The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the 17th race meeting in the 2022-23 season at the Al Rayyan Racecourse dirt track on Wednesday, 7 December. The eight-race card rounded off with the Bu Samrah Cup race when Trainer Bader Al Balushi completed a double on the day and saddled the 1-2 in the day’s feature with the Saif Rashid Saif Al Khayarin-owned Wadhah (QA) (Abide With Me x Viola D’Amore) winning the Cup and the day’s feature race, a 1900m Handicap (70-90) for 3YO+ Local Thoroughbreds, under jockey Soufiane Saadi by a length ahead of her stablemate Sky Blue (QA) (Zoffany), who is owned by Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi and was ridden by Szczepan Mazur.
The Nasser Saeed Al Eida -owned and Gassim Ghazali-trained Wukair (QA) (Lancelot) finished one and a half lengths further behind in third under Marco Casamento.
Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners after the final race of the day.
AJS Al Dibal
Earlier on the day, Al Jeryan Stud’s homebred AJS Al Dibal (QA) (AF AlBahar x AJS Shararah) gave trainer Gassim Ghazali and jockey Hugo Besnier a flying start to the meeting. The 4YO colt ran away with the opener, a 1700m Maiden for 3-6YO Local Purebred Arabians, bolting up by eight lengths.
Sun Amer
In another wide-margin win, the Khalid Mohammed Al Harami-owned and Abdallah Said Al Balushi-trained Sun Amer (FR) (Amer x Tm Madison T) scooted eight and a quarter lengths clear of the field in the second race, a 1200m Maiden for 3YO Purebred Arabians under jockey Alberto Sanna.
Yatzakhan
In the third race, a 1200m Handicap (0-75) for 3YO+ Purebred Arabians, the Hamdan Mohammed Al Kuwari-owned and Mohamed Rashid Seif Al Kuwari-trained Yatzakhan (FR) (Mared Al Sahra x Cantal Du Brieu) recorded a comfortable three-length win under jockey Abdulla Faisal.
Villain’s Voice
The Al Rakaben Stud-owned Villain’s Voice (GB) (Poet’s Voice x Balayage) completed a double in the fourth race when he took the 1200m Handicap (0-70) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds, flashing three lengths clear under jockey Saleh Salem Al Marri for trainer Fahad Salman Al Hajri.
Eledeed
In the fifth race, the Hamad Salem Al Marri-owned Eledeed (GB) (Al Kazeem x Resort) scored for the third time in a row. The Ali Al Saaq Al Marri-trained 7YO proved the best in the Handicap (60-80) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds (60-80) as he took the 1700m contest easily by three and a half lengths under jockey Saleh Salem Al Marri, who recorded a quick-fire double.
Ernest Aldrich
The Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi-owned Ernest Aldrich (GB) (Oasis Dream x Wallis) went one better than when he was last seen and won the sixth race, a 1700m Handicap (75-95) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds by one and a half lengths in the hands of jockey JP Guillambert to give trainer Bader Al Balushi his first win on the day.
Meethag
The day’s narrowest winning margin came in the penultimate race when the 1900m Conditions for 3YO+ Purebred Arabians saw a close finish between two horses and it was Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Meethag (FR) (Dahor De Brugere X Al Nachmiya), who edged Baker De Saularie (FR) (Kerbella) by a short head to give trainer Eric Lemartinel and jockey Faleh Bughanaim a winner on the day.
Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club