Suerland rides Lupie to Umm Al Houl Cup glory

Champion Trainer Jassim Ghazali had two winners earlier in the evening with Caid de l’Ardus and Ras Al Qimmah

Victory had evaded Lupie since May 2015 but yesterday, backed by a confident ride from Marvin Suerland, Mohammed Jassim Ghazali’s ward won the Umm Al Houl Cup, a Class 2 Thoroughbred Classified Stakes race on dirt, at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
The six furlong feature saw Ibrahim al-Malki-trained Shaka Zulu and My Sharona, schooled by Ghazali’s father Jassim, jostle for lead up front, while Lupie stayed on the inside before making a move coming on to the final stretch. Steadily pulling away as the finish approached, he left Injaaz Stud’s Black Granite and al-Malki’s Victory Laurel to battle for the second spot. Harry Bentley guided Black Granite to the runner-up spot.
Champion Trainer Jassim Ghazali had two winners earlier in the evening with Caid de l’Ardus winning the Purebred Arabian Conditions event and Ras Al Qimmah shedding her maiden status. JP Guillambert-helmed Caid de l’Ardus led a one-two for Ghazali and Leading Owner Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari with Alberto Sanna riding Samjida to the second spot, ahead of Injaaz Stud’s Al Marboush.
Polaris picked up his first victory this season when the Injaaz Stud colt topped the Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70-90 yesterday in a thrilling finish.
Trained by Mubarak al-Khayarin, the five-year-old, ridden by Jean Baptiste Hamel, edged out Zuhair Mohsen’s charge Apicus in what was his shortest run so far at 1100m, while Hamad al-Jehani’s Go For Broke was third.
Running over nine furlongs for the first time this season, Hadi al-Ramzani-trained Digital Rebellion registered his first victory when the five-year-old won the Class 5 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 50-70.
The Al Jeryan Stud-owned gelding finished a commanding five lengths ahead of the field courtesy a confident ride by Gerald Avranche.
Alberto Sanna-ridden Neutron Bomb, one of three maidens running in the race, finished second for trainer Al-Malki, while Jassim Ghazali’s ward Protect completed the podium.
Al-Malki-trained Afreetah registered her third victory this season when Sanna guided the five-year-old to a close win in the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap event for fillies and mares rated 85 and below.
The six-furlong sprint saw Sanna, riding in the colours of Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, guiding his mount to a narrow win over Alban de Mieulle-schooled duo Rahibah and Taima. Earlier in the day, Namroud, trained by Pierre Deymonaz, and Ghazali-saddled Ras Al Qimmah shed their maiden status in the Local Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred maiden plate events respectively.
 
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Namroud (Richard Mullen), 2. Musaitir (Gaetan Faucon), 3. Ibn Maerl Al Naif (Gerald Avranche), 4. Lagham (JP Guillambert). Won by: Shd, 6, 2 1/2. Owner: Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Pierre Deymonaz.
Race 2: 1. Ras Al Qimmah (Harry Bentley), 2. Al Zajeel (Almotasem al-Balushi), 3. High Commander (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 4. Cap Nord (Gerald Avranche). Won by: 3, Shd, 3. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 3: 1. Afreetah (Alberto Sanna), 2. Rahibah (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Taima (Gaetan Faucon), 4. Al Eshrah (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 1/2, Nk, 2. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 4: 1. Digital Rebellion (Gerald Avranche), 2. Neutron Bomb (Alberto Sanna), 3. Protect (Harry Bentley), 4. Al Fouz (Almotasem al-Balushi). Won by: 5, 1, 1 1/4. Owner: Al Jeryan Stud. Trainer: Hadi Al Ramzani.
Race 5: 1. Polaris (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. Apicus (Marvin Suerland), 3. Go For Broke (Darren Williams), 4. Gold Trade (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 1/2, Nk, 1/2. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Mubarak al-Khayarin.
Race 6: 1. Caid de l’Ardus (JP Guillambert), 2. Samjida (Alberto Sanna), 3. Al Marboush (Harry Bentley), 4. Majdan (Gerald Avranche). Won by: Nk, Nk, 3/4. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Ghazali.
Race 7: 1. Lupie (Marvin Suerland), 2. Black Granite (Harry Bentley), 3. Victory Laurel (Alberto Sanna), 4. Sandbetweenourtoes (Jean Baptiste Hamel). Won by: 1 1/2, 1/2, 3/4. Owner: Sheikha Sara bint Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani. Trainer: Mohammed
Jassim Ghazali.