May 9, 2013, Doha ~ The racing season came to a end in Doha at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club with this 60th and final race meet on May 9 with closing congratulations and awards.
Jockey Marvin Suerland dazzled on the final day’s race meeting of the 2012-13 season with four wins out of the seven races, including the main event.
Mohammed Hamad Al Attiya trained Bin Amer (Amer x Ismala) with Suerland astride won a thrilling Pure Arabian Stakes contest. Jelmud was second under Gerald Avranche with Al Uraiq coming in third.
In the Local Bred Pure Arabian Handicap race for horses rated 40 to 70, Suerland took Mohammed Khalid nurtured Al Yarmouk (Djelmidor x Kerra) to victory. Thawi took second position while Khalfa settled for third.
Suerland’s other success came in the Thoroughbred Handicap race for horses rated 50 to 70. Suerland guided Debbie Mountain schooled Christmas Aria to victory.
As the curtains were coming down on the season, Al Shahania Stud’s Kassam (Burning Sand x Mahmoona) made his winning bid to triumph in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate in his first race. It was Jassim Al Ghazali who trained Kassam for this good win to start his career under Darren Williams.
Osama Omar Al Dhafa’s Shujaa (Nizam xLas Hies De Carrere) ridden by Evert Pheiffer won his fourth race in 15 starts, this time in the Local Bred Pure Arabian Restricted Stakes.
May 8, 2013 ~ On the 59th day of racing at the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club, Al Nakhsh (Dormane x Kerina) edged out stable-mate Majd Al Uraiq to win the feature event with a one-length victory under jockey Marco Monteriso. Majd Al Uraiq, ridden by Gerald Avranche made it a one, two for trainer, H. Al Matwi. He was followed into third by AJS Qahir.
Trainer Jassim Al Ghazali, after having won three races on Tuesday, added two more. First, Al Ghazali nurtured Vercors De Rovon (Akbar x Sarabande Al Maury) was taken to the finish line in the first place by rider Yanis Aouabed in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate.
Al Ghazali’s second win came through Kohala in the Thoroughbred Stakes with jockey Aouabed. The trainer-jockey pair completed a double.
The Local Bred Pure Arabian Stakes race saw a fine run by Arkan Al Naif (Amer x Midjal). The Yousef Bentaher’s trainee took the top honors by one and half lengths. Al Mizan came second by a length and a half under Gerald Avranche while Al Ejtiyah was home third.
May 7, 2013 ~ The trainer-jockey combination of Jassim Al Ghazali and Gerald Avranche hogged the limelight at the 58th race meeting at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (REC) on May 7.
The hot team brought home Damis (Amer x Kachia) from Zakhir Stud to capture the feature event, the 2000m Musheireb Cup. Damis led by three-fourths of a length in a time of 2:18.11 over Amour N’Al Maury for 2nd and Al Jeali for third.
The Al Ghazali/Avranche team also won the Local bred P/A Handicap for horses rated 40 and below with Al Bouraq (Al Mudaffar x Aicha Du Berlais). Sheikha Mariam Bint Mishal Bin Hamad Al Thani owns Al Bouraq who won the 1600m race in a time of 01:45:97.
In the Pure Arabian Handicap race for horses rated 40 to 70, rider Marvin Suerland used all his resources to guide AJS Fath Elkheir (Amer x Aicha Du Berlais) to victory by half-length against Al Pacinoo. Haizum came in third in the 12 horse field in a time of 01:17:68 over the 1200m course.
This is the end of another fantastic season in Qatar. Racing will resume in October at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
Photos by Juhaim.
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