The connection of Inverness after the The Late Yousuf Al Romaihi Cup win yesterday. PIC: Juhaim/QREC
Doha: Inverness with Ronan Thomas in the saddle stormed to The Late Yousuf Al Romaihi Cup victory, sealing a commanding four and a half lengths wins in yesterday’s feature at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) holds the race every year in memory of the late Yousuf Al Romaihi, who was the founder of Qatar’s equestrian racing.
Inverness, a four-year-old colt owned by Wathnan Racing, maintained his excellent form as he took the 3200m race for 4YO+ Thoroughbreds in fine style for trainer Alban de Mieulle.
In the day’s penultimate race, Wathnan Racing’s Bin Al Tair won the 1850m Open Race for 4YO+ Purebred Arabians by three quarters of a length for trainer Alban de Mieulle with jockey Alban de Mieulle in the saddle.
Also yesterday, H E Sheikha Iman Bint Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Hareeb continued his excellent results.
Having won or been placed in all his last nine starts, the Rudy Nerbonne-trained five-year-old claimed the 10th by two and a half lengths, recording a second straight victory in the 2000m Handicap (80-100) for 4YO+ Purebred Arabian under Lukas Delozier, who notched up a double on the day.
In the 2000m Handicap (0-95) for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds, Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s Wukair regained winning thread quickly.
Under jockey Marco Casamento, the six-year-old pulled away in the closing stages for a three and a half-length victory for trainer Gassim Ghazali, who doubled up on the day.
Meanwhile, Al Rakaben Stud’s Nadir bounced back to winning ways quickly as he was saddled by Dr. Fahad Salman Al Hajri to win the 1600m Handicap (65-85) for 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians by half a length, giving jockey Faleh Bughanaim a second winner on the day.
In the Handicap (55-75) for 3YO+ Thoroughbreds, Jassim Bin Ali Al Attiyah’s Good Measure (GB) built on his runner-up effort last time out for trainer Gassim Ghazali to win the mile race by a length and a quarter with jockey Lukas Delozier onboard.
Yesterday's meeting was kicked off with a thrilling finish to the 1600m Maiden for 4-6YO Purebred Arabians, as the Khalifa bin Abdullah bin Ali Al Attiyah-owned and Hamad Al Jehani-trained Aktolgali got up close home under Hugo Besnier to win by a neck ahead of Lightning Struck.
