Doha, Qatar: Grace Secret, under the watchful guidance of jockey Alberto Sanna, last night made a splendid turnaround in the feature race – the Local Purebred Arabian – to clinch the Asherij Cup in style at Al Rayyan Racecourse.

Sanna and Grace Secret remained behind for most of the 1200m feature before the Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed-trained three-year-old filly bounced back in the final stretch in spectacular fashion.

She picked up a lightning pace in the closing moments to seal a commanding 31⁄2-length victory, securing the trophy for owners Umm Al Shukhut Farm.

“At the beginning, my filly wasn't good enough to follow the pace, so I let her find her stride, and then she ran very impressively. She is only three years old, and it was a very good finish,” Sanna said after the race.

“I was behind, and to tell you the truth, at the corner I thought we would finish back in the field. But I kept pushing, and in the straight, she really showed off to finish very strong,” he added.

Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi crowned the winners.

The victory completed a double for Sanna, who also notched up a win in the opening race of the third Al Rayyan meeting, which featured seven races on the card.

Teaming up with the Jihad El Ahmad-trained Estithmar, Sanna claimed the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-60) win for owner Injaaz Stud, narrowly taking the 1700m race by a neck.

Jockey Soufiane Saadi also enjoyed a double success yesterday, guiding two runners to impressive victories.

He first partnered Studio City, trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali, to win the Thoroughbred Handicap (60–80), before claiming a second victory aboard Naseeb Zakhir, trained by Eng. Osama Omer Al-Dafea, in the Local Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate.

Trainer Hamad Al-Jehani also completed a double on the day. Saida, ridden by Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi, secured a comfortable 13⁄4-length victory in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (35–60), following an earlier win by Morello Man in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, with Szczepan Mazur in the saddle.

Meanwhile, Azzam FBR, trained by Fahad Rashid Al Khayarin Al-Hajri, claimed a commanding victory in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, winning by over three lengths under jockey Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri.

Today's action features nine races, highlighted by the 1400m Sealine Cup, a Thoroughbred Conditions (Class 2) event.

3rd Al Rayyan Race Meeting Asherij Cup

WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)

Asherij Cup - Local Purebred Arabian Handicap

Grace Secret, Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed, Alberto Sanna

Local Purebred Arabian Graduation Plate

Naseeb Zakhir, Eng. Osama Omer Al-Dafea, Soufiane Saadi

Thoroughbred Handicap (60-80)

Studio City, Mohammed Al Ghazali, Soufiane Saadi

Local Thoroughbred Handicap (35-60)

Saida, Hamad Al-Jehani, Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi

Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate

Azzam FBR, Fahad Rashid Al Khayarin Al-Hajri, Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri

Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, 3-7YOs

Morello Man, Hamad Al-Jehani, Szczepan Mazur

Thoroughbred Handicap (0-60)

Horse: Estithmar, Jihad El Ahmad, Alberto Sanna

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