(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Ibrahim al-Malki and Saleem Golam combine well for a double
Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari's Astley Hall edged out Injaaz Stud's My Sharona in a thriller to register his first win since February 2016 at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.
In the Muraikh Cup, yesterday's 1100m feature sprint for Class 2 Thoroughbreds, Mohamed Jassim Ghazali-trained Astley Hall set the pace up front with My Sharona's stablemate Lupie not too far behind. As the business end approached, Harry Bentley had My Sharona, trained by Ghazali senior, Jassim, pick up speed and stayed toe to toe with the leader, who eventually held on for a short head victory.
Ibrahim al-Malki-trained Victory Laurel had to settle for his second straight third-place finish under Eduardo Pedroza.
Al-Malki and jockey Saleem Golam, however, combined well for a double, with Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Thani al-Thani's Sly Fly and Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani's Topsy Turvy winning the Local Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75 and below, and Class 2Thoroughbred Conditions event respectively.
Topsy Turvy picked up his fifth victory this calendar year and first in the new season when Golam rode the five-year-old gelding to an easy three-length victory over Jassim Mohamed Ghazali's charge, Opera Baron, also a winner in the Al Biddah Mile during the HH The Emir's Sword Festival last year.
Another Ghazali ward, Black Granite, made it to top three.
Sly Fly made his preference for a six furlong sprint on dirt amply clear when the colt registered his second straight victory on the course and distance.
Sly Fly had shed his maiden status three weeks ago, and yesterday, he beat Mansoor Khalil al-Mansoori-owned Khoud, also a winner over the course and distance last week, comfortably under Saleem Golam's ride.
Champion Trainer Jassim Mohamed Ghazali's only winner of the day was Injaaz Stud's Wayside Flower, who won the Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 70-90.
Bentley-ridden Wayside Flower beat Hadi Nasser al-Ramzani's ward, Poet's Song, by half a length, while al-Malki's Shaka Zulu was third.
A week ago in the Guineas, Rashid Mohamed al-Jehani-trained Aluqdah was well held on his Qatar debut. Yesterday, that changed as the 3yo registered his first victory at the QREC winning the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 75-95.
Ridden by Stephan Ladjadj, Aluqdah finished a little under two lengths ahead of al-Malki's First To Post, helmed by Eduardo Pedroza, while Zuhair Mohsen's Bluebeard had his two race winning streak snapped as the 4yo gelding was third under Gerald Avranche's ride.
Pier Convertino guided Mohamed Ali Yousef al-Sheeb's Kasser to a fine victory in the Purebred Arabian Handicap event for horses rated 90 and below yesterday.
In the six furlong event, Kasser, who had started the season with a win over a mile on the first day of the season last month, beat Abdullah Mohamed al-Kuwari Sons' Al Khattaf by two lengths and three quarters. Al Jeryan Stud's AJS Al Zubara notched her second top three finish over the course and distance yesterday.
In the first two races of the day, Umm Qarn's Kufoo registered his second career win while Subaiya Awad Ibrahim owned Sarmad Bu Thaila shed his maiden status.
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Kufoo (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. Chanson Du Soleil (Marc Lerner), 3. Stam Al Naif (Pier Convertino), 4. Gadab (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 1 1/2, Shd, Nk. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 2: 1. Sarmad Bu Thaila (Darren Williams), 2. Musaiter Bu Thaila (Almotasem al-Balushi), 3. Sultan Bu Thaila (Carlo Fiocchi), 4. Tasleya (Pier Convertino). Won by: 7, 4 1/2, Shd. Owner: Subaiya Awad Ibrahim. Trainer: Mohamed Khaled Elahmed.
Race 3: 1. Sly Fly (Saleem Golam), 2. Khoud (Pier Convertino), 3. Deen (Marvin Suerland), 4. Waeed (Darren Williams). Won by: 1 1/2, 3/4, 5. Owner: Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Thani al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 4: 1. Kasser (Pier Convertino), 2. Al Khattaf (Harry Bentley), 3. AJS Al Zubara (Tomas Lukasek), 4. Qassy (Gerald Avranche). Won by: 2 3/4, 1 3/4, 3/4. Owner: Mohamed Ali Yousef al-Sheeb. Trainer: Mohamed Ali Yousef al-Sheeb.
Race 5: 1. Wayside Flower (Harry Bentley), 2. Poet's Song (Tomas Lukasek), 3. Shaka Zulu (Saleem Golam), 4. Saakhen (Pier Convertino). Won by: 1/2, 2 1/2, 2. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Jassim Mohamed Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Aluqdah (Stephan Ladjadj), 2. First to Post (Eduardo Pedroza), 3. Bluebeard (Gerald Avranche), 4. Erroneous (Harry Bentley). Won by: 1 3/4, Hd, 1 3/4. Owner: Khalid Rashid al-Mohannadi. Trainer: Rashid Mohamed al-Jehani.
Race 7: 1. Topsy Turvy (Saleem Golam), 2. Opera Baron (JP Guillambert), 3. Black Granite (Harry Bentley), 4. Pearl Bridge (Marvin Suerland). Won by: 3, 6 3/4, 4. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 8: 1. Astley Hall (JP Guillambert), 2. My Sharona (Harry Bentley), 3. Victory Laurel (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Sandbetweenourtoes (Almostasem al-Balushi). Owner: Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari. Trainer: Mohamed Jassim Ghazali.
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