Chrome returned to winning ways with a strong performance in the Ras Mlaiji Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)’s Al Rayyan Racecourse on Saturday.
The eight-year-old gelding, owned by Abdulla Abdulmonem Mohammed al-Ibrahim and trained by Hadi al-Ramzani, showed his resilience under jockey Jefferson Smith, delivering a well-timed run to secure a well-earned half a length victory over Engineer
Osama Omer E al-Dafea-owned and trained Za’eer Al Shahania in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (65-85) for four-year-old+ and completed a double in the evening for the trainer.
Chrome last won the race on April 24, 2024, when the gelding claimed the Purebred Arabian Handicap 60-80 (Class 4) during the Al Jumayliyah Cup meeting.
Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners.
Earlier, trainer al-Ramzani was in the winners’ circle when jockey Soufiane Saadi guided Mohammed Nasser R A al-Naimi-owned Akmar to a two and a half lengths victory in the Purebred Arabian Handicap (60-80) for four-year-old+. Basheer Al Shahania in the colours of Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani won the 1,900m contest for the Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate for the five-year-old+.
Jockey Lukas Delozier guided the Rudy Nerbonne-trained horse to a comfortable two-length victory in the penultimate race of the day.
In the card opener, Rumailah Stud’s Necessitate registered a convincing three and a quarter lengths win in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for the 4-6-year-olds in the 1,900m contest.
RESULTS18th Al Uqda Race Meeting -
Ras Mlaiji Cup
WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - Ras Mlaiji Cup - Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 65-85 (Class 4)
Chrome, Hadi al-Ramzani, Jefferson Smith
2 - Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate (Class 4)
Basheer Al Shahania, Rudy Andre Nerbonne, Lukas Delozier
3 - Purebred Arabian Handicap 60-80 (Class 4)
Akmar, Hadi al-Ramzani, Soufiane Saadi
4 - Local Thoroughbred Handicap 40-60 (Class 4)
Nadiraha, Julian Colin Smart, Alberto Sanna
5 - Thoroughbred Handicap 55-75 (Class 5)
Morning Vietnam, Gassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento
6 - Thoroughbred Handicap 45-65 (Class 6)
Beat The Clock, Mohammed Ghazali, Maxim Bozzio
7 - Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6)
Necessitate, Rashid al-Jehani, Tomas Lukasek.