Faleh Bughanaim guides Hajadie Du Croate to the Al Gharafa Cup title win.
Faleh Bughanaim, astride threeyear-old Hajadie Du Croate, bagged the Al Gharafa Cup title, winning yesterday’s feature race on the second day of the new season at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park. A total of eight races were competed yesterday with Hajadie Du Croate producing the fastest speed as Bughanaim claimed the top prize of QR 57,000 after a 0.25 length win in the feature event.
It was second career win in the event for Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s filly, trained by Jassim Ghazali. Muqla, ridden by Ronan Thomas, and Veverka Py, who had Francois Herholdt in the saddle, took the second and third places respectively. Also, in the penultimate race on yesterday’s race card, Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s homebred Black Pearl, emerged winner in the Local Thoroughbreds to claim QR42,750.
Guided by Soufiane Saadi, the Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki -trained gelding stormed to victory in 1:10.48, adding sixth victory in the discipline. Mosatyer with jockey Alberto Sanna and Abha with Eduardo Pedroza finished in second and third positions respectively. Earlier, Gold Amer, with Thomas in the saddle, raced to win in the Purebred Arabian Handicap. The Alban de Mieulle-trained 5YO grey horse clocked 1:43.86 to cover 1600m and claimed third win in the competition.
The winners collected a prize of QR34,200. Ennab and Ghazi Al Jeryan took second and third position in the event. In Thoroughbreds (Class 2), Arabic Channel (USA), ridden by Eduardo Pedroza reigned supreme, clearing 1400m with a time of 1:22.00.
The 4-year-bay colt registered a shot-head win over Take A Nap (IRE), which had Thomas in the saddle. The win gave team Arabic Channel QR42,750 while team Take A Nap got richer by QR16,500. Pettifogger (IRE), ridden by Luca Maniezzi finished third. The Saeed Mohammed Shafi Al Shafi-owned & trained Al Mikdam was also the winner yesterday, picking his fourth win in the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-75). Rashid Ali Al-Marri rode the bay horse to a 1¾-length win in the mile run, ahead of War Order (USA) and Better Than Ever (IRE). Dream Boy, Ajal (QA) and Zyzzyva also clinched victories on an eventful day, yesterday
