Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of Qatar Olympic Committee, HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day, was held today, Saturday, 21st January, at QREC Al Rayyan turf track. Following the 10th and final race of the day, His Excellency Sheikh Al Qaqa Bin Hamad Al Thani crowned the winners of the last two races of meeting; the Gr3 PA HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for Purebred Arabians, which was won by Wathnan Racing’s Abbes, and the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle for Thoroughbreds, which was landed by Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Scherzo. His Excellency Issa Bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, was present during the trophy presentation ceremony.
Scherzo retains Rifle at Al Wasmiyah Farm
There was a thrilling three-way finish in the day’s feature and the final race in the card, with a head and a short head separating the first three home, but it was Al Wasmiyah Farm’s Scherzo (FR) (Wootton Bassett x Persian Belle), ridden by Andrea Atzeni, who emerged on top landing the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, a 2200m contest for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds, for trainer Georges Mikhalides. In doing so, Scherzo kept the Rifle for Al Wasmiyah Farm for the third straight year as the same connections landed the coveted title in 2022 and 2021 through Noor Al Hawa. Wathnan Racing’s Bolthole (IRE) (Free Eagle) was narrowly dentied to finished runner-up for trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Ronan Thomas. Finishing second was not easy though as he was only a short head in front of the Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki owned and trained In The Night (IRE) (Shamardal), who was ridden by Tomas Lukasek.
Abbes wins Gr3 Trophy
In the penultimate race in the card, Abbes (FR) (TM Fred Texas x Raqiyah) in Wathnan Racing’s colours dazzled with a third win in a row and a black type victory, as he landed the Gr3 HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians over 2200m by four lengths, completing a double on the day for trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Mickael Barzalona. It was a one-two by the winning connections as Salwa (FR) (Kalino) in the same colours and saddled by the same trainer was the runner-up under jockey Ronan Thomas. H.E. Sheikha Iman bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani owned and Rudy Nerbonne trained Dawi (FR) (Amer) was further two and a quarter lengths behind in third under jockey Lukas Delozier.
Concorde
Earlier on the day, Abdullah Bin Ali Bin Khalifa Al Attiya’s (QA) (AF AlBahar x Nawar) kickstarted the meeting winning the 1750m Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Cup for 4-6YOs. Soufiane Saadi rode the Mohammed Nasser Al Naimi-trained 4YO colt to a half-length victory.
QREC Racing Manager, Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, crowned the winners.
Al Ehdaashari
Yasin Zuhair Mohsen Al Ehdaashari (QA) (AF AlBahar x Woodyaan) won the second race, the 1400m Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup for 4YO+, by a length and a half for trainer Zuhair Mohsen and jockey Ronan Thomas, giving his trainer and his rider their first winner on the day.
Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, presented the trophies to the winners.
Come Quick
Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s Come Quick (IRE) (Es Que Love x In Seconds) won the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, a Thoroughbred Sprint for 3YO+ over 1200m. Maxime Guyon rode the Bader Al Balushi-trained gelding to a comfortable two and a quarter length victory in the third race.
Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, presented the trophies to the winners.
Classic Order
Trainer Zuhair Mohsen doubled up quickly in the fourth race as he saddled the Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Bin Hamad Al Attiya owned Classic Order (GB) (No Nay Never x Discipline) to win the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 3YO Thoroughbreds over 1500 by two lengths and a quarter under jockey Soufiane Saadi, who completed a double as well.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners.
Equinoxe
Wathnan Racing’s Equinoxe (QA) (Atlantic Air x Thurayya) retained the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds for the second straight year and for the same trainer-jockey duo of Alban de Mieulle and Ronan Thomas, who chalked up a double in the fifth race having ridden the bay 6YO to a two and a half-length victory in the 1750m contest.
Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, presented the trophies to the winners.
Stylish Performer
Mohammed Abdulhadi Al Hajri’s Stylish Performer (IRE) (Dandy Man x Va Pensiero) won the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for trainer Hamad Al Jehani, having prevailed in the sixth race by a length and a quarter under jockey Hugo Besnier in the 1400m open race for 4YO+ thoroughbreds.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners
Al Wakrah
Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Al Wakrah (FR) (TM Fred Texas x Majida) resumed her string of victories as the Eric Lemartinel trained mare won the seventh race, the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians over 1750m, having drawn four lengths clear under jockey Faleh Bughanaim.
His Excellency Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Thani bin Khalid Al Thani, CEO of Qatar Media Corporation, presented the trophies to the winners.
Bucanero
Nasser Saif Al Kubaisi’s Bucanero (FR) (AF AlBahar x Josbella) continued his good performances with a second win in fifth career start, landing the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO Purebred Arabians over 1750m by a length and quarter in the eighth race for trainer Mohammed Ghazali and jockey Mickael Barzalona.
Abdulla Mohammed Al Kuwari, QREC Board Member, crowned the winners.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club