Suerland got Nashmi into a striking position as the field entered the straight for the final run and pushed his way to take over the lead with 300 metres left from the wire. Julian Smart-saddled Aziz Al Shahania came with a flourish towards the closing stages, but was unable to get past Nashmi. The de Mieulle’s trainee held on by a whisker at the finish. Khabbab and El Zouarda took the third and fourth places respectively.
Trainer Smart, who missed out narrowly in the feature event, had two other winners for the day. The Burning Sand son, Taraf with J.P Guillambert up broke through the maiden ranks with an authoritative win in the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Kafayef, who tried start-to-finish tactics, could only finish second ahead of Mhaiyedha Al Zaidy.
The trainer and jockey combination of Smart and Guillambert were in the forefront later on with Al Azuur’s (Manifik x Abajdara D’Aroco) win in the local bred Pure Arabian Graduation Plate. AL Azuur staved off the challenge of Tuyoorna and Kassam in this 1,600-metre contest.
Trainer Jassim Ghazali was once again in the limelight recording a treble. Two of these winners were in the colors of Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari. Jockey Stephen Ladjadj took Vetlana De Faust (Al Saoudi x Svetlana) on a successful start to finish mission in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Ladyanne came with a brilliant stretch run to overhaul My Sharona and win the Thoroughbred Conditions race for Fillies and Mares.
Pirate’s Song completed the tally for Ghazali, while scoring a narrow victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 75 to 95. Sandbetweenourtoes and Cinderkamp took the second and the third places respectively.
Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiya-owned Baroud Al Zaeem (Baroud De Cardonne x Megadeer Al Shaqab) was ridden to victory in the local bred Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 and below. Shadeedah was a close second ahead of Jourarah.
In the day’s other action, Debbie Mountain-schooled Sunley Pride (Evert Pheiffer astride) staved off the challenge of Statesmanship to win the Thoroughbred Handicap for two-year-old horses rated 50 to 70.
Al Moqeerat Stud’s Too Nice Name (Darren Williams up) came through with a spirited run in the final furlong to win the Thoroughbred Handicap for three-year-old horses rated 50 to 70. Suneagle and Protect also put in a pleasing performance to take the second and third places.
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