Jockey Carlo Fiocchi is congratulated on returning to the winners’ enclosure after he guided
Salman Bu Thaila to victory in the Halul Island Cup at the QREC yesterday.
Khalid Abdulaziz al-Kuwari (left) rides Al Malhoufa to victory ahead of Mujahidah, ridden by Ali Khalid al-Mosallam, in the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate event for Qatari riders only yesterday.
Running his longest distance yet, Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri-owned Salman Bu Thaila registered his second career victory, winning the 2400m Halul Island Cup for Local Thoroughbreds, yesterday’s feature on turf at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
Stefano Ibido’s charge had finished fourth against the field in his last outing in November, when Zuhair Mohsen-trained Asaaf had picked up the victory. Yesterday, under Carlo Fiocchi, Salman Bu Thaila beat Asaaf, helmed by Marvin Suerland, by a little more than a length for a fine victory, while Theo Bachelot was astride Mohamed Hussain’s Absher in third.
The owner-trainer-jockey trio of Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi, Ibrahim al-Malki and Eduardo Pedroza combined well in the penultimate race of the day, with Mango Tango extending her unbeaten streak this season to three outings.
Pedroza helmed Mango Tango to a smashing victory, almost four lengths, in the 2000m Thoroughbreds event for fillies and mares yesterday. Stefano Ibido’s ward Croara and Mohamed Jassim Ghazali’s Scudding completed the top three.
Al-Malki also had a winner in the third race of the evening, when Pedroza helmed al-Emadi’s Daleem to victory in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 85 and below.
Mohamed Rashid al-Kuwari’s charge Akram had to settle for second place for the second straight race, while Mohamed Hussain’s Jakom completed the top three.
Julian Smart-trained Al Shaman continued to impress in Qatar, picking up his second straight victory since making his debut here after arriving from France. Theo Bachelot, riding in the famous silks of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, beat Mohamed Jassim Ghazali’s ward Carigrad, while Opera Baron, saddled by Ghazali’s father, Jassim, completed the top three.
Mohamed Jassim Ghazali had winners in two straight races on the day with Harry Bentley riding Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari’s Zahwa to her second victory this season, while Pier Convertino ensured Injaaz Stud’s Moamar made a winning debut in Qatar.
Zahwa topped the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 85 and below, going past the line three lengths ahead of Mansoor Mesfer al-Hajri’s Haddaj Dukhan, who missed out on a victory despite making it to the frame for the fifth straight time. Pierre Deymonaz-schooled E’zaaz was third under Carlo Fiocchi.
Moamar, a useful performer in Britain, won the 2000m Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 80 and below, with Convertino helming the gelding to a victory ahead of al-Malki’s ward Could Be and Jassim Mohamed Ghazali’s Yaarmen.
Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani’s China Club, after staying winless for almost three years, is having a memorable season of sorts, with the six-year-old registering his second victory this season, topping the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 80 and below.
Marc Lerner guided the horse to a close win over al-Malki’s ward Munira Eyes, with Hydroxide, saddled by Ghazali Sr, in third.
Alban de Mieulle-schooled Djelamer registered his first victory this season, winning the 1850m Purebred Arabian Conditions event with ease under Stephan Ladjadj.
Pierre Deymonaz-saddled Rasi and Julian Smart’s Aaley Al Magam were second and third respectively. Earlier in the day, Khalid Abdulaziz al-Kuwari guided Khalifa bin Sheail
al-Kuwari-owned Al Malhoufa to her second career win in the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate for Qatari riders only.
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Al Malhoufa (Khalid Abdulaziz al-Kuwari), 2. Mujahidah (Ali Khalid al-Mosallam), 3. Zakhir Al Majd (Rashid Ali al-Marri), 4. Muzn (Meteb Ali al-Marri). Won by: Shd, 2, No. Time: 1:19.03. Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 2: 1. China Club (Marc Lerner), 2. Munira Eyes (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Hydroxide (Pier Convertino), 4. Atteq (Marvin Suerland). Won by: ¾, 1 ¼, ¾. Time: 1:10.79. Owner: Ahmed Hassan al-Malki al-Jehani. Trainer: Hamad Ahmed al-Malki al-Jehani.
Race 3: 1. Daleem (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Akram (Saleem Golam), 3. Jakom (Theo Bachelot), 4. Tanja Bu Thaila (Carlo Fiocchi). Won by: 1 ¾, ¾, ¾. Time: 1:12.52. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 4: 1. Zahwa (Harry Bentley), 2. Haddaj Dukhan (Darren Williams), 3. E’zaaz (Carlo Fiocchi), 4. Al Yem (Pier Convertino). Won by: 3, Shd, 4 ½. Time: 1:30.76. Owner: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 5: 1. Moamar (Pier Convertino), 2. Could Be (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Yaarmen (Harry Bentley), 4. Shingle (Vaclav Janacek). Won by: ¾, ½, 1 ¾. Time: 2:02.14. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Al Shaman (Theo Bachelot), 2. Carigrad (Harry Bentley), 3. Opera Baron (JP Guillambert), 4. Perfect Storm (Eduardo Pedroza). Won by: 2, ½, ¼. Time: 2:15.44. Owner: HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Smart.
Race 7: 1. Djelamer (Stephan Ladjadj), 2. Rasi (Carlo Fiocchi), 3. Aaley Al Magam (Theo Bachelot), 4. Meqdam Al Zaidy (Saleem Golam). Won by: 2, 3/4, 2. Time: 2:01.81. Owner: Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Attiyah. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 8: 1. Mango Tango (Eduardo Pedroza), 2. Croara (Carlo Fiocchi), 3. Scudding (JP Guillambert), 4. Stars N Angels (Pier Convertino). Won by: 3 3/4, 1/4, 1/2. Time: 2:02.61. Owner: Abdulatif Hussain al-Emadi. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 9: 1. Salman Bu Thaila (Carlo Fiocchi), 2. Asaaf (Marvin Suerland), 3. Absher (Theo Bachelot), 4. Al Ajdal (Darren Williams). Won by: 1 1/4, 5, 1. Time: 2:30.88. Owner: Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri. Trainer: Stefano Ibido.