Doha [Qatar], February 23: Saida, owned by Time Form Syndicate and trained by Hamad Al Jehani, produced a thrilling late charge to capture the Al Waab Cup in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (50-70) over 1400m for horses aged three years and older at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Saturday night.
The five-year-old mare, racing on turf, was seventh at the halfway stage before accelerating powerfully under jockey Saleh Faraj Al Otaibi to snatch victory by a head, registering her third win from five starts this season.
With her success in the feature race at the 54th Al Uqda meeting, Saida also completed a double on the card.
Al Deebil, racing for Al Wasmiyah Farm and trained by Mohammed Al Ghazali, finished second under Arnaud de Lepine, while Toyota, representing Al Ezz Stud and trained by Saeed Al Shafi, came third under Lukas Delozier.
QREC Registration and Studbook Department's Deputy Director Saad Ali Al Kubaisi presented the Al Waab Cup to the winners.
Earlier, RB Hot Mess sealed the victory in the sixth and penultimate race, a Purebred Arabian Handicap 65-85 over 2200m.
The seven-year-old grey, owned by Yosuf Ahmad Telfat and trained by Bader Al Balushi, unleashed a strong late surge to win by two and a half lengths under Pierre-Charles Boudot.
Meanwhile, Manjam, owned by Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and trained by Zuhair Mohsen, was ridden to success in the Purebred Arabian Handicap 65-85 over 1400m by Abdulla Rashid Al Hajri.
Injaaz Stud's Rayyan Bu Thaila captured the Local Thoroughbred Graduation Plate title under Boudot, while Mister Linsou was the fastest in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate over 1400m for four-year-olds, giving trainer Hamad Al-Jehani another success.
Just A City Boy claimed the Thoroughbred Handicap 0-60 over 2200m for owner Alghazali Motors Racing and trainer Mohammed Al Ghazali, while Hardan set the tone in the opening Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 0-65 over 2200m, delivering for owner Maryam Abdulrahman Al-Jaber and trainer Hadi Al Ramzani.
54th Al Uqda Race Meeting
- Al Waab Cup
Al Waab Cup - Local Thoroughbred Handicap 50-70 (Class 3)
Saida, Hamad Al Jehani, Saleh Faraj Al Otaibi
Purebred Arabian Handicap 65-85 (Class 4): RB Hot Mess, Bader Al Balushi, Pierre Charles Boudot
Purebred Arabian Handicap 65-85 (Class 4): Manjam, Zuhair Mohsen, Abdulla Rashid Al Hajri
Local Thoroughbred Graduation Plate (Class 4): Rayyan Bu Thaila, Jihad El Ahmad, Pierre Charles Boudot
Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (4yo Only) (Class 6): Mister Linsou, Hamad Al Jehani, Pierre Charles Boudot
Thoroughbred Handicap 0-60 (Class 6): Just A City Boy, Mohammed Al Ghazali, Jefferson Smith
Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 0-65 (Class 6): Hardan, Hadi Al Ramzani, Pierre Charles Boudot.
Source: Qatar Tribune