The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 27th race meeting in the 2022-23 season, at the Al Rayyan Racecourse sand track on Wednesday, 11 January. The eight-race card was wrapped up with the feature, the Ras Laffan Cup, which saw the Al Thumama Racing-owned X Force (IRE) (Bungle Inthejungle x Nafa) remain unbeaten this season with a second straight win. The Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-trained 6YO was ridden by Tomas Lukasek to top the 1100m race for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds by three quarters of a length. In doing so, X Force proved yet again his talent and class in sprinters, especially as most of his runs were over 1200m and he either finished first or placed. With this win under his belt, he has taken his record to 13 wins in 28 runs. The runner-up on Wednesday was the Nasser Saeed M S Al-Eida-owned and Gassim Ghazali-trained Return To Senders (IRE) (Sir Prancealot), who was ridden by jockey Lukas Delozier. The Yousuf Mubarak Y A Al-Kuwari-owned and Hamad Al-Jehani-trained I Am Thunder (IRE) (Night Of Thunder) was further two lengths behind under jockey Alberto Sanna.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.
Al Malki: Well-deserved victory
The winning trainer, Ibrahim Al Malki, said: “Congratulations to Al Thumama Racing this well-deserved victory, which confirms that class and abilities of X Force in sprinters, especially on the same course and distance for the second time in a row. We look forward to more wins with this special horse.”
Elaaf
Almost four hours earlier, the opener of the day, a 1200m Handicap (0-65) for 3YO+ Local Thoroughbreds, saw the Ali Bin Saeed Aljafali Al Nuaimi-owned Elaaf (QA) (Domestic Fund x Twilight Time) take the spoils by three and a half lengths for trainer Ahmed Kobeissi in an impressive performance under jockey Jefferson Smith.
I Am Joking
The A Mubarak Ali Al Nuaimi-owned I Am Joking (USA) (Practical Joke x Sky Saver) won the second race, a 1200m Handicap (0-70) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds, in great style for trainer Hamad Al Jehani and jockey Yousef Khalifa Al Jehani as he got off the mark, bolting six lengths clear – the widest on the day.
Nuwar
Trainer Ahmed Kobeissi secured a double on the card in the third race as he saddled Nuwar (FR) (Jaafer ASF x Forgehill Chamille), in the colours of Abdulla Bin Mohammed Al Attiya, to run out a cosy two-length winner of the 1700m Maiden for 4-6YO Purebred Arabians under jockey Pranil Arvind.
Wukair
The Nasser Saeed Al Eida-owned Wukair (QA) (Lancelot x Yamamah) made a big impression in the fourth race, a 1700m Handicap (60-80) for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds, as he came with a late charge in the final furlong to pull four lengths clear at the line under jockey Lukas Delozier for trainer Gassim Ghazali.
Al Junood
The fifth race, a 1700m Handicap (65-85) for 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians, provided a nail-biting finish as the Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mishal Bin Hamad Al Thani-owned and Jihad El Ahmad-trained Al Junood (QA) (Hafid Du Bac x Al Mubadara), under jockey Abdulla Faisal, held off the challenge of Habes (QA) (Harran ASF) in the shadow of the post to win by a neck.
Dramatic Sands
The 1700m Handicap (60-80) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds saw a ‘dramatic’ finish as Dramatic Sands (IRE) (Footstepsinthesand x Melodrama), under a valiant ride from Jefferson Smith, came all the way from behind and passed his rivals one by one to eventually kick clear and win the sixth race in the card by a length and a half for owner Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and trainer Debbie Mountain
Murjan
In the penultimate race, a 1200m Handicap (75-95) for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians, Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Murjan (FR) (Dahor De Brugere x Nevadour Al Maury), in the hands of jockey Alberto Sanna, was rewarded for his recent good performances with a half-lengthy win for trainer Eric Lemartinel.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club