Tribune News Network
Doha
On a fine day at the Al Rayyan racecourse on Saturday, Scherzo made it a hat-trick of HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle victories for Al Wasmiyah Farm after jockey Andrea Atzeni guided the four-year-old to a spectacular photo-finish win at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 31st Race Meeting.
Georges Mikhalides-trained bay colt made a slow start to the prestigious Thoroughbreds (Class 2) race as In The Night and Semper Augustus exchanged early leads. But Scherzo picked up the pace when it mattered in the 2200m feature race, with Bolthole, ridden by Ronan Thomas going neck-to-neck.
That set up a thrilling finish to the $100,000 race with Scherzo pipping Alban Elie De Mieulle-trained Bolthole by a head to clinch the race. In The Night, which had Tomas Lukasek in the saddle, had to settle for third place. Soufiane Saadi-ridden Semper Augustus came fourth.
The HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day is held under the patronage of Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani.
It was a festive atmosphere at the Al Rayyan Racecourse as the racing connoisseurs gathered for a bumper 10-race card with various entertainment activities held throughout the day.
Earlier, Wathnan Racing’s Abbes won the Grade 3 HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4yo+ Purebred Arabians over 2200m by four lengths, completing a double on the day for trainer Alban de Mieulle and jockey Mickael Barzalona.
HE Sheikh Al Qaqa bin Hamad Al Thani crowned the winners of the last two races of meeting.
Barzalona had earlier steered Bucanero to win in HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO Purebred Arabians over 1750m by two-and-a-quarter length in eighth race of the day.
Meanwhile, Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Wakrah won the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians over 1750m, having drawn four lengths clear under jockey Faleh Bughanaim, while Mohamed Abdulhadi Al Hajri’s Stylish Performer won the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for trainer Hamad Al Jehani, having prevailed in the sixth race by a length and a quarter under jockey Hugo Besnier.
The HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds saw Wathnan Racing’s Equinoxe – trained by De Mieulle – clinching the title under Thomas, who claimed a double.
Earlier in the day, Thomas led Zuhair Mohsen-trained Al Ehdaashari to Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup (Far Bend) victory.
Classic Order completed the double for trainer Mohsen after winning the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for 3YO Thoroughbreds over 1500 by two lengths and a quarter.
Saadi rode the Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Bin Hamad Al Attiya-owned gelding to complete his double having guided Concorde to victory in Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Cup, the first race yesterday.
Ridden by Maxime Guyon, Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s Come Quick also notched up a victory winning the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, a Thoroughbred Sprint for 3YO+ over 1200m.
QREC 31st Race Meeting - HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle - Thoroughbreds (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Scherzo, Georges Mikhalides, Andrea Atzeni
2 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 Pa) - Purebred Arabians (Far Bend)
Abbes, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
3 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - 4yo Purebred Arabians (Far Bend)
Bucanero, Mohammed Ghazali, Mickael Barzalona
4 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Purebred Arabians (Far Bend)
Al Wakrah, Eric Lemartinel, Faleh Bughanaim
5 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Thoroughbred Open Race (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Stylish Performer, Hamad Al Jehani, Hugo Besnier
6 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Local Thoroughbreds (Far Bend)
Equinoxe, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Ronan Thomas
7 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - 3yo Thoroughbreds (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Classic Order, Zuhair Mohsen, Soufiane Saadi
8 - HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy - Thoroughbred Sprint (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Come Quick, Bader Al Balushi, Maxime Guyon
9 - Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup (Far Bend)
Al Ehdaashari, Zuhair Mohsen, Ronan Thomas
10 - Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Cup (Far Bend)
Concorde, Mohammed Nasser Al-Naimi, Soufiane Saadi.
