The prestigious HH The Amir Sword Festival 2022 kicked off in style, with Mehdi setting early pace after a thrilling Al Zubara Trophy triumph at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, yesterday.
The three-day event, which is also featuring 15 international horses besides the GCC formidables, started with exciting races with eight titles being decided on the inaugural day.
Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani also watched the action on the opening day, which also featured many activities off the racecourse for fans.
Umm Qarn-owned Mehdi, with Soufiane Saadi in the saddle, stole the limelight with a come-from-behind victory in yesterday’s feature Al Zubara Trophy - Local Purebred Arabians, which offered a prize purse of $150,000.
It was Alberto Sanna-helmed Muale’m, who took the lead in the beginning but Ghali Al Athman – guided by JP Guillambert – snatched the lead at the 500m-mark.
Keeping the pace with the pack, Alban Elie De Mieulle-trained Mehdi made a surge in the final 100m to overcome a swift move from Olivier Peslier-led Al Balagh, and complete a neck win to secure winners’ prize of $85,500.
While Balagh finished second, Sealine – ridden by Ronan Thomas - finished third, with Ghali Al Athman and Muale’m finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Joaan received the Open Sprint Cup from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani after Al Shaqab Racing’s Lauded won the Thoroughbred event.
With the win, the Faleh Bughanaim guided colt also completed a hat-trick of victories for trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, in the 33rd Race Meeting, yesterday.
Earlier, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s homebred Hameed continued the fine run, clinching the 1,600m Purebred Arabian Cup title. The Rudy Nerbonne’s trainee was ridden by Alberto Sanna to a 1½ length victory. Sheikh Mohammed received the Cup from Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, Acting QREC CEO.
Meanwhile, Al Bida Racing’s Balmari stormed to 1,600m Thoroughbred Handicap Cup victory by 1½ length under Lukas Delozier. It was second win of the day for trainer Al Malki.
Also yesterday, Marco Casamento guided Jassim Ghazali-trained Saoud Al Sulaimi to win the Purebred Arabian Handicap Cup while Semper Augustus, ridden by Maxime Guyon, claimed victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap Cup.
In the first two races on the inaugural day, Irtiqaa and Meteb Ali Al Marri teamed up to take the Local Thoroughbred Handicap Cup title while Caidok and Dylan Browne McMonagle combined to give yesterday’s first win to trainer Al Malki by claiming the Thoroughbred Maiden Cup.
Today’s card also includes a total of eight races with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (QA Gr2) - Thoroughbreds (Class 1) being the feature race on the second day of the prestigious festival.
