QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh al-Thani presents the Sprinters Championship to trainer Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. Right: Trainer Jassim al-Ghazali leads in Sputnik Sweetheart (Harry Bentley astride) after winning the Al Khariab Cup at the QREC yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim

By Chris Hoover/Doha

Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya trained Bin Amer (Bentley astride) displayed a welcome return to prime form by annexing Group III Pure Arabian Sprinters Championship, which featured a long card of 10 events at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. It was a glorious day for Dubai based jockey Harry Bentley who rode out six winners.

The thirteen runners took off to a level start. Al Uraiq, Al Mostarsil, and Harran moved marginally ahead of the others and the field was fairly spread out as they began skirting the final bend. Bin Amer was quite a few lengths behind this group as they straightened for home. Al Uraiq wrested the issue at this stage and went ahead of Harran. The others were bunching up behind them. Sensing the urgency, jockey Bentley urged Bin Amer through the middle. Within the next few seconds, he emerged from the pack and skipped clear of his rivals. With Bentley waving his whip at him, Bin Amer was getting stronger and stronger.  Bar the shouting, the race was more or less over. It was evident that the others were only competing for the minor places. With a strong bid in the final 100 metres, Harran came charging at Al Uraiq and beat him into third place.

“It has been a dream day to have six winners out of the nine rides I had for the day, I must thank my agent Mark Robinson, who is doing a great job by getting me good rides, I really appreciate his efforts. One always enjoys winning and I am glad that I got the opportunity to ride here in Qatar. I am looking forward to coming back next week,” jockey Bentley told the Gulf Times.

Speaking about his victory on Sputnik Sweetheart and Bin Amer, Bentley said. “Sputnik Sweetheart was a little bit keen early on as the trainer had said. Stephane showed strong pace upfront which definitely helped settle my horse. I just took the better ground on the wide and it obviously worked. Bin Amer is also a brilliant horse and gave me an easy ride.”

Jassim al-Ghazali schooled Sputnik Sweetheart (Oasis Dream-Sachet) raised a determined gallop when it mattered most to down the efforts of Ladyanne in the Al Kharaib Cup, a eight furlongs Thoroughbreds Conditions race for Fillies and Mares, which was the supporting event of the day. It also gave trainer Ghazali his fourth win for the day.

Sputnik Sweetheart which had finished sixth to Collect Art in her previous outing, settled in about seventh position till turning for home. Ladyanne was the first to take the initiative to head past the leader Fahirah on top of the straight. Ladyanne started to pick up speed inside the last 200 metres and Sputnik Seetheart also made her move at the same juncture. The two flashed past the front runner and with jockey Bentley keeping his hands busy managed to get Sputnik Sweetheart to get past Ladyanne in a stirring finish.

Ghazali schooled Ras Al Qimmah was an impressive winner of the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. The Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari owned Ras Al Qimmah (Ladjadj astride) went sailing clear inside the final 300 metres after racing upfront and won with plenty to spare from Moddhish and Nakhwat Al Arab.

Ghazali had another win for the day to take his tally to a whopping 62 winners. Jockey Bentley rode out Millers Wharf to a fluent win in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 65 to 85. Bentley waited with the Ghazali trainee until the final furlong and when asked for an effort, Millers Wharf sprouted a pair of wings and sped away to win with plenty in hand.

The Ghazali and Bentley combination were once again in the fore with Momalorka’s win in the Thoroughbred Advanced Plate. Momalorka had to be hard ridden by Bentley to thwart the spirited challenge of Umm Qarn’s Mu Tazz, who finished on strongly but found the winner too good on the day.

Earlier, a power packed ride by Bentley ensured victory for Zakhir Stud’s Gaazaa in the 1,600 metres Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Half Turn led the field with Instant Update in close attendance followed by Gaazaa while the rest were spaced behind. Rounding the final turn, Instant Update shot ahead as Half Turn failed to sustain his challenge. Instant Update led till the final furlong at which time jockey Bentley goaded Gaazaa to produce her patented burst of acceleration. The progeny of Leporello quickened easily and sped past the front runner to win in fine style.

Bentley continued to dominate the day’s proceedings as he piloted Julian Smart saddled Rathowan to an exciting win in the Pure Arabian Conditions race, run over 2,000 metres. The fourth win for the talented jockey did not come easy as he had to use all the resources at his command to get past stable mate Bashtoon, who looked set to land the spoils.

Though it took four outings for Jak Al Elm to shed his maiden status, the Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya trained four-year-old grey colt put in a dazzling display while annexing the second division of the local bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate in splendid fashion. With AJS Admiral setting the early pace, jockey Gerald Avranche had Jak Al Elm race in mid bunch. On entering the homestretch, AJS Admiral cruised into the lead and stretched away from the rest to establish a sizeable lead. At this point, Avranche brought Jak Al Elm into contention on the wide outside. Once alerted to the task on hand, Jak Al Elm, sporting the colours of Halul Stud, came with a devastating run and overhauled the front runner and won quite comfortably.

Abdulaziz al-Qaithri’s Rose Gloria took her first win in five starts when the progeny of Haatef came good under the able riding of German lady jockey Rebecca Danz in the Thoroughbred  Maiden Plate. Cloaked led the field into the straight but had no answer when Rose Gloria swooped on her. The Qaithri trainee then stretched away to win while warding off the late challenge of Jumaira Tower. Rubbamaa came from way behind to take the third place.

The duo of Elastomer and Nawarah from Ibrahim al-Malki stables produced a thrilling contest with the former prevailing by a whisker in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 50 to 70. Jockey Darren Williams astride Elastomer was unrelenting to the pressure from his stable mate Nawarah, who finished with a rattle but was unable to get past the eventual winner. A shorthead separated the two at the wire.

Results

1st race: Ras Al Qimmah (Stephane Ladjadj) 1, Moddhish 2, Nakhwat Al Arab 3, Al Baaz 4. Won by: 1, ½, ½. Time: 1:22.09. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari

2nd race: Jak Al Elm (Gerald Avranche) 1, AJS Admiral 2, Mouhash 3, Bahr Al Arab 4. Won by: 1 ½, ½, 3. Time: 1:21.10. Trained by: Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya. Owned by: Halul Stud

3rd race: Rose Gloria (Rebecca Danz) 1, Jumaira Tower 2, Rubbamaa 3, Ajador 4. Won by: Nk, 1 ¼, Shd. Time: 1:40.83. Trained by: Abdulaziz al-Qaithri. Owned by: Saoud Abdulaziz Ali al-Qaithri

4th race: Gaazwa (Harry Bentley) 1, Instant Update 2, Lilly White 3, Belhambar 4. Won by: ½, 3 ½, 2 ½. Time: 1:40.12. Trained by: Fadel Asfoor.  Owned by: Zakhir Stud

5th race: Elastomer (Darren Williams) 1, Nawarah 2, Back Lane 3, Substantiate 4. Won by: Shd, 1, Nk. Time: 1:02.58. Trained by: Ibrahim al-Malki. Owned by: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik

6th race: Millers Wharf (Harry Bentley) 1, Sunley Pride 2, Andhesontherun 3, Sand Boy 4. Won by: 2 ½, ½, 2 ½. Time: 1:12.17.  Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Abdulaziz Mohammed al-Ghanim

7th race: Momalorka (Harry Bentley) 1, Mu Tazz 2, Polperro 3, Beach Club 4. Won by: Nk, 1 ½, 1 ½. Time: 1:38.31. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheikh Mohammed bin Mishal bin Hamad al-Thani

8th race: Rathowan (Harry Bentley) 1, Bashtoon 2, Vetlana De Faust 3, Qabas 4. Won by: Hd, Nk, 2. Time: 2:17.42. Trained by: Julian Smart. Owned by: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al-Thani

9th race: Sputnik Sweetheart (Harry Bentley) 1, Ladyanne 2, Walfa 3, Ghalaa 4. Won by: Nk, 2, 1 ½. Time: 1:39.13. Trained by: Jassim al-Ghazali. Owned by: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari

10th race: Bin Amer (Harry Bentley) 1, Harran 2, Al Uraiq 3, Tuyoorna 4. Won by: 2, ½, ½. Time: 1:13.95. Trained by: Mohammed Hamad al-Attiya. Owned by: Hamad bin Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Attiya