The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the fourth race meeting in the 2022-23 season at the Uqda Racecourse turf track on Saturday, 10 December. The seven-race card day was wrapped up with the feature event, Ras Mlaiji Cup, , a 2200m Handicap (65-85) for 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians. The Faisal Mohammed Al Naeimi-owned Chrome (QA) (Pharfadet x Thekrayaat) battled on resolutely under jockey Guiseppe Cultraro in the final strides of a competitive contest to win the day’s feature by a head and wrap up the day with a victory for trainer Hadi Al Ramzani. The Mekhezin Mubarak AL Mansouri-owned and Mansoor Khalil Al Mansoori-trained was the close runner-up under jokcey Lukas Delozier. The Al Gaiah Racing-owned and Abdallah Said Al Balushi-trained Hamdi (QA) (Assy) took the third place as he was further one and a half lengths behind under jockey Alberto Sanna.
Rockfire
The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Salman Al Thani-owned Rockfire (IRE) (Sea The Stars x Flame Of Gibraltar) was the first winner of the Ras Mlaiji Cup Day as the Gassim Ghazali-trained 3YO colt ran on strongly to win the opener, a 2100m Maiden for 3-6YO Thoroughbreds, by one and three-quarter lengths under Lukas Delozier.
Ghaliya
Wathnan Racing’s Ghaliya (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Shakeemah), on just her second career start, took the 1400 Maiden for 3-6YO for Purebred Arabians for trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Rashid Ali Al Saaq, who was in the saddle for the one and a half length win in the second race.
Creativity
Three and a half lengths was the final winning margin for Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s Creativity (GB) (Mayson x Fantasize) in the third race, a 1400m Novice for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds, giving jockey Marco Casamento a good winner and completing a double for trainer Gassim Ghazali on the card.
Yateema
In the 1400m Novice for 3YO+ Local Thoroughbred Fillies and Mares, the Nasser Saif Al Kubaisi-owned Al Yateema (QA) (Dandy Man x Bluebell Park) returned to her good form for trainer Hamad Al Jehani, scoring in the fourth by three quarters of a length under jockey Hugo Besnier.
Al Neksh
Trainer Jassim Gassim Ghazali completed a treble on the day when his trainee, the Mansoor Ebrahim Al Mahmoud-owned Al Neksh (FR) (Amer x Redjila), got the better of Lady Mourtajez (FR) (Al Mourtajez) in the final strides of the firth race to win the 1400m Handicap (60-80) for 3YO+ Purebred Arabians by a short head under jockey Prakash Akhade.
Poderoso
The 1400m Handicap (65-85) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds went to the Al Jasra Stud-owned and Tareq Essa Abdulla-trained Poderoso (IRE) (Kodiac x Online Alexander), who stormed home under Ivan Rossi to prevail in the sixth race by half a length.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club