By Chris Hoover/Doha

Al Jeryan Stud’s Aseer continued to dazzle with yet another superlative performance to annex the Ad Dibal Cup, which featured the races at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday. The Mohanad al-Yaqout trained Aseer was brilliantly ridden by Dubai based jockey Tadgh O’Shea for his fifth success on the talented colt.
Jeem led them all the way into the straight and Aseer slipped in through the rails improving position all along the turn. On entering the home stretch, O’Shea had Aseer take charge and the Yaqout trainee quickly went away to establish an useful which eventaually held him in good stead. Though Moaddie came charging in the final 100 metres, Aseer was unrelenting and held on to win by a length. Sraab also finished with a late burst but could only finish third.
“He is a very special horse to me. I have ridden him in all his five victories. He is very tough and genuine and likes a fight. Today, they went faster than I thought, so I rode him in check and reserved him for the final onslaught. Once Aseer quickened in the straight, he was not willing to give up. Everytime I ride he seems to be getting better and better and the credit goes to trainer Yaqout for keeing him in great shape. It was a great performance by Aseer and I am thrilled to be a part of this victory in the main event,” jockey O’Shea told the Gulf Times.
Trainer Yaqout was elated with the fine performance of his ward. “I have worked hard to keep Aseer fit. We are targeting him in a few important races only. He is a brilliant horse as he has always come out and performed well for us. It is a great feeling to be a part of this success story.”
Julian Smart saddled Rabha put in a determined gallop in the straight to win beating Ladys Sandman in a keen tussle in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 60 and below. Selhab Al Naif was in the thick of things until the home turn before Ladys Sandman and Rabha came alongside. The duo matched strides in the final strides of the race but it was Rabha with Tadgh O’Shea in the saddle, which produced an electrifying run to win by a neck.
Zohair Moghsen’s Archers Prize put in a dazzling display while decimating the field in the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate. Archers Prize  recorded a comfortable victory in the hands of jockey Suerland. Haayil was a well beaten second, while Khuduoa and Dartford completed the frame.
In the opener, Mohammed Riyaz trained Sahaba Al Uraiq was a runaway winner of the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. The three year old grey filly was quickly off the blocks and set her own pace before skipping away from her seven rivals to win by a widening margin of five lengths. Sirat Al Naif chased the winner all the way to finish second ahead of Nazal Al Naif, who was a further six lengths behind in third.
Istara (Akbar-Shebaa) having profited from her fifth to Fiteen in her previous start, the Hassan Ali Hassan al-Matwi’s five year old bay mare came good in the Pure Arabian Maiden Plate.
After taking over the running at the midway mark, Istara (Evert Pheiffer astride) gallloped on resolutely to thwart the challenge of the late finishing Meghwaar to win by three fourths of a length. Al Hattal was beaten close home to third place by his stable mate.
Abdullah al-Jaber’s Al Mostarsil pulled off a hard fought victory and jockey Marvin Suerland did well to get the maximum out of the eight year old chestnut horse in the Pure Arabian Handicap for horses rated 50 to 80. Al Mostrasil darted into the lead and had a slight upper hand when Kassiba arrived to challenge.
The duo were engaged in a neck and neck fight with the former unrelenting to the pressure. Suerland managed to wriggle free and moved ahead in sight of the winning post to win by a neck.
Jockey Suerland continued his good form to take his third win, while steering Moghsen’s Emaad to a start to finish victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 55 to 75. After hitting the front, Suerland cleverly dictated the pace and skipped away from the pack to win by three lengths. Sunley Pride came with a late dash to pip Freckenham to the runner-up berth.
Suerland was once ahain in the forefront as he guided Al Murqab Stud’s Pearl Bridge to a thrilling victory in the Thoroughbred Conditions race, run over nine furlongs. One Cool Bex was quick at the start and led the field, closely followed by Pearl Bridge and Mefraas. One Cool Bex continued to call the shots until the final furlong but was soon challenged by Pearl Bridge. Once he got the nod from Suerland, Pearl Bridge quickly covered ground and went past the front runner to win by a length to give its rider, his fourth win of the day.