Minister of Public Health H E Mansoor bin Ebrahim bin Saad Al Mahmoud presents trophy to representative of Lulwat Al Faisal. PICTURES: Juhaim/QREC
DOHA: Dubawi Spectre and Al Nati Up notched exhilarating victories as the prestigious H H The Amir Sword Festival 2025 commenced with fanfare at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
The opening day of the three-day Festival, boasting a total purse of $10m, featured eight electrifying races, each carrying a $100,000 prize.
Dubawi Spectre, guided by Maxime Guyon, storms to victory.
Al Rayyan Racecourse was a spectacle of elegance, with a dazzling atmosphere shaped by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s impeccable organisation and full readiness from owners, trainers and jockeys – all in pursuit of glory at the premier event.
Capping off a stellar day, Mansoor bin Ebrahim bin Saad Al Mahmoud-owned Dubawi Spectre delivered a resolute performance to claim the Thoroughbred Sand Championship. The Jassim Ghazali-trained gelding, ridden by Maxime Guyon, put on a gutsy display in the demanding 1700m race, edging Nuvolari by half a length.
Martin Borja rides Al Nati Up to win.
Acting Director of Planning and Quality at Qatar Media Corporation, Abdulla Ghanem Al Mohannadi, honoured the winners.
Sharq Stud’s Al Nati Up stormed to victory in a dramatic Purebred Arabian Sand Championship – the penultimate race of the meeting – following a late surge. The five-year-old, trained by Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan Al Sulaiti, triumphed in a thrilling blanket finish, edging out rivals by a neck with Fayos Martin Borja in the saddle.
The opening day of H H The Amir Sword Festival 2025 drew a massive crowd.
In the Local Thoroughbred Sand Championship, Abdulatif bin Hussain M Z Al-Emadi-owned Lulwat Al Faisal staged a late fightback to claim a 1¼-length victory. Ridden by Lukas Delozier, the Khalifa Hamed Nasser Al Sawai-trained mare overtook leader Dhergham Bu Thaila in the final strides to seal the title in spectacular fashion.
Minister of Public Health H E Mansoor bin Ebrahim bin Saad Al Mahmoud crowned the winners.
The connections of Dubawi Spectre celebrate their triumph.
Meanwhile, Owaida Salem Al Hajri-trained Munhamik, owned by Nasser Owaida Salem Al Hajri, teamed up with Abdulla Rashid Al Hajri to land the Local Purebred Arabian Sand Championship title after a half-length victory.
In the Thoroughbred 3YO Sand Championship, Due To Dance, with Oisin Murphy in the saddle, delivered a dominant performance to clinch a 3½-length triumph, while Burkan emerged victorious in the Premium Maiden Cup. Tomas Lukasek steered the Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-trained gelding to a two-length win.
A general view at the Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
Piloted by Jim Crowley, Zuhair Mohsen-trained Al Maher registered the most emphatic victory on the opening day, storming to a commanding nine-length win in the Premium Maiden Cup for Local Thoroughbreds. The Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned gelding was unstoppable in the 1700m contest, putting the race to bed with a powerful surge before the final bend.
A superb run by Al Wasmi under Marco Casamento set the pace, as the pair clinched a four-and-a-half-length win in the Premium Maiden Cup - Local Purebred Arabian for owners Al Wasmiyah Farm and trainer Mohammed Ghazali.
More high-stakes action is on the cards today, with a marathon Al Rayyan Breeders Cup Day featuring 10 races on the second day of the Festival.
