Jockey James Doyle guides Dark Trooper to victory in the Barzan Cup feature race at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday. PICS: Juhaim/QREC
DOHA: Dark Trooper confirmed his class once again, claiming the Barzan Cup (QA Gr3) for a second straight year in the same colours and under the same trainer at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
The 5-year-old gelding, expertly ridden by James Doyle - who piloted him to last year’s victory - was held patiently before launching a decisive late surge to win the 1600m race for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds by half a length.
The triumph gave owner Wathnan Racing and trainer Alban de Mieulle a day double, with Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi presenting the trophies to the winners.
In the Thoroughbred Guineas (QA Gr3), Basalt confirmed his rising profile with a commanding victory, remaining unbeaten in two starts this season.
The grey colt unleashed an impressive turn of foot in the home straight to draw clear and record a comfortable 2¼-length success for owner Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al-Mahmoud. The win also completed an evening double for trainer-jockey duo of Gassim Al Ghazali and Marco Casamento.
Sealine also continued his impressive run of form, securing a second consecutive win and his third in his last four starts with a determined victory in the Local Thoroughbred Guineas.
The Al Jeryan Stud runner travelled prominently, tracking the long-time leader throughout before quickening smartly in the final metres to clinch the win by half a length for trainer M.H.K Al Attiyah and jockey Szczepan Mazur.
Marco Casamento and Basalt complete an impressive Thoroughbred Guineas victory.
In Purebred Arabian Guineas, Lueur De Faust made a striking Qatar debut, doubling her career tally on 5th career start with a brilliant late surge to win the title.
The bay filly, owned by Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and trained by Julian Smart, came from behind with a sweeping run to overhaul her rivals and the long-time leader in the closing stages. Under Alberto Sanna, she clinched victory by 3/4 of a length.
Meanwhile, Shabbab delivered a commanding performance to win the Sheraouh Island Cup for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians over 2000m. The 5YO, representing Al Shaqab Racing and trained by Jean de Mieulle, tracked last year’s winner Dawi for much of the race before surging past from the outside in the final 300m to land the spoils impressively by three lengths under Faleh Bughenaim.
