Zarandi, winner of Al Wajba Cup, crosses the finish line with jockey Ronan Thomas in the saddle.
Saeed Nasser Al Qadi’s Zarandi (IRE) (Scat Daddy x Zaralanta) yesterday stormed to Al Wajba Cup win on the dirt track at Al Rayyan Park. Ronan Thomas rode the Hamad Al Jehani-trained 5YO horse to a 3-length win in the 1900m Class 2 run for Thoroughbreds. Zarandi clocked 2:03.06 as Thomas won QR 57,000 in a field of nine riders. High Commander, ridden by JP Guillambert, and Ernest Aldrich, who had Soufiane Saadi in the saddle, finished in second and third spots respectively.
Guillambert won QR 22,000 while Saad bagged QR 11,000 for his third-place finish. In a brilliant performance in what was the second big race of the night, Abdulaziz Jassim Al Buainain’s homebred Superior Moment completed a double winning by sealing the deal in the TB Handicap (0-85) on the dirt at QREC's Al Rayyan Park. Saadi rode the Zuhair Mohsentrained 4YO colt to a 2¼-length win in the 1100m Class 4 run. Also yesterday, Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Huwaiteb won the Thoroughbred Handicap (65-75) at Al Rayyan Park. Alberto Sanna rode the Mohammed Riyaz-trained 4YO gelding to a 3½-length win in the 1900m Class 5 run. Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Latam clinched the issue in the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate race Al Rayyan Park.
Tomas Lukasek rode the Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-trained 6YO horse to a 3-length win in the 1900m run for 4YO+. Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani’s Shaweesh won the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate in what was the fifth race of the night. Rashid Ali Al Saaq rode the Hamad Al Jehani-trained 6YO horse to a 3¼-length win in the 1700m run for 4YO+ Yousuf Mubarak Al Kuwari’s I Am Thunder produced good speed to win the Thoroughbred Novice Plate. Sanna rode the Hamad Al Jehani-trained 4YO colt to a ¾-length win in the 1100m Class 6 run. Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Wakeel won the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate when jockey Khalid Al Balushi rode the Mohammed Ghazali-trained 5YO horse to a length win in the 1900m Class 6 run.
In the second event of the day, Mohammed Khamis Eisa Al-Kaabi’s homebred Lehwaila won the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-85). Carlos Henrique rode the Ibrahim Al Malkitrained 5YO mare to a 2-length win in the 5f run. In the day’s opening race, the Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki-owned & trained Al Gamamah won the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate with jockey Thomas riding the bay filly to a 3 ¾-length win in the 1100m run for 3YOs
