H E Sheikh Al Qaqa bin Hamad Al Thani with the connection of Scherzo.
Doha: Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Scherzo with Andrea Atzeni in the saddle produced a sensational display of pace to win the coveted HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle in a photo finish at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Saturday.
The four-year-old did not look in contention for the Thoroughbreds (Class 2) title for the best part of 2200m race as Georges Mikhalides-trained bay colt remained at the back with In The Night and Semper Augustus leading the feature.
It was in the final stages of the race when Scherzo and Bolthole, ridden by Ronan Thomas, picked up pace to set up a thrilling finish to $100,000 race and conclude the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 31st Race Meeting in style.
Scherzo edged Alban Elie De Mieulle-trained Bolthole by a head to win the race with In The Night, which had Tomas Lukasek in the saddle finishing third. Guided by Soufiane Saadi, Semper Augustus ended up in fourth position.
Earlier during the HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day held under the patronage of Qatar Olympic Committee President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Wathnan Racing’s Abbes landed the Gr3 HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians over 2200m by four lengths, completing a double on the day for trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Mickael Barzalona.
H E Sheikh Al Qaqa bin Hamad Al Thani crowned the winners of the last two races of meeting.
Barzalona had earlier steered Bucanero to win in HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO Purebred Arabians over 1750m by two-and-a-quarter length in eighth race of the day.
Meanwhile, Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Wakrah won the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians over 1750m, having drawn four lengths clear under jockey Faleh Bughanaim, while Mohammed Abdulhadi Al Hajri’s Stylish Performer won the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for trainer Hamad Al Jehani, having prevailed in the sixth race by a length and a quarter under jockey Hugo Besnier.
Also on Saturday, the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds saw Wathnan Racing’s Equinoxe – trained by De Mieulle – clinching the title under Thomas, who claimed a double. Earlier in the day, Thomas led Zuhair Mohsen-trained Al Ehdaashari to Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup (Far Bend) victory.
Classic Order completed the double for trainer Mohsen after winning the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 3YO Thoroughbreds over 1500 by two lengths and a quarter. Saadi rode the Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Bin Hamad Al Attiya-owned gelding to complete his double having guided Concorde to victory in Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Cup, the first race yesterday.
Ridden by Maxime Guyon, Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s Come Quick also notched up a victory winning the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, a Thoroughbred Sprint for 3YO+ over 1200m.
31st Race Meeting - HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle - Thoroughbreds (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Scherzo, Georges Mikhalides, Andrea Atzeni
HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 Pa) - Purebred Arabians (Far Bend)
Abbes, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - 4yo Purebred Arabians (Far Bend)
Bucanero, Mohammed Ghazali, Mickael Barzalona
HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Purebred Arabians (Far Bend)
Al Wakrah, Eric Lemartinel, Faleh Bughanaim
HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Thoroughbred Open Race (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Stylish Performer, Hamad Al Jehani, Hugo Besnier
HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Local Thoroughbreds (Far Bend)
Equinoxe, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas
HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - 3yo Thoroughbreds (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Classic Order, Zuhair Mohsen, Soufiane Saadi
HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Thoroughbred Sprint (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Come Quick, Bader Al Balushi, Maxime Guyon
Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup (Far Bend)
Al Ehdaashari, Zuhair Mohsen, Ronan Thomas
Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Cup (Far Bend)
Concorde, Mohammed Nasser Al-Naimi, Soufiane Saadi
