DOHA: Julian Smart-trained Al Atique yesterday won the Qatar National Day Trophy but not before the five-year-old was stretched to the limit by Vetlana De Faust in the feature race at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).
Ridden by Alberto Sanna, Al Atique brought cheer to Smart’s face when he beat Jassim Ghazali-trained Vetlana De Faust by a neck’s length in the 2000m race.
The win was worth a whopping QR228,000 as Sanna finished with a time of 2:13.31. Second placed Vetlana De Faust was ridden by Harry Bentley.
Minutes earlier, Kassam stole the limelight with a lightning finish to claim the Late Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani Cup, leaving the much-fancied Smart-trained Taraf in second place.
Ridden by J P Guillambert, Kassam stormed to glory in the 2000m race, finishing with a time of 2:16.96.
Taraf got edged out near the end while Al Mizan - who had Bentley in the saddle - finished third.
Kassam’s trainer Jassim Al Ghazali said: “He was looking good. We will run him in select races. We will see him at the top races only.”
Right To Dream emerged a runaway winner, taking the honours in race six at QREC.
Jockey Gary Carter was barely troubled in the last 300m as he powered Right To Dream past Free Spin and Uleavemebreathless in the 2200m marathon.
Ridden by Cedric Segeon, Free Spin just about finished ahead of Uleavemebreathless who had Stephan Ladjadj.
Keeping momentum from a win in race four, Yanis Aouabed rode Pay Freeze with remarkable spirit taking the win in race five.
Pay Freeze - lagging behind for most of the race - produced a late surge to go past Alsefra and Gull Rock and topped the 1200m race with a time of 1:13.98.
Ridden by Evert Pheiffer, Alsefra finished second while Gull Rock grabbed the third spot.
Substantiate relied on a late surge to go past race leader Misdemeanour to win the Thoroughbred Handicap.
Ridden by Aouabed, Substantiate edged Hi Holy - who had Gerald Avranche in the Saddle - and Pure Amber to claim the top prize of QR60,000.
Substantiate finished the 1600m race with a time of 1:34.79
Arraab clinched the Pure Arabian Graduation Plate with a convincing gallop in race three of the day. Ridden by Bentley, the five-year-old Arraab won with a time of 1:17.29. Desar Al Naif - ridden by Avranche was second. Raghed finished third in the contest.
In race two, Screenshot edged out Dark Leopard to win the QR50,000 race. Ridden by Marco Monteriso, Screenshot finished a head’s length ahead of Dark Leopard. Bon Voyage, ridden by R Mullen, was third.
Earlier, Haraz Al Naif clinched the issue in the day’s opening race. Ridden by Avranche, Haraz Al Naif finished with a time of 1:33.359.
Second-placed Sharsaa Al Naif finished five lengths behind Haraz Al Naif.
The riders will return to action on December 24 for Al Khor Cup Day races.THE PENINSULA
