Qatar Olympic Committee President, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani gestures after presenting His Excellency’s Rifle to Ali Bin Hamad Bin Ali Al Attiyah - representative of Al Wasmiyah Farm-owned Noor Al Hawa.
Noor Al Hawa, Mon’nia and Tarek Du Soleil yesterday clinched top honours on the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day by winning the feature races in the eventful 29th Race Meeting at the Al Rayyan Park. Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Noor Al Hawa (FR) stormed to fourth victory in a row, winning the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, with jockey Alberto Sanna getting a lucrative win in yesterday’s final race. The Georges Mikhalidestrained 8YO horse recorded a length win over Hellenistique, ridden by jockey Marco Casamento in the $100,000 race to pocket $57,000 with the runners-up receiving $22,000. Seeyoubyme, with Ivan Rossi, in the saddle grabbed third spot for a prize purse of $11,000. In yesterday’s penultimate feature race, Tomas Lukasek rode H E Sheikha Yasmeen bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Mon’nia to victory in $100,000 H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 PA).
The Julian Smart-trained 5YO mare defeated Al Naama, helmed by Soufiane Saadi by 3L to win $57,000. Team Al Naama bagged $22,000 for second finish with team Ginkeau, steered by Sanna to third place getting richer by $11,000. Ridden by Faleh Bughanaim, Tarek Du Soleil topped the $100,000 H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy – yesterday’s third feature race - after defeating Hadjira De Flauzins - helmed by Casamento, who sealed his hat-trick of title wins earlier last evening. The Debbie Mountain-trained and Eng. Hassan Ali A M Alabdulmalikowned colt’s neck win lent the side a handsome winning purse of $57,000. The runner-up side received $22,000 while team First Classs, who finished third, got richer by $11,000. In first of yesterday’s several races offering $40,000 as prize money, jockey Casamento clinched first of his three titles by guiding Jassim Ghazalitrained 8YO horse Ateej to ¼-length win at the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (P/A). There was also a tough fight in the $40,000 H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (T/B), which saw Dominus (IRE), with Sanna in the saddle, taking the title with a half-length win to bag top prize of $22,800.
Soufiane, teaming up with Black Pearl, registered thrilling 1/2 –length win in the 1850m run victory to win the H E Sheikh J’oaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (L T/B). The Bader Al Balushi-trained 5YO gelding lent his team a top prize of $22, 800 in the $40,000 competition. There was success for Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Soldierpoy too as the Jason Watson-rode gelding recorded a neck win over Thunderstone, ridden by Sanna, to capture the $40,000 H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (3YO T/B). Earlier, Casamento rode Injaaz Stud’s Izzthatright to win in the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy to claim top prize of $22,800 in the $40,000 race.
The Zuhair Mohsen-trained 9YO gelding was in fine form as it outpaced Taxiwala, helmed by JP Guillambert. Also yesterday, H H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s homebred Khatafaynee clinched the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup defeating AJS Berline by a length in the 7f run to bag top prize in the $20,000 race. Lukasek was at the helm of 5YO horse trained by Julian Colin Smart. In the $10,000 Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate – yesterday’s first race – Ali bin Thamer bin Ali Al Mehshadi’s homebred Khanoor emerged victorious with Casamento in the saddle
