Subahiyah takes the Listed Qatari Oaks on debut

A showcase of the best three and four-year-old thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian Fillies, the ten races on Qatar Oaks Day proved to be the perfect warm up to the Qatar International Derby meeting the following day. The headline event, the Qatar Oaks, a Qatari Listed contest for thoroughbreds over 2000m, went the way of Al Shaqab Racing’s Subahiyah, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden by Faleh Bughanaim. Subahayih had previously won or been placed in all of her starts in France and impressed on her debut in Qatar when winning by nearly 3l from the fast-finishing Muneerah and Midheaven, who was a further length behind in third.

A homebred daughter of Le Havre, Subahayih is the second foal to race out of Gherdaiya, who was Group 3 placed in the Al Shaqab Racing’s colours in France when trained by Andre Fabre.

Al Shaqab Racing also scored on the card with another homebred in the Qatar Oaks for local four-year-old Purebred

Image Due Croate Coverts Trial Victory To Big Race Success

The Qatar Oaks for four-year-old Purebred Arabians was closely contested with Al Shahania Stud’s Image Du Croate, who was already a Group 1 PA winner in France, adding to her tally with a half-length win over Hazal, with Al Wakrah a nose behind. Since arriving in Qatar, she has joined trainer Rudy Nerbonne and she was placed on her Qatari debut in the Oaks Trial behind Al Wakrah. Travelling smoothly throughout in the main event, ridden by Maxime Guyon, Image Du Croate always looked to be in command despite the narrow margin of her win.

A Ready Win Foral Warkah

In the Qatar Oaks for three-year-old Local Thoroughbreds, Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani’s homebred filly Al Warkah, ridden by Alberto Sanna and trained by Mohammed Khaled Elahmed, put her considerable race experience to good use, winning readily by 2l. Messaouda stayed on well to be second on only her second start, whilst in third was Achika. Al Warkah had three starts in Poland before her export to Qatar in October 2021 and has since raced eight times prior to this outing, winning or placing on all bar two of those starts.

Arabians with Osaila. Held up in the rear by Bughanaim, she made steady progress in the straight to win a shade easily by 2l from Haraiqu, with long-time leader Manakel in third. Trained by Eric Lemartinel, Osaila is by the champion sire Amer and is a sister to Al Shaqab Racing’s Group 1PA Qatar International Cup winner, Aba’ath.

No Tear Al Maury Oaks Winner On Doha Debut

The mile Qatar Oaks for three-yearold Purebred Arabian fillies saw Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s No Tear Al Maury secure an impressive victory under Mickael Barzalona on her debut for trainer Thomas Fourcy in Doha. Boasting solid form in France where she was a Group 2PA winner in September, before placing in the Qatar Arabian Trophy des Pouliches (Gr1PA), both races over

2000m, she showed an excellent turn of foot dropped back in trip, easily reeling in Nazwa on the run in, to win by a half a length. The pair were well clear of Felowah in third.

Roma Gets Off The Mark

Noora Racing’s Roma break her maiden in good style in the mile Qatar Oaks for three-year-old local Purebred Arabians. The daughter of Al Mourtajez led almost from the outset and turned in a very professional performance under Alberto Sanna to win going away from Aziza by 3l. Rowaah Zakhir kept on for a good third place.