JP Guillambert rode Al Marboush to a narrow victory in the Al Rumailah Cup, a 1700m race for local Purebred Arabians three years and older at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s dirt track yesterday.
The grey son of Amer finished ahead of half-brothers Al Qatari and Maazouz, who had picked up a conditions victory last week, to win the feature.
The win by Injaaz Stud-owned horse was trainer Mubarak al-Khayarin’s second in as many weeks, having won the season-opening feature – Al Safliya Cup – with Sandbetweenourtoes a week ago.
It was also Guillambert’s second win of the day, having guided Bustawi Ismail-schooled Raad Al Zaeem to a comfortable victory in a handicap event earlier in the evening.
Ibrahim al-Malki’s charge First to Post emerged victorious in a 1200m sprint in the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated 76-90.
The Class 3 run saw the gelding beat The Smart One to victory by a little over a length, while Alsefra completed the top three.
Qatar Derby Trial winner Raad Al Zaeem, after ending last season with a string of disappointing results, opened the new year with a win in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap.
Guillambert was at the helm of the Bustawi Ismail’s colt in the 1200m run for horses rated 80 and below, and the four-year-old responded well with a two length win over second-placed Daleem.
Three lengths down Akram edged out Ammon to complete the top three.
Khalid Jassim-owned Atori, after finishing in places on his last two outings, shed his maiden status with a victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 6) event.
The gelding’s last run was in April in a maiden plate event, where he finished third.
Yesterday, however, Marvin Suerland guided the five-year-old to a competition-demolishing six length victory, with Dominic Cork left to fight off Qat Flyer for his second spot.
Earlier in the evening, Al Mazyounah picked up her first career victory on her eighth attempt, with Gerald Avranche riding the Majd Al Arab filly to victory in the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate.
Hassan al-Matwi’s ward had a fairly comfortable run over six furlongs, finishing two and a half lengths ahead of Bayan, with Fhoud Al Shajaa finishing third.
Deborah Mountain’s Palmetto Dunes shed the maiden status on his second shot this season, winning the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6) under Stephan Ladjadj. Suerland could only guide Farendole to second spot for Zuhair Mohsen, while China Club was third.
After finishing among places thrice out of his first four runs, Umm Qarn’s Damas finally stepped on to the top step of the podium when Gaetan Faucon rode Alban de Mieulle’s ward to victory in the evening’s first race – Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate.
Mansoor Misfer al-Shahwani-owned filly Jefool Al Jazeera finished second ahead of Maryam bint Sheail al-Kuwari’s Secret Angel.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1. Damas (Gaetan Faucon), 2. Jefool Al Jazeera (Stephan Ladjadj), 3. Secret Angel (JP Guillambert), 4. Taous De Monlau (Tadgh O’Shea). Won by: 3, 3, 15. Time: 2:02.91. Owner: Umm Qarn, Trainer: Alban de Mieulle.
Race 2: 1. Al Mazyounah (Gerald Avranche), 2. Bayan (Pier Convertino), 3. Fhoud Al Shajaa (Tadgh O’Shea), 4. Ameed Brooq (Alberto Sanna). Won by: 2 1/2, 1 1/2, 2. Time: 1:21.35. Owner: Hassan Ali Hassan al-Matwi. Trainer: Hassan al-Matwi.
Race 3: 1. Palmetto Dunes (Stephan Ladjadj), 2. Farendole (Marvin Suerland), 3. China Club (Yanis Aouabed), 4. Wailess (Faleh Bughanaim). Won by: 2, 6, 2 1/2. Time: 1:12.41. Owner: Abdullah Hassan Ali Abdulmalik. Trainer: Deborah Mountain.
Race 4: 1. Raad Al Zaeem (JP Guillambert), 2. Daleem (Saleem Golam), 3. Akram (Yanis Aouabed), 4. Ammon (Darren Williams). Won by: 2, 3, 1/2. Time: 1:14.04. Owner: Mishal bin Ali al-Attiyah. Trainer: Bustawi Ismail.
Race 5: 1. Atori (Marvin Suerland), 2. Dominic Cork (Saleem Golam), 3. Qat Flyer (Alberto Sanna), 4. Chess Valley (Marco Monteriso). Won by: 6, 1/2, 3 1/5. Time: 1:57.38. Owner: Khalid Jassim. Trainer: Hussein Aashoor.
Race 6: 1. First to Post (Alberto Sanna), 2. The Smart One (Gerald Avranche), 3. Alsefra (Stephan Ladjadj), 4. Littlemissblakeney (Saleem Golam). Won by: 1 1/4, 1 1/4, 3/4. Time: 1:11.82. Owner: Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani. Trainer: Ibrahim al-Malki.
Race 7: 1. Al Marboush (JP Guillambert), 2. Al Qatari (Saleem Golam), 3. Maazouz (Pier Convertino), 4. Tameh (Alberto Sanna). Won by: Nk, 1/2, 1. Time: 2:01.48. Owner: Injaaz Stud. Trainer: Mubarak al-Khayarin.