Runners returned to contest at Al Rayyan Racecourse with the first race meeting in the 2022/23 season on Wednesday, 12 October 2022. The dirt track saw a seven-race card on Al Ghariya Cup Day.
Angelic Queen wins Al Ghariya Cup
The feature and seventh race of the day was Al Ghariya Cup, a1200m contest for 3-year-old and up Thoroughbred fillies and mares. 11 runners were in the fray and it was Angelic Queen, in the colours of Al Azraq Stable, who landed the spoils with a cosy win eventually. As the horses broke from the barriers, it was Make A Wish (IRE) (No Nay Never), who took the lead in the early stages. Gold Lily (FR) (Galileo Gold) was on her heels. under Lukas Delozier, the Mohammed Ghazali-trained Angelic Queen kept was travelling smoothly and kept tracking the duo in front. Once in the home straight, the 5-year-old mare accelerated to be just behind the leader and in the wink of an eye, she took the lead. Once in front, Angelic Queen never looked back and kicked away to win by 3 lengths clear. However, the order behind her changed with both Jassim Bin Ali Al-Attiyah’s Keel Bay (IRE) (Starspangledbanner) and last year’s winner, Injaaz Stud’s Unbutton (GB) (Cable Bay) progressing and contesting for minor honours. The former finished second for trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and jockey Tomas Lukasek while the latter was further 2½ lengths behind in third for trainer Jihad El Ahmad and jockey JP Guillambert. The early leader, Make A Wish, finished fourth while Gold Lily was seventh.
QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi crowned the winners.
ERNEST ALDRICH
The penultimate race was a Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for 3-6-Year-Olds, over 1200m and it was won by Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s ERNEST ALDRICH (GB) (Oasis Dream x Wallis) who added the third success to his record. SHAKOUR (IRE) (Declaration Of War x Another Storm) was the early leader with ERNEST ALDRICH behind him and followed by HIGH COMMANDER (GB) (Teofilo x Pellinore). This triplet kept in front with change in the order until 200m from home when ERNEST ALDRICH accelerated to win by two lengths for trainer Bader Al Balushi with JP Guillambert in the saddle. In the last strides, the order of the lead changed as Abdulatif Hussain M Z Al-Emadi’s Jewel House (GB) (Dubawi x Arizona Jewel) came from behind to take the second place securing a one-two for owner and the trainer. He was ridden by Alberto Sanna. SHAKOUR was further 2¼-lengths behind in third for Injaaz Stud, trainer Ali Yousuf Al-Kubaisi and jockey Faleh Bughanaim.
Roman Melody
In the penultimate race, Injaaz Stud’s Roman Melody (GB) (Holy Roman Emperor x Gift Of Music) won a 1700m Open Race for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds. The Gassim Ghazali-trained 5YO gelding was ridden to a ½ length win by Hugo Besnier who completed a double on his 1st race day in Qatar, as he had also won the opener of the day.
Shaweesh
In Race 5, Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani’s Shaweesh (QA) (Nizam x Mansourah ASF) clinched a neck-win in a 1700m Handicap (70-90) for 3YO+ Purebred Arabians under Arnaud De Lepine, giving trainer Hamad Al-Jehani his 2nd win on the day. The trainer had been successful in the first race in the card as well.
Hazzam
30 minutes earlier, Hazzam (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Fidwah) gave Al Shaqab Racing their first win this season as he took a Purebred Arabian Novice. In the hands of Faleh Bughanaim, the Eric Lemartinel-trained 5YO horse won the 1200m race for 3YO+ cosily by 1¾ lengths.
Alzubarah Katara
Katara Stud’s Alzubarah Katara (QA) (AF AlBahar x Fiteel) won the third race of the day, a Purebred Arabian Maiden. The Hadi Al Ramzani-trained 6YO mare took the 1200m run for 3-6YO fillies and mares easily by 3½ lengths with Giuseppe Cultraro in the saddle.
Aziza Al Zaeem
In the second race, Faisal Bin Ali Bin Mohammed Al Attiya’s Aziza Al Zaeem (QA) (Taigan x Omission) wins a Local Thoroughbred Maiden. Tomas Lukasek rode the Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-trained 4YO filly to a ¾ of a length win in the 1700m run for 3-6YOs.
Silks Dream
The opener of the card and the season went the way of Rashid Awajan Al-Khayarin’s Silks Dream (IRE) (Mehmas x Tajbell). Under Hugo Besnier, the Hamad Al-Jehani-trained 3YO colt dominated a 1700m Maiden for 3-6YO Thoroughbreds by 7¼ lengths.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club