The HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day featuring 10 races on Saturday produced thrilling action with Simca Mille, Abbes and Mkaee’lat Al Shahania claiming coveted titles at the Al Rayyan Racecourse.
As expected, the highly-anticipated meeting – one of the major events on Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Meeting’s (QREC) annual calendar – brought the best out of the racers with Wathnan Racing-owned Simca Mille culminating a memorable day with HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle triumph. Under Mickael Barzalona, the Alban de Mieulle-trained won the 2200m Thoroughbred race by a neck ahead of Haunted Dream and Jeff Koons – both also owned by Wathnan Racing. Trainer De Mieulle returned with five victories from the eventful day which saw Barzalona riding four winners.
In the penultimate contest on Saturday, multiple Group 1 champion Abbes, also trained by De Mieulle, retained the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, winning the Group 3 PA race for the second year. Barzalona guided the seven-year-old to victory after a surge in final 200m of the exciting 2200m race.
President of Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani crowned the winners of the last two races while Chairman of the Asian Equestrian Federation and QREC Vice-Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman al-Attiya was also present.
Earlier, HE Sheikha Yasmeen bint Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s Mkaee’lat Al Shahania emerged winner of the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, claiming a comfortably victory in the 1750m race for Purebred Arabians under Maxime Guyon. The title completed a double for trainer Rudy Nerbonne.

24th Al Rayyan Meeting – HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day
WINNERS (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)

1 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, Thoroughbreds
Simca Mille, Alban de Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
2 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 PA), Purebred Arabians
Abbes, Alban de Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
3 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy
Mkaee’lat Al Shahania, Rudy Nerbonne, Maxime Guyon
4 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Purebred Arabian Open Race
Ghadah, Jean de Mieulle, Christophe Soumillon
5 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Thoroughbred Open Race
Band Width, Alban de Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
6 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Local Thoroughbreds
Horse: Harb, Rashid al-Jehani, Tomas Lukasek
7 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Thoroughbreds
Soldier’s Gold, Alban de Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
8 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Thoroughbred Sprint
Come Quick, Bader al-Balushi, Maxime Guyon
9 - Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup, 4YO+, 1400m
Toufik, Alban de Mieulle, Alberto Sanna
10 - Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Cup
Talg’at Al Shahania, Rudy Nerbonne, Lukas Delozier