Bughanaim leads Subahiyah to victory at Qatar Oaks day

Al Shaqab Racing’s Subahiyah reigned supreme in the feature event on an action packed 10-race card Qatar Oaks day of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 23rd Race Meeting at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
Jockey Faleh Bughanaim piloted the three-year-old bay to a comfortable 2¾ length victory in the 2,000m Thoroughbreds for three-year-old fillies only – Class 1, Far Bend. Subahiyah, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, was in command from the start and took a huge lead over Hollie Doyle-ridden Muneerah to secure a top prize of $57,000 in the $100,000 race. Mohamed Ghazali-trained Midheaven, ridden by Lukas Delozier, came third in the feature event.
The victory with Subahiyah gave Bughanaim a double on the day, after he had emerged triumphant with Al Shaqab Racing’s Osaila in the $60,000 Local Purebred Arabians for four-year-old fillies only – Far Bend.
Meanwhile, Jockey Maxime Guyon completed a hat-trick of victories riding Al Shahania Stud’s Image Du Croate to a half-length win in Purebred Arabians for four-year-old fillies – Far Bend. Guyon had earlier tasted victory with Fedwah in the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate title, a little earlier after guiding Latifolia to victory in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for two-year-old fillies only – Class 6.
Meanwhile, Al Warkah owned by Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani and trained by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, was ridden to two-length victory by jockey Alberto Sanna in the $75000 Local Thoroughbreds for three-year-old fillies only – Far Bend.
The win in the 2,000m race also sealed a brace of victories for Sanna, who earlier led Roma to triumph in $50,000 Local Purebred Arabians – three-year-old fillies only.
Mickael Barzalona was the other jockey to return with a double after he paired up with No Tear Al Maury to win the $50,000 Purebred Arabians – for three-year-old (fillies only), claiming a half-length victory in the 1,600m race. Earlier, Barzalona rode Porsche Cavalier to Thoroughbred Novice Plate title.
The day started with a 3½ length triumph for Julian Colin Smart-trained Djalco in the 1,400m Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, with Jim Crowley in the saddle.
The Qatar Derby Day will feature 10 races again including the feature – Thoroughbreds for three-year-old – Class 1, Far Bend – offering a total prize purse of $500,000.

Results 23rd Race Meeting - Qatar Oaks
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1. Qatar Oaks (Qa Listed) - Thoroughbreds (3yo Fillies Only) (Class 1) (Far Bend)
Subahiyah, Jean-Claude Rouget, Faleh Bughanaim
2. Qatar Oaks - Purebred Arabians (4yo Fillies Only) (Far Bend)
Image Du Croate, Rudy Andre Nerbonne, Maxime Guyon
3. Qatar Oaks - Local Thoroughbreds (3yo Fillies Only) (Far Bend)
Al Warkah, Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, Alberto Sanna
4. Qatar Oaks - Local Purebred Arabians (4yo Fillies Only) (Far Bend)
Osaila, Eric Lemartinel, Faleh Bughanaim
5. Qatar Oaks - Purebred Arabians (3yo Fillies Only)
No Tear Al Maury, Thomas Fourcy, Mickael Barzalona
6. Qatar Oaks - Local Purebred Arabians (3yo Fillies Only)
Roma, Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, Alberto Sanna
7. Thoroughbred Novice Plate (Fillies & Mares) (Class 5)
Porsche Cavalier, Julian Colin Smart, Mickael Barzalona
8. Purebred Arabian Novice Plate
Fedwah, Rudy Andre Nerbonne, Maxime Guyon
9. Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (2yo Fillies Only) (Class 6)
Latifolia, Gassim Ghazali, Maxime Guyon
10. Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate
Djalco, Julian Colin Smart, Jim Crowley