Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Racing manager Abdullah Rashid al-Kubaisi (second from right) and head of Media Saad Mubarak al-Hajri (right) with the winners of the Muaither Cup at QREC yesterday. PICTURES: Juhaim

By Sports Reporter/Doha


Umm Qarn’s TM Thunder Struck was raced to victory by jockey Jean Baptiste Hamel in the Muaither Cup, a Pure Arabian conditions race, which was the feature of the seven-race card yesterday at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).
Alban de Mieulle’s charge, who last saw racing action in the Qatar Arabian World Cup on the day of the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Paris’ famed Longchamp track on October 4 this year, picked up his career’s fifth victory ahead of Zakhir Stud duo Jenjal and Zameer, both trained by Mohamed Salama.
Early on, Hamel kept the grey son of Majd Al Arab in the mix behind Hassan Ali Hassan al-Matwi’s La Hoor and Majd Al Uraiq, who had taken the early lead with Marco Monteriso and Jaures Marcialis at the helm.
As the action moved on to the home straight, Hamel found a gap to get on the outside, which he did with his five-year-old colt, and with a furlong to go, TM Thunder Struck took off for the post.
Behind him, Jenjal, who had stayed in the rear group, showed amazing turn of foot but, in hindsight, jockey Seb Sanders left it for too late and he could only finish two lengths behind the eventual winner.
Stable mate Zameer, who had won the Purebred Arabian Guineas two weeks ago, finished a further two and a half lengths back.
Earlier in the day, the trainer-jockey pair of Jassim al-Ghazali and Marvin Suerland picked up two wins, with Civaldi de Montegut in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate and with Go Dan Go in the Class 5 Thoroughbred Conditions race.
Chanson du Soleil, owned by Osama Omar al-Dhafea, finished second behind Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari’s three-year-old colt, in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate with Essa Mohamed al-Sulaiti’s Saab in third position.
Go Dan Go, owned by Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah & Son, finished ahead of Hamad Adel al-Muslimani’s Copleys Walk and another al-Ghazali charge Tachophobia, owned by Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari.
In the first race of the day, Mohammed bin Hamad Khalifa al-Attiyah’s Parkes and Ride won shed his maiden status with a win in the Class 6 Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Mohannad al-Yaqout’s charge finished ahead of Black Beach and Al Ansari’s Choice.
Al Jeryan Stud’s Tarablas won her first race in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, with Al Naif Countfleet and Sky Metro rounding up the top three.
Chilworth Icon, owned by Hassan Ali Abdulmalik and trained by Debbie Mountain, won his first race on Doha turf when he beat Majed Seifeddine-schooled Court Life by slimmest of margins at the post, with Mister Ryan finishing third, in the Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap.
Seifeddine picked up a win with Glossy Posse in the Class 2 Thoroughbred Handicap race ahead of Primitorio, owned by Osama Omar al-Dhafea, and Khalid Rashid Saif al-Khayarin’s Leafcutter. This was this season’s second victory for the bay mare, owned by Mubarak Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi, having won another Handicap race on the opening day of the season, also with jockey Pier Convertino at the helm.
RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Parkes and Ride (Brett Doyle), 2. Black Beach (Stephan Ladjadj), 3. Al Ansari’s Choice (Seb Sanders), 4. Pippin Street (Marco Monteriso). Won by: Hd, 1, Nk. Owner: Mohammed bin Hamad Khalifa al-Attiyah. Trainer: Mohannad al-Yaqout.
Race 2: 1. Tarablas (Adrie de Vries), 2. Al Naif Countfleet (Pier Convertino), 3. Sky Metro (Evert Pheiffer), 4. Akram (Almotasem al-Balushi). Won by: 1, 1.75, 0.5. Owner: Al Jeryan Stud. Trainer: M. H. K al-Attiyah.
Race 3: 1. Civaldi de Montegut (Marvin Suerland), 2. Chanson du Soleil (Pier Convertino), 3. Saab (Darren Williams), 4. Verracruz (Stephan Ladjadj). Won by: 5, 2, Nk. Owner: Sheail bin Khalifa al-Kuwari. Trainer: Jassim al-Ghazali
Race 4: 1. Chilworth Icon (Seb Sanders), 2. Court Life (Almotasem al-Balushi), 3. Mister Ryan (Darren Williams), 4. Qatar Light (Pier Convertino). Won by: Shd, Nk, Shd. Owner: Hassan Ali Abdulmalik. Trainer: Debbie Mountain.
Race 5: 1. Go Dan Go (Marvin Suerland), 2. Copleys Walk (Andrew Elliot), 3. Tachophobia (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Beach Samba (Gaetan Faucon). Won by: 1, 0.75, 0.5. Owner: Dr. Fahad bin Abdullah al-Attiyah & Son. Trainer: Jassim al-Ghazali.
Race 6: 1. Glossy Posse (Pier Convertino), 2. Primitorio (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 3. Leafcutter (Marco Monteriso), 4. Crafted (Evert Pheiffer). Won by: 1.25, Shd, Hd. Owner: Mubarak Saeed Aljafai al-Naimi. Trainer: Majed Seifeddine.
Race 7: 1. TM Thunder Struck (Jean Baptiste Hamel), 2. Jenjal (Seb Sanders), 3. Zameer (Darren Williams), 4. AJS Intifadah (Adrie de Vries). Won by: 2, 2.5, Nk. Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.