Al Balushi stars as Ghannam wins Musheireb Cup

Doha: Jockey Abdul Aziz Fahad Al Balushi completed a double during the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 50th race meeting at the Al Rayyan Racecourse on Thursday.

Al Balushi powered Abdullah bin Saeed Abdullah Al Mesnad-owned Ghannam to Musheireb Cup victory, the feature race of the day, for trainer Wasim Al Sahn. Ghannam finished off the 1500m Conditions for four-year-old+ Purebred Arabians strongly to win by a length and three quarters. 

QREC Acting CEO Bader Mohamed Al Darwish presented the trophies to the winners.

In the second race of the day, Al Balushi guided Ali Hamad Al Atteya-owned and Mohamed Hamad Al Attiya-trained Thahan to win in 1400m Maiden for three-year-old Purebred Arabians comfortably by four and a half lengths on his debut.

QREC Acting CEO Bader Mohamed Al Darwish presents the trophy to jockey Abdul Aziz Fahad Al Balushi. 

Wathnan Racing’s Real Cecile was another wide-margin winner on the card as the three-year-old filly won the 1400m Thoroughbred Open Race for three-year-old+ Fillies & Mares by four lengths for trainer Alban de Mieulle. It was Carols Henrique who steered her to her third victory.

The Mohamed Khamis Eisa Al Kaabi-owned and trained Dhamir also got back to winning ways as he took the 1750m Handicap (75-95) for three-year-old+ Thoroughbreds.  The seven-year-old gelding responded generously to jockey Anas Al Seyabi’s urgings to take the lead inside the final stages and win going away by three quarters of a length at the line.

The 1500m Handicap (0-85) for three-year-old+ Thoroughbreds saw an exciting finish, with three horses battling right the way to the line, but it was the Al Wasmiyah Farm-owned and Georges Mikhalides-trained Maraseem who came on top with a sustained gallop under Abdullah Alkhamis to hold off the charge of Killearn and Zucchini by a head and a further neck.

Earlier, Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Shamlowl, on fourth career start and having finished placed in all previous three, got off the mark brilliantly in the Maiden for four-six-year-old Purebred Arabians. 

The Eric Lemartinel-trained five-year-old produced a stunning effort, winning the 2350m race by four lengths with Faleh Bughanaim in the saddle.

The meeting began with the 1400m Maiden for three-six-year-old Local Thoroughbreds, which saw a brilliant performance as the Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned and Julian Smart-trained Al Nasr Al Washeek bolted up by cracking ten lengths under jockey Jefferson Smith.

QREC's 50th Race Meeting - Musheireb Cup (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - Musheireb Cup - Purebred Arabian Conditions (Far Bend)
Ghannam, Wasim Al Sahn, Abdul Aziz Fahad Al Balushi

2 - Thoroughbred Fillies & Mares Open Race (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Real Cecile, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Carlos Henrique

3 - Thoroughbred Handicap 75-95 (Class 3) (Far Bend)
Dhamir, Mohammed Khamis Al Kaabi, Anas Al Seyabi

4 - Thoroughbred Handicap 0-85 (Class 4) (Far Bend)
Maraseem, Georges Mikhalides, Abdullah Alkhamis

5 - Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Far Bend)
Shamlowl, Eric Lemartinel, Faleh Bughanaim

6 - Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (3yo only) (Far Bend)
Thahan, Mohammed Hamad Al Attiya, Abdul Aziz Fahad Al Balushi

7 - Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Far Bend)
Al Nasr Al Washeek, Julian Colin Smart, Jefferson Smith