The 2015-2016 season has treated racegoers to some superb display of horse racing with exciting finishes and big wins at the Al Rayyan racetrack of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
The two-day Qatar International Derby in December saw an exciting dead heat with nothing to separate German raider Rogue Runner and Tannaaf from South Africa.
Trainer Mario Hofer was a delighted man considering Rogue Runner had come into Doha after a last-place finish in France earlier in December.
“The run was great. Perfect race, with a perfect position behind the leader. The horse came here in good condition and his performance in the race showed that,” Hofer, who gelded Rogue Runner, had told Gulf Times then. “To do so well on the first trip here is a great thing.”
The Blue Eye did a world of good to Jassim Ghazali and Harry Bentley’s chances at retaining the Champion Trainer and Champion Jockey’s titles this year.
Owned by Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari, The Blue Eye first beat some impressive international entries to win HH The Emir’s Trophy in February, and then returned to the Doha track to own the Qatar Gold Trophy in April. The latter had arrived at the track after a disappointing Sheema Classic run in March in Dubai’s Meydan Racecourse.
On the same day, Gazwan raced to a memorable win in HH The Emir’s Sword (Gr1 PA), with the classy Assy, making a one-two for HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani and trainer Julian Smart.
A tactical race saw Smart’s ward Al Majh’hoor take the sting out of the run of Al Shaqab Racing’s Qatar Arabian World Cup winner Al Mourtajez, while a restricted run by Assy and Gazwan ensured a blistering pace at the finish for the duo.
“Winning the Emir’s Sword is the biggest prize in Qatar, and that makes everything good,” Smart had said after the win. “I can’t say enough about Al Mourtajez, he is a very, very good horse. To go that speed and still be fighting at the finish with us says something about his quality.
“Assy hasn’t been beaten by far. But that’s the kind of race Gazwan has always needed, one with a strong pace. And he will gallop all day long. He was unlucky in France last year, he was a juvenile but has matured over the winter.”
Gazwan’s earlier victory in the Purebred Arabian Derby, coupled his win on the big day, saw the Amer colt earn a total prize money of close to QR 2.6 million, second only to The Blue Eye with QR 2.8 million.