The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 53rd race meeting in the 2021-22 season, Al Karana Cup Day, at the Al Rayyan Racecourse turf track on Thursday, 28 April on the last racing evening of Ramadan and in the penultimate racing week of the season . It was Zakhir Stud’s EIFRIT (FR) (Jenjal x Gaswa) who landed the Al Karana Cup. He produced a fine performance to win the feature race of the seven-race card, which was reserved for 3YO Purebred Arabians. The Mohammed Salama Ashour-trained colt picked up impressively in the closing stages to win the 1500m contest by three quarters of a length under Alberto Sanna, completing a double at his third time of asking. The Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned and Zuhair Mohsen-trained TAJAMHOR (QA) (General) was second under JP Guillambert. The Al Jeryan Stud-owned and M.H.K Al Attiyah-trained SERAIA DE PINE (IT) (Munjuz) was further seven lengths behind in third under Szczepan Mazur.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
GOLD FLEECE
In the penultimate race, trainer Gassim Ghazali and jockey Khalid Al Balushi teamed up for a second winner of the evening as Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s GOLD FLEECE (GB) (Nathaniel x Conquete) won the 2350m Thoroughbred Open Race for 4YO+ by three quarters of a length.
MARUF
In the fifth race, Umm Qarn’s MARUF (FR) (Tabarak x Noorah) completed a double in the Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-100). There was a thrilling finish to the 2000m race as the Alban de Mieulle-trained and Carlos Henrique-ridden 6YO found a little extra close home to win by a neck. The H.E. Sheikha Iman Bint Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani-owned and Rudy Nerbonne-trained ASIAK (FR) (Divamer) was second under Alberto Sanna.
SEMPER AUGUSTUS
After the fourth race, Mansoor Ebrahim Al Mahmoud’s SEMPER AUGUSTUS (GB) (Dutch Art x Pink Flames) continued his fine season as he was partnered by JP Guillambert to success in the Handicap (0-95) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds. The Gassim Ghazali-trained 4YO won the 1750m race by half a length.
CONSCIOUS
In the third race, trainer Hamad Al Jehani returned to the winners’ enclosure quickly after teaming up with Saeed Ali Al khayareen’s CONSCIOUS (GB) (Oasis Dream x Deliberate) to win the 1500m Handicap (0-85) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds by three quarters of a length under Khalid Al Balushi.
AL YATEEMA
In the second race, Nasser Saif Al Kubaisi’s AL YATEEMA (QA) (Dandy Man x Bluebell Park) went one better than when she was last seen, winning the 2000m Handicap (0-85) for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds by one and a quarter lengths for trainer Hamad Al Jehani and jockey Lukas Delozier.
AL FALAK
Earlier in the evening, Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred AL FALAK (FR) (Dahess x Nefertarie) shed his maiden tag in the Al Karana Cup Day’s opener. Ridden by Tadgh O’Shea, the Eric Lemartinel-trained 4YO colt won the 2350m Maiden Plate for 4-6YO Purebred Arabians by half a length.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club