Scargill, ridden by jockey Yanis Aouabed and trainer Jassim Ghazali (third right) are seen celebrating their Al Nakhsh Cup win at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) in Doha yesterday. It was one of four wins for Ghazali, which saw Nahla, My Sharona and Captain Cleo triumph. BELOW: Jockey Marco Monteriso rides Al Nakhsh to glory in the Sumayiamah Cup. PICTURES BY: JUHAIM
DOHA: Three-year-old Al Nakhsh yesterday galloped to a hard-fought Sumayaimah Cup victory, finishing the feature race in top spot on a day when trainer Jassim Ghazali walked off with four winners at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).
Ridden by Marco Monteriso, Al Nakhsh was unstoppable after the final bend in the 1,600m race, sealing his win three lengths ahead of AJS Qahir and Kaydoum.
Earlier, French jockey Stephane Ladjadj stormed to three impressive wins helping trainer Ghazali grab the attention with four winners in first four starts at QREC.
Besides clinching race two, Ladjadj also powered to wins in Muraikh and Zain Alesim Cups while jockey Yanis Aouabed raced to victory in Al Nakhsh Cup to complete a memorable day for trainer Ghazali.
“Big day for us. First four runs and four winners. Not easy for any trainer. I am very happy today. In other races, I had second and third places also,” Ghazali said.
“I am particularly happy with Scargill and Captain Cleo. I think they are the ones for the future,” Ghazali said after finishing the day with four winners.
“I am holding back two more good horses. I will see how these fare in the coming weeks,” he said.
“We have big races in the season. We would like to do well in the Emir Cup race. I purchased some 20 horses in the July sales. I am just glad we did so well. I am glad I got good horses in the sales. I am thrilled with these performances today,” Ghazali said.
Earlier in the Ghasham Cup for three-year-olds, jockey David Bouland powered Karamah to an emphatic win and clinch the top prize of QR57,000.
Karamah finished ahead of AJS Amjad - ridden by Marvin Suerland - and Wejdan - who had R Mullen in the saddle - in the 1,400m turf race.
Earlier, Majd Al Uraiq stormed to Umm Sawayyah Cup, leaving behind TM Thunder Struck and Al Majh’Hoor to settle for second and third places after a feisty run.
Ridden by Gerald Avranche, Majd Al Uraqi won by four lengths to pocket the top prize of QR57,000. Bouland - who was astride TM Thunder Struck won QR22,000.
Aseer - ridden by Marvin Suerland - picked up pace at the end to win the Al Kharrarah Cup with Aspire and Venus shadowing the winner.
Suerland picked up the top prize in the QR100,000 race. Aspire ridden by Ladjadj was second while Darren Williams guided Venus to third place.
All eyes were on trainer Ghazali and there was more good news for the Qatari as Captain Cleo powered to an impressive win in the Zain Alesim Cup - the fourth race of the day.
Ladjadj picked up his third win of the day as he guided Captain Cleo to the top prize of QR57,000.
In second place was Cloaked, ridden by Suerland, while Charlie’s Wish ended in third spot with Gary Carter in the saddle.
In race three held under lights, Scargill brought delight to trainer Ghazali for the third time in as many races as the two-year-old galloped to Al Nakhsh Cup win.
With jockey Aouabed in the saddle, Scargill outpaced Peter Mac, ridden by S Golam, and Roman Legend who was favoured to win the 1,400m race. Avranche was astride on Roman Legend.
In race two, the top three spots were sealed by Ghazali-trained horses. My Sharona edged past Ladyanne in a photo-finish to win the QR80,000 race that had only six runners.
Ridden by Ladjadj, My Sharona produced a late burst to seal the win in the 1,400m race with Ladyanne - ridden by Avranche - in second place. French jockey Suerland ended the turf race in third place
In the opening race, Ladjadj kicked-off the day’s proceedings with a comfortable win in the Muraikh Cup. THE PENINSULA
