Exciting action on HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy Day

Princess Mourtajez Easy Winner Of The Silver Cup

The HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Silver Cup for four-year-old Arabians produced another clear winner in Princess Mourtajez, trained by Zuhair Mosen and ridden by Ronan Thomas for owner Salmeen Abdulla Al-Jabri. Settled towards the rear by Thomas, the filly took her time to pass the long-time leader Hadlan, but she did it well in the end, with Bhar Al Jasra closing for third, beaten a head. This was a second win for the daughter of Al Mourtajez since her 2022 arrival in Doha from France where she had been placed four times.

Shgarde The Sprint Winner

The His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy Day featured a nine-race card with HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani present to crown the winners of His Highness’s Cups and Trophy. His Excellency Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Chairman, was also present during the trophy presentation ceremony.

Ajs Saaeq Battled To Big Race Victory

The HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy contest for local Arabians over a mile concluded the meeting and produced a real thriller for the race goers. The eventual winner, Al Jeryan Stud’s AJS Saaeq, ridden by Szczepan Mazur, was one of three horses in a battle for the lead as they entered the straight, and the M.H.K Al Attiyah trained five-year-old claimed the front pitch 200m from the line. Sealine, one of the best local bred runners of recent years, chased him home. Abida was three-quarters of a length away in third.

That was a second win on the day for Al Jeryan and trainer

M.H.K Al Attiyah, who also won the earlier Charm Spirit Cup for thoroughbreds with Arabic Channel.

Jabalah Wins The Cup For The Second Year In A Row

The race was preceded by the HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Khalifa Al Thani Cup (Gr2PA) in which Wathnan Racing’s Jabalah was the clear winner under Ronan Thomas for trainer Alban de Mieulle.

This was a second success in the race for Jabalah, a son of Al Mamun Monlau, and he showed a great turn of foot to overtake Poseulo Py in the closing stages, putting nearly 3l between him and the runner-up Sayaad. Shalaa was a further half-length behind in third.

The Majd Al Arab Purebred Arabian Sprinter Championship (Gr3PA) held over 1100m saw Shgarde secure his eighth career victory. Racing in the colours of Sharida bin Nasser bin Sharida Al-Kaabi, the five-yearold son of AF AlBahar, trained by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, continues to go from strength to strength in the sprint division.

Last year’s winner AJS Berline set a strong pace in front and tracked by Shgarde, who was ridden by Alberto Sanna, put up a good battle in the straight when attempting to repel Shgarde’s challenge. However, Shgarde had the edge, going two and a half-lengths clear, with the pair well ahead of Salsabeel in third.

In The Night Maintains Form In The Umm Qarn Cup

In the preceding race for thoroughbreds, the Umm Qarn Cup over 2000m, Ibrahim Al Malki’s In The Night prevailed by a head in a three-way photo finish, ridden by Tomas Lukasek. Racing prominently on the rail throughout, In The Night was pressed all the way to the line by King Pacha, though the pair were nearly caught by the fast finishing Pedro Cara, who secured second place. It was the six-year-old gelding’s fifth win in succession.

Queen Kicks Up A Storm In The French King Cup

The French King Cup for local thoroughbreds over a mile saw another success for Wathnan Racing and De Mieulle victory going to Queen Storm, who was partnered by Soufiane Saadi.

Travelling well in mid-division, the five-year-old daughter of Trade Storm hit the front at the 200m pole, and pulling ahead for a decisive two and three quarter-length victory to win going away from Al Buraq. Al Adheed was just over two lengths adrift in third.