The podium winners at the Doha Oaks Trial Day pose for a picture along with Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Malki, vice-chairman, of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) in Doha, yesterday.
DOHA: Momalorka yesterday relied on a late surge to win the Doha Thoroughbred Oaks Trial ahead of Lady Moonlight and Azma as Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali capped three days of spectacular weekend races with another four winners at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).
Ridden by Gerlad Avranche, Ghazali-trained Momalorka found extra reserves of energy in his lungs to break free of the six-runner bunch near the end to seal victory in the QR150,000 feature race at QREC.
On Tuesday, Ghazali savoured four winners followed by another three in Wednesday’s action at QREC.
Earlier yesterday, French jockey Stephan Ladjadj powered to three wins on Ghazali-trained horses while popular Doha-based trainer Julian Smart saw two of his horses - Al Anga and Aden - gallop to superb cup victories in foggy conditions at QREC.
In race seven, Smart-trained Aden produced a late cameo to seal victory in the QR150,000 Doha Pure Arabian Oaks Trial for three-year-old fillies.
Jockey Richard Mullen managed to guide Aden past Haifaa and Al Sabeg on way to claiming the top prize of QR 85,500.
Jockeys Pier Convertino and Darren Williams finished in second and third places respectively.
After a nine-race card, American trainer Smart had the cheesiest smile following race seven when Al Anga edged stablemate Djajinka Des Forges after a one-on-one battle in the 1850m race.
With jockey Harry Bentley in the saddle, Al Anga pipped Djainka Des Forges right at the end following a late burst of energy to end the race for 4-year-old fillies in top spot.
Vita’Al Fauquey - ridden by Stephanus Swanepoe - ended the turf race in third spot in what was a four-runner race.
Earlier Al Kazim produced a late burst to edge Zakon and Marked Card to win race six at QREC. Ridden by David Bouland, Al Kazim broke free of the 13-runner race almost at the end to seal the 1850m race.
Zakon - ridden by jockey Alberto Sanna - and Marked Card - piloted by Swanepoe - were pushed to second and third places respectively.
Making use of a good start, Ghazali-trained Botanic Garden braved a late onslaught from Secret Destination and Mojave Desert to win race five on the card at QREC.
Ridden by in-form Ladjadj, Botanic Garden recorded win number three for Qatari trainer Jassim Ghazali in the 1400m.
Secret Destination - with jockey Marco Monteriso in the saddle - and Mojave Desert (JP Guillambert) shadowed Botanic Garden in the last 40 meters but Ladjadj refused to let up his fine start and sealed his win in a time of 1:26:28.
In race four, Raheel brought delight in Al Shahaniya camp by galloping to victory in the 1200m Pure Arabian Graduation Plate.
Ridden by Mullen, Raheel finished ahead of Suwaida (Convertino) and Al Majd who had Ladjadj in the saddle.
In race thee, Shaheedah edged past Zelzal to win the 1400m turf race while Fiha finished in third spot.
Ridden by Declan Cannon, Shaheedah just about to outrun Zelzal who had French jockey Marvin Suerland in the saddle.
Fiha - ridden by Mullen - was one length behind second-placed Zelzal.
The Peninsula
