Doha: Wathnan Racing’s Inverness made a late surge to outpace Hamaki and land the Khor Al Adaid Cup in style during Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 30th Race Meeting at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Thursday.
Ridden by Ronan Thomas, the four-year-old colt produced a lightning pace in the final 200m of the 2800m Thoroughbreds (Class 1) to win the feature carrying a total prize purse of QR200,000.
Kamaki, which was steered by Soufiane Saadi, led most part of the race but finished second ahead of Local Law, led by Hugo Besnier.
Marco Casamento secured his successive double in two days after he guided Nasser Saeed M S Al Eida-owned Gold Fleece to victory in 2000m Thoroughbred Pearl after a tough battle with She's Our Queen, which had Jefferson Smith in the saddle. Fylde Coast gave Casamento his first title of the day, winning the 1850m Thoroughbred Novice Plate by one length.
In other thrilling race, Alberto Sanna guided Sun Amer to a one-length win over Al Zaeem, steered by Faleh Bughanaim in the Silver Sword Trial - Purebred Arabians.
Also yesterday, Bakir claimed the 1850m Local Purebred Arabian Conditions victory, edging Sealine by less than a length. Saadi rode the seven-year-old, owned by Wathnan Racing.
Bughanaim also notched up a victory leading Rabshah to a close win in the 1600m Purebred Arabian Handicap 0-90 while Ivan Rossi guided Nuvolari to Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85 crown.
Kareema, which had Smith in the saddle, opened the eight-race day with an impressive win in the 1600m Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate.
Prestigious titles will be at stake when action resumes at Al Rayyan Racecourse for the highly-anticipated HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day on Saturday. A total of 10 lucrative races will be held with top competitors set to compete during QREC’s 31st Race Meeting.
30th Race Meeting - Khor Al Adaid Cup
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
Khor Al Adaid Cup (Qa Gr3) - Thoroughbreds (Class 1)
Inverness, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas
Thoroughbred Pearl (Fillies & Mares Only) (Class 2)
Gold Fleece, Gassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento
Silver Sword Trial - Purebred Arabians (4yo Only)
Sun Amer, Amjad Taiss A Aljumaily, Alberto Sanna
Local Purebred Arabian Conditions
Bakir, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi
Purebred Arabian Handicap 0-90
Rabshah, Eric Lemartinel, Faleh Bughanaim
Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85 (Class 4)
Nuvolari, Abdulla Al Mulla, Ivan Rossi
Thoroughbred Novice Plate (Class 5)
Fylde Coast, Gassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento
Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate
Kareema, Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain, Jefferson Smith
