Ahmed Al Jehani’s SIR MIN wins Al Waab Cup

Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani’s Sir Min (IRE) (Caravaggio x Danehurst) took a superb victory in the feature of the nine-race card of the 28th race meeting of the 2022-23 season at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Al Rayyan Racecourse turf track on Thursday, 12January. Under jockey Hugo Besnier, the four-year-old gelding sped past his rivals to win the 1600m Handicap (75-95) for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds, recording a comfortable one-length win and landing the Al Waab Cup for trainer Hamad Al Jehani. The Saif Rashid Saif Al Khayarin owned and Bader Al Balushi trained Pockett Rockett (IRE) (Cotai Glory) was the runner-up under jockey Giuseppe Cultraro. The Wathnan Racing owned and Alban de Mieulle trained Band Width (IRE) (Gutaifan) finished only a further short head behind to take the third place under jockey Ronan Thomas.

Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.

Vieux Carre

The meeting began with the Abdulmohsin Dhafi Al Marri-owned Vieux Carre (GB) (Mondialiste x Kocollada) shedding her maiden status for trainer Mohammed Hussain Afroz and jockey Alberto Sanna in the 1400m Handicap (0-65) for 4YO+ Thoroughbred, flashing home to win by half a length.

Nina Du Soleil

The 1600m Maiden for 4YO Purebred Arabians was the second race and it saw the Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik-owned Nina Du Soleil (GB) (Mister Ginoux x Musique Du Soleil), trained by Debbie Mountain and ridden by Jefferson Smith, edge out Haman (FR) (Mared Al Sahra) after a final-furlong battle to win by a head.

Fylde Coast

There was an even closer finish in the following race, the 1600m Maiden for 3-6YO Thoroughbreds, as the Mansoor Ebrahim Al Mahmoud-trained and Gassim Ghazali-trained Fylde Coast (FR) (Birchwood x Jamaica Inn) battled on bravely under a brilliant from Marco Casamento to hold off charging Shivraj (GB) (Invincible Spirit) by just a neck.

Kanakam

Trainer Ahmed Kobeissi and jockey Pranil Arvind got their name on the scoresheet in the 1600m Handicap (55-75) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds, as the Mubarak Bin Saeed Aljafai Al Naimi-owned Kanakam (GB) (Galileo Gold x Bukhoor) came with a smooth run to comfortably take the fourth race in the card by a length.

Nadir

The Al Rakaben Stud-owned Nadir (QA) (Nizam x Muhjah) shed his maiden tag in the Handicap (0-70) for 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians, by stretching clear over the 1400m trip to win the fifth race by two lengths for trainer Dr Fahad Salman Al Hajri and jockey Szczepan Mazur.

Yunus

Trainer Rudy Nerbonne saddled the first two home, both carrying the colours of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, in the 1850m Graduation for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians. Only a neck separated them and it was Yunus (FR) (Assy x Nisaee), under Lukas Delozier, who took the spoils ahead of stablemate Hareeb (FR) (Mared Al Sahra) in the sixth race.

Thunder Cat

The 1600m Handicap (0-85) for 3YO Thoroughbreds saw another exciting finish as the Khalid Bin Ghanem Al Kuwar-owned Thunder Cat (GB) (Roaring Lion x Rich Legacy) held on from the charging Wall Street Crash (GB) (Churchill) to get off the mark and win the seventh race by a head for trainer Zuhair Mohsen and jockey Ronan Thomas

Irtiqaa

In the penultimate race, trainer Gassim Ghazali and jockey Marco Casamento doubled up as they teamed up with the Meshaal Bin Ali Al Attiyah-owned Irtiqaa (QA) (Kendargent x Too Marvelous) to take the 1600m Handicap (70-90) for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds, having quickened well in the final stages to win by three quarters of a length.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club

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