Saadi and Jabalah storm to thrilling Umm Bab Cup win

Wathnan Racing-owned Jabalah overcame a tough challenge from Arion to claim the Umm Bab Cup victory during the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) sixth race meeting at the Al Rayyan Racecourse, yesterday.

The thrilling ¾ length win in the QR100,000 feature race for the six-year-old bay also completed a treble for trainer Alban Elie De Mieulle and a quick double for jockey Soufiane Saadi.  

While Arion, with Alberto Sanna in the saddle, finished second in the 1600m run for Purebred Arabians, Algrain, ridden by Faleh Bughanaim, claimed third position. 

QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi crowned the winners of the feature. 

Earlier, Saadi got his first victory of the day when he rode De Mieulle-trained Al Balagh to a head win in Local Purebred Arabian Handicap - yesterday’s penultimate race.   

Jockeys Carlos Henrique and Hugo Besnier also notched up a double victory apiece yesterday that saw a nine races on the card.   

Henrique clinched his first win of the day by riding De Mieulle-trained Aramis to a close victory in the 1400m Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, before Ahmed Kobeissi-trained Al Mohalhal registered a neck win under him in the 1600m in the Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85 (Class 4).     

Meanwhile, Besnier earned his first title of the day when he rode Hamad Al Jehani-trained Sir Min in the Thoroughbred Handicap 50-70 (Class 5). He then piloted Shaha to a 1½ length victory in the 1600m Local Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85. 

Also yesterday, Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani’s Tasfeeq raced to win in 1400m Thoroughbred Handicap under Sanna, claiming an impressive 3½-length victory. 

Earlier, jockey Marco Casamento guided Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s Whittle Le Woods to 1200m Thoroughbred Handicap title while Al Shahania Stud’s AA Feel The Burn started the day with a victory in 1400m Maiden for 3YO Purebred Arabians under Lukas Delozier. 

Umm Bab Cup

WINNERS (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)

Umm Bab Cup - Purebred Arabians
Jabalah, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi
Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 0-110
Al Balagh, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi
Thoroughbred Handicap 80-100 (Class 2)
Tasfeeq, Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, Alberto Sanna
Thoroughbred Handicap 0-95 (Class 3)
Whittle Le Woods, Gassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento
Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85 (Class 4)
Al Mohalhal, Ahmed Kobeissi, Carlos Henrique
Local Thoroughbred Handicap 65-85
Shaha, Hamad Al Jehani, Hugo Besnier
Thoroughbred Handicap 50-70 (Class 5)
Sir Min, Hamad Al-Jehani, Hugo Besnier
Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate
Aramis, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Carlos Henrique
Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (3yo Only)
AA Feel The Burn, Rudy Andre Nerbonne, Lukas Delozier