Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s RETURN TO SENDERS wins Lehwaila Cup

Mohamed Saad

The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 38th race meeting in the 2021-22 season, Lehwaila Cup day, at the Al Rayyan Racecourse sand track on Wednesday, 9 March. Thrill was there in all eight races of the day. In the eight-race day’s feature contest, trainer Jassim Ghazali and jockey JP Guillambert made it a quick-fire double in the Lehwaila Cup race, a Thoroughbred Handicap (0-95) for 3YO+ over 1100m, as the Nasser Saeed M S Al-Eida’s RETURN TO SENDERS (IRE) (Sir Prancealot x Bougainvilia) was the stand-out winner with a neck win over his stablemate, the Injaaz Stud-owned Unbutton (GB), recording a one-two and a third win on the day for his trainer. The runner-up was ridden by David Allan. It was a very tough and thrilling finish of the feature race with four racing crossing the line almost at the same time. The Al Shaqab Racing-owned and Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki LAUDED (GB) (Acclamation) was only a short head behind the runner-up and finished third under Eduardo Pedroza. The Raey Al Hessan Racing-owned and Owaida Salem Al Hajri-trained LO DE NALANE (IRE) (Pivotal) was a further neck behind in fourth under Meteb Ali Al Saaq.

Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.

AJS AL AREDH

In the penultimate race, Al Ghazali Stud’s AJS AL AREDH (QA) (Majd Al Arab x Karreema) impressively won the 1200m Handicap (0-95) for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians recording a double on the day for trainer Jassim Ghazali. The 7YO gelding proved much the best horse in the race under JP Guillambert, storming five and a half lengths clear of the field by the finish.

WADHAH

The Saif Rashid Saif Al Khayarin-owned and Bader Al Balushi-trained WADHAH (QA) (Abide With Me x Viola D’Amore) took the 1200m Handicap (0-90) for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds in impressive fashion, flashing three and a half lengths clear in the sixth race under Soufiane Saadi, who doubled up on the day.

DELIBERATE ATTACK

In the fifth race, the 1900m Handicap (0-85) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds went to trainer Hamad Al Jehani, as he saddled the Al Nassar Racing-owned DELIBERATE ATTACK (IRE) (Vadamos x Selfara) who went on to win nicely by a length under a nice ride from Khalid Al Balushi.

MUNTAZAH

In the 1900m Novice for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians, the Umm Qarn-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained MUNTAZAH (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau x Nashmiya II) led home a one-two for the stable. The 4YO colt showed a smart turn of foot under Ronan Thomas and kicked clear in the closing stages to beat stablemate ABU THAYLAH (FR) by two and a quarter lengths.

STATE PATROL

Soufiane Saadi partnered the Ahmed Abdulla A M Al Abdulla-owned STATE PATROL (IRE) (Zoffany x Mala Mala) to a comfortable win in the 1200m Maiden for 4-6YO Thoroughbreds. The Mohammed Ghazali-trained gelding pulled two and a half lengths clear of the field at the line.

AL MADKHOOR

There was a superb performance in the 1200m Maiden for 4-6YO Purebred Arabians, which saw the day’s biggest winning margin, as the Al Jeryan Stud-owned AL MADKHOOR (FR) (AF AlBahar x Madhkoora) bolted seven and a half lengths clear of the field under jockey Szczepan Mazur for trainer Jassim Ghazali

SOUTH AUDLEY

In a great start to day for the trainer and jockey combination of Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki and Tomas Lukasek, the Mohammed Abdulla A N Al Attiya-owned SOUTH AUDLEY (GB) (Aclaim x Sefaat) won the 1900m Handicap (0-65) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds seeing off his rivals by three lengths.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club