Tomas Lukasek guides Keel Bay towards the finish line.
Doha: There was no match for Ibrahim Al Malki-trained Keel Bay as a total of 13 fillies and mares battled for the Al Waab Cup at the Al Rayyan Racecourse, yesterday.
The three-year-old, ridden by Tomas Lukasek, got off to a calm start in yesterday’s feature race before the pair started dominating the 1,200m run (Thoroughbred Handicap) at halfway.
Keel Bay continued to pick pace and eventually sealed a dominant eight-and-a-half length victory over Mohammed Ghazali-trained Angelic Queen, which was guided by Faleh Bughanaim. Qais Al Busaidi rode Gold Lily to third position in the QR100,000 race.
The winning side was crowned by Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi.
Meanwhile, Umm Qarn’s Queenshala, with Soufiane Saadi in the saddle, was also impressive during QREC’s 40th Race Meeting yesterday as the five-year-old mare clinched the Purebred Arabian Conditions title after a two-and-a-half length victory.
Earlier, Bader Al Balushi-trained Ernest Aldrich, helmed by Lukas Delozier, came from behind to secure a last-gasp victory in the 1,900m Thoroughbred Conditions, leaving behind Roman Melody by quarter of a length.
In another powerful show of pace, Szczepan Mazur rode Abdullah Bin Fahad Al Attiyah-owned Stilvio to Purebred Arabian Handicap title after an eight-length victory.
Also yesterday, Injaaz Stud-owned Wakeel, with Khalid Al Balushi in the saddle, was victorious in the Thoroughbred Handicap after the six-year-old claimed almost three-length win over rivals.
Lukasek’s first win of the day came when he guided Mohammed Abdulhadi Al Hajri-owned Valdarann to a thrilling half-length victory in the Thoroughbred Novice Plate.
My Glory, ridden by Pranil Arvind Kharat, won the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate while jockey Qais Al Busaidi and Aesar combined to win the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate – yesterday opening race.
40th Race Meeting
Al Waab Cup
WINNERS
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
AL WAAB CUP - THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP
Keel Bay, Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, Tomas Lukasek
PUREBRED ARABIAN CONDITIONS
Queenshala, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi
THOROUGHBRED CONDITIONS (Class 2)
Ernest Aldrich, Bader Al Balushi, Lukas Delozier
PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP
Stilvio, Mohammed Ghazali, Szczepan Mazur
THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP
Wakeel, Jihad El Ahmad, Khalid Al Balushi
THOROUGHBRED NOVICE PLATE
Valdarann, Hamad Al Jehani, Tomas Lukasek
THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE
My Glory, Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain,
Pranil Arvind Kharat
LOCAL THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE
Aesar, Osama Al Dafea, Qais Al Busaidi
