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Alban de Mieulle trained Burren Quality led all the way and held off the challenge of Amico Mio quite easily in the QR 800,000 Qatar International Cup, a Group II race for Thoroughbreds, which featured yesterday’s races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. Burren Quality broke into a decisive lead inside the final furlong which in the end proved to be too big to bridge for his pursuers.
Classic winner Amico Mio, who had run a forward race in his last outing, was widely expected to return to winning ways as he appeared to have overcome whatever problems that resulted in his poor performances earlier in the season. However, the Yousef Bentaher colt could not reproduce the spark of old though he was ideally positioned to launch the assault.
Oliver Peslier had Burren Quality lead the field from the start with Amico Mio in close proximity while the others were not far behind. Rounding the final turn, Burren Quality quickened for home while Amico Mio was angled out to essay his challenge but he found the front runner beyond his reach. Burren Quality was in no mood to relent as he sailed to an easy victory.
“I am very pleased for HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani. I like to thank all the staff at Umm Qarn for the tremendous team work which has produced these results today. I did not expect to win this race as it was quite a tough race but Burren Quality was upto the task on hand. Jockey Peslier also rode a brilliant race on him,” trainer Mieulle told the Gulf Times.
Speaking about his other winner, Mieulle said. “I always knew that Muntasar had the class and today he proved that. He is still a young horse who has scope for improvement. I think Muntasar would be ready for the Arc day in October.”
Jockey Peslier “I wanted to stay behind but nobody was willing to hit the front. It turned out to our advantage as Burren Quality was keen to set the pace and when I asked for an effort in the straight he responded well. He is a brilliant horse and he proved it with this comfortable victory.”
Muntasar (Majd Al Arab-Dane Du Cassou) who has been pretty consistent in his career, was given a peach of a ride by jockey David Bouland to win the QR 500,000 Qatar International Trophy, a Group I race for Pure Arabians, which was the other highlight of the day.
Al Shahania Stud’s Al Anga got everything right except finding an extra gear under pressure. Al Anga had recorded an easy win in her last outing and she was expected to maintain her supremacy over the mile trip as her style of winning suggested that she had more depth and would come out unscathed even against tougher opponents.
Dahani set the pace as the field set out for the mile long trip with Muntasar in about the fifth position while Al Anga was in the rear group. Rounding the final turn, Farraaha took control of the proceedings but in the final furlong was pressed hard by Al Anga along the rails. However, she could not skip away from the rest as Muntasar, under the driving finish of Bouland, responded well and came up with a brilliant run to measure the front runner in the closing strides of the race. Umm Qarn colours were prominent in this race as they took the top three places. Farraaha and Nashmi edged out Al Anga to the fourth spot.
Jockey Bouland was elated with success of Muntasar “I am very with Muntasar and he is a horse who is capable of improving further. For the moment he has proved that he is a class performer. He beat some good horses in this race and I hope he can to do that in the future,” jockey Bouland said.
Umm Qarn hogged the day’s limelight with another two winners. Saudi Arabia’s Naif K Alanazi piloted Suwaida to a thrilling victory in the Pure Arabian Handicap which was a race meant for Qatar International Apprentice jockeys. The other winner came through Khabbab in the local bred Pure Arabian Handicap. Jockey Bouland rode a perfect race on the winner.
The day also witnessed the Fegentri race for lady jockeys. French saddle artist Barbara Guenet rode Ibrahim al-Malki trained Tortoni to victory in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate.
Results:
1st race: Tortoni (Barbara Guenet) 1, Count Curlin 2, I Like To Win 3, Villa Reigns 4. Won by: 5, 2 ½, 1 ½. Time: 1:38.78. Trained by: Ibrahim al-Malki. Owned by: Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri
2nd race: Suwaida (Naif K Alanazi) 1, Fiha 2, Intizaa 3, Jamra 4. Won by: Hd, 3, 3. Time: 1:47.35. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn
3rd race: Khabbab (David Bouland) 1, Al Mustanfir 2, Al Mizan 3, Al Mustarsil 4. Won by: Nk, Shd, 1 ¾. Time: 1:46.84.Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn
4th race: Late Devate (Yanis Aouabed) 1, Barzan 2, Marinus 3, One More Roman 4. Won by: ½, Shd, Shd. Time: 1:26.12. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Shaheen bin Khalid bin Shaheen al-Ghanim
5th race: Al Wajba 9Yanis Aouabed) 1, Alkazim 2, Spitnik Sweetheart 3, Elwazeer 4. Won by: Nk, Hd, Hd. Time: 1:37.22. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Injaaz Stud
6th race: Muntasar (Davud Bouland) 1, Farraaha 2, Nashmi 3, Al Anga 4. Won by: Nk, Shd, Shd. Time: 1:45.75. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn
7th race: Burren Quality (Oliver Peslier) 1, Amico Mio 2, Scruttable 3, Muraweg 4. Won by: 1 ¾, 1, Shd. Time: 1:36.22. Trained by: Alban de Mieulle. Owned by: Umm Qarn