Doha: Ahmad Mubarak Al Kuwari-owned Tamih on Wednesday clinched the Al Kharrara Cup beating Shgarde in a thrilling Purebred Arabian Conditions race at Al Rayyan Racecourse.
The exciting feature which was decided in the very last moment brought a fitting conclusion to Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 29th Race Meeting comprising seven races.
The 1200m race produced sensational action with most of the 11 competitors in the feature staying in contention for the title till the last bend.
In the final stretch, both Tamih – guided by JP Guillambert – and Shgarde, which had Alberto Sanna in the saddle, were the fastest but Al Kuwari’s seven-year-old held on to record a dramatic short head victory in the race that offered a total prize purse of QR100,000. Ridden by Hugo Besnier, Ezzat Nafs finished third in the thriller.
In penultimate race of the day, Jefferson Smith brought the best out of Eng. Hassan Ali A M Alabdulmalik-owned Anhaar for a commanding two-length victory in 1200m Thoroughbred Handicap 0-70 (Class 5). Another Eng. Hassan Ali-owned horse, Cei Connah, which had Pranil Arvind Kharat in the saddle, reigned supreme in the 1700m Thoroughbred Handicap 0-75 (Class 5) – reserved for the Qatari riders only.
Meanwhile, Marco Casamento completed a double on the day when he led Al Ghazali Stud’s Venedegar to a victory in 1900m Thoroughbred Handicap 75-95 (Class 3). Casamento had earlier steered Swagger to an impressive three-length victory in Thoroughbred Novice Plate (Class 5).
Soufiane Saadi also earned a win during the meeting when he rode four-year-old cold Alwaad to one-and-a-half length victory in 1900m Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate.
Action started on Wednesday with an emphatic three-length triumph for AJS Saddam, which had Ebrahim Nader in the saddle in the 1200m Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate.
QREC’s 30th Race Meeting at Al Rayyan Racecourse – Khor Al Adaid Cup Day – will see contestants in action in a total of eight races on Thursday.
29th Race Meeting - Al Kharrara Cup
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
Al Kharrara Cup - Purebred Arabian Conditions
Tamih, Zuhair Mohsen, JP Guillambert
Thoroughbred Handicap 0-70 (Class 5)
Anhaar, Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain, Jefferson Smith
Thoroughbred Handicap 0-75 (Class 5) (Qatari Riders Only)
Cei Connah, Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain, Pranil Arvind Kharat
Thoroughbred Handicap 75-95 (Class 3)
Venedegar, Gassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento
Local Thoroughbred Novice Plate
Alwaad, Bader Al Balushi, Soufiane Saadi
Thoroughbred Novice Plate (Class 5)
Swagger, Gassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento
Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate
AJS Saddam, Hadi Al Ramzani, Ebrahim Nader
