DOHA: With French jockey David Bouland in the saddle, Peter Anders yesterday braved a late onslaught from Amico Mio and Al Muthanaa to win the Barzan Cup at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).
Under pressure to retain his lead after the final bend in the 1600m turf race, Peter Anders exhibited immense lung power to sail past the winning post in the feature race of the day.
Jockey Marvin Suerland - winner of race seven - provided the thrills while riding Amico Mio but Peter Anders proved hard to beat.
Al Muthanaa - ridden by Gerald Avranche - finished third in the 13-runner race.
Bouland was delighted with his win.
“It was a fantastic race, you know. This was the first time I raced this horse,’ Bouland said after the race.
“They (Amioc Mio and Al Muthanaa) were really close to me but I managed,” he added.
“I knew it would be a tough race to win because (there were) so many good runners,” Bouland said.
The Frenchman received the winner’s trophy from Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani, Chairman, QREC, and the top prize of QR85,500.
After a couple of third-place finishes earlier in the evening, jockey Suerland yesterday set the record straight with a powerful ride in race seven for Pure Arabian Guineas.
Suerland piloted La Hoor over the finish line ahead of Kalino, ridden by P Convertino - and Al Atique which had R Mullen in the saddle.
Trained by H. Al Matwi, La Hoor remained bunched with the pack of six riders at the final bend but broke free closer to the finish line to seal his win in a time 1:46:10. Suerland picked up the top prize of QR85,500.
Jockey Mullen, who won Al Ahlam Cup on Wednesday, picked up another trophy at QREC, winning race six after a tough battle in the QR150,000 spectacle for four-year-old Pure Arabian Guineas.
Mullen guided Assy to bring delight to Al Shahania Stud, winning the top prize of QR85,500 with a late flourish.
Yanis Aoubed-ridden Kassam finished second while Jassim Ghazali-trained Safqah sealed the third spot in the turf race.
Majd Al Uraiq stole the show with a steady finish in race five of the day, sealing his win ahead of Al Nakhsh and AJS Qahir.
Ridden by Avranche, Majd Al Uraiq rode through a stiff challenge from Marco Monteriso-ridden Al Nakhsh and ASJ Qahir with Suerland in the saddle.
Avranche picked up the top prize of QR85,500 while Monteriso had to settle for QR33,000.
With jockey Avranche in the saddle, Momalorka prevailed in a feisty battle to pick up the top prize in the QR150,000 Thoroughbred Guineas, edging Oasis Cannes and Mu Tazz.
Trained by Ghazali, Momalorka galloped with purpose, sealing the 1,600m turf race in 1:37:02.
Oasis Cannes, ridden by French jockey Stephan Ladjadj, finished second, a notch ahead of Convertino-ridden Mu Tazz.
Moaddie powered to an impressive win in the 1,200m Local Thoroughbred Guineas, easily beating Aseer and Mustabseel.
Trained by R A Jehani, Moaddie brought delight for jockey Yanis Aouabed, who picked up the top prize of QR85,500.
Aseer, ridden by Ladjadj, was one-and-a-half lengths behind when Moaddie went past the winning post at QREC.
Third-placed Mustabseel - with jockey Suerland in the saddle - struggled after the final bend as Moaddie stormed to the second richest race of the day.
THE PENINSULA
