His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani crowned the winners of HH The Amir Sword (Group 1 PA) and HH The Amir Trophy (Group 1) at Qatar Racing and Equestrian's Al Rayyan race track on Saturday.
The Amir awarded the golden sword to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani, the owner of Ebraz who won the Purebred Arabian feature. The trophy was presented to His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, the owner of French King who won the Thoroughbred feature.
The race and the award ceremony was attended by a number of their excellencies sheikhs, ministers, heads of diplomatic missions, horse owners, and racing fans.
Winners of Dukhan Sprint (QA Group 3), which is sponsored by Breeders’ Cup, on podium. Jassim Mohamed Ghazali-schooled Anima Rock went one better than his course and distance run last time out to win the six-furlong sprint. The local star beat British raider Stone Of Destiny, who was ridden by Oisin Murphy for Andrew Balding, by a little more than a length.
Abdulrahman Al Mansour (left) receives the owner's trophy after Sheikh Khalifa bin Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani's Sharesa won the Qatar International Cup (Group 1 PA), which is sponsored by Social & Sport Contribution Fund (Daam). Trainer Julian Smart’s third winner in the three-day flagship meeting was the prolific Sharesa. Theo Bachelot got the filly to move on the outside coming on to the home straight, and the two picked up pace a little more than a furlong out, taking the advantage and beating De Mieulle-trained Al Naama by half a length. It was Sharesa's fifth straight victory.
Winners of the Al Biddah Mile, sponsored by Al Muftah Group, pose on the podium yesterday. Gay Kelleway-trained Global Spectrum was the first overseas winner of the day when the Dutch Art colt edged out Jassim Mohamed Ghazali’s ward, Luchador, by half-a-length to win the Group 2 race.
Manateq CEO Fahad Rashid al-Kaabi (second from right) and QREC Racing manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi (right) with the winners of HH The Amir Shalfa after Abdulhadi Mana al-Hajri-owned Beachwalk won the 2000m race. Stefano Ibido’s ward emerged as a surprise winner in the USD 250,000 race. Under a fantastic ride by Cristian Demuro, the gelding beat Eduardo Pedroza and his mount Jewel House in the final 100m to pick up a victory in a field that also featured the Derby hero Full Moon. PICTURES: Juhaim
