Marc Lerner rides Ishfaq to Al Wakra Cup victory at the QREC yesterday.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Ishfaq continued with his impressive momentum as Marc Lerner helmed the Pierre Deymonaz-trained colt to a fantastic victory in the 1900m Al Wakra Cup, yesterday’s feature on dirt at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) yesterday.

The 10-length victory over Ibrahim al-Malki-schooled Afreetah, ridden by Saleem Golam, was second win in the row for the five-year-old, who has never finished outside the top three in his five races so far, including three victories.
Champion Trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali tightened his grip on the championship further with three winners on the day, including two with Almotasem al-Balushi astride.
Shaheen bin Khalid Shaheen al-Ghanim’s Sacred Way topped the 2000m Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70 and below, before AJS Wathanan won the Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 80 and below. Ghazali’s first winner of the day was Daira Bridge who shed his maiden status under JP Guillambert’s ride.
Al-Malki had fine day in the office with two winners including, Mohamed Abdulla Abdulmalik’s Nahaab and Rumailah Stud’s Shobrom, both handicap winners under Golam and Anas al-Seyabi respectively.
Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim registered his 18th victory this season astride Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Dawoodea in the 1700m Purebred Arabian Plate race, while Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani-schooled Lawless Louis, with Jean Baptiste Hamel in the saddle, was the other winner on the day.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Daira Bridge (JP Guillambert), 2. Royal Peace (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Acclaimed Dancer (Adnan Hawa), 4. Reem Seattle (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 3 3/4, 1 1/4, 3 1/2. Time: 1:12.77. Owner: Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Attiyah. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 2: 1. Lawless Louis (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. Connery (Saleem Golam), 3. New Hope (Tomas Lukasek), 4. Mohsen (JP Guillambert). Won by: Hd, 1 3/4, 1. Time: 1:11.84. Owner: Hamad Ahmed Hassan al-Malki al-Jehani. Trainer: Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani.
Race 3: 1. Sacred Way (Almotasem al-Balushi), 2. Bachelorhood (Stephan Ladjadj), 3. Lahdan (Marvin Suerland), 4. Truancy (Khadija Abdulwahed). Won by: 2, 3/4, Nk. Time: 2:10.41. Owner: Shaheen bin Khalid Shaheen al-Ghanim. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 4: 1. Nahaab (Saleem Golam), 2. Al Watan (Marvin Suerland), 3. Look At Me (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Rawdat Al Khail (Harry Bentley). Won by: 3 3/4, 1 1/2, 1. Time: 1:51.32. Owner: Mohamed Abdulla Abdulmalik. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 5: 1. Al Dawoodea (Faleh Bughanaim), 2. Baker De Saularie (Marc Lerner), 3. Samhan Al Shajaa (Abdulla Hozam al-Marri), 4. Abercrombie (Saleem Golam). Won by: 4 1/4, 3, 1 1/4. Time: 1:59.50. Owner: Al Shaqab Racing. Trainer: Hossin Mohamed Ashour.
Race 6: 1. AJS Wathanan (Almotasem al-Balushi), 2. Bsheer (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Hareemah (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Udai Al Wajba (Harry Bentley). Won by: Shd, 22, 15. Time: 2:13.25. Owner: Al Ghazali Stud. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 7: 1. Shobrom (Anas al-Seyabi), 2. Catch A Wave (Faleh Bughanaim), 3. Victoy Laurel (Saleem Golam), 4. Burrishoole Abbey (Harry Bentley). Won by: 3 1/2, 1 1/4, 2 3/4. Time: 1:11.00. Owner: Rumailah Stud. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 8: 1. Ishfaq (Marc Lerner), 2. Afreetah (Saleem Golam), 3. Haddaj Dukhan (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Al Ghawja (Tadgh O’Shea). Won by: 10 1/2, 1 3/4, Nk. Time: 2:12.44. Owner: Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Pierre Deymonaz.









Related Story