The opening day witnessed thrilling races at Al Rayyan Racecourse. PICS: Juhaim/QREC
Doha, Qatar: The prestigious H H The Amir Sword Festival 2024 kicked off yesterday producing pulsating races with spectators creating festive atmosphere on the sidelines at the Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
Al Shaman under the supervision of jockey Tom Marquand brought down the curtain to a thrilling opening day, winning the feature Thoroughbred Sand Championship for owner Hamad Ahmed Hassan Al Malki Al Jehani and trainer Ahmed Al Jehani.
Minister of Sports and Youth H E Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani during his visit to QREC on the opening day of H H The Amir Sword Festival 2024. QREC Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC Vice Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya and QREC Acting CEO Bader Mohammed Al Darwish are also present.
It was hard to determine the winner of the 1700m feature race until ten-year-old Al Shaman made a late surge in the final 100m to overcome a tough challenge from Account, sealing victory by just three quarters of a length.
An impressive run by Account, ridden by Alberto Sanna, gave him runner-up position by a big margin as Local Law with Japanese jockey Tsubasa Sasagawa in the saddle finished six lengths behind the five-year-old gelding trained by Owaida Salem Al Hajri.
The winners of the feature were honoured by President of the Asian Equestrian Federation and Vice Chairman of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya.
Asian Equestrian Federation President and QREC Vice Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya crowns the winners of the Thoroughbred Sand Championship.
Earlier, Khalid Mohammed S Al Harami-owned Sun Amer stole the limelight, storming to a huge seven-length victory in the 1700m Purebred Arabian Sand Championship under Soufiane Saadi. The huge triumph capped a brilliant day for trainer Bader Al Balushi, who enjoyed a hat-trick of victories yesterday.
QREC Acting CEO Bader Mohammed Al Darwish crowned the winners of the contest.
Lukas Delozier also had a wonderful opening day that featured eight races with each contest worth $100,000. The jockey completed a quick-fire double when he guided Sabhea Awad Ibrahim-owned and Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed-trained Dhergham Bu Thaila to a close one-length victory in the 1200m Local Thoroughbred Sand Championship.
QREC Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi honoured the winners after Makarim won the Local Purebred Arabian Sand Championship race at Al Rayyan Racecourse.
Delozier had also ridden Al Balushi-trained Makarim to a one-length win in the 1700m Local Purebred Arabian Sand Championship to pick up a trophy for owner Rashid Mohammed R A Alathba, handed by QREC Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi.
Trainer Al Balushi grabbed his first win of the day when Abdulatif Hussain M Z Al Emadi-owned Al Faisal sprouted his wings late to emerge winner of the Premium Maiden Cup for Local Thoroughbreds under jockey Maxime Guyon.
Also yesterday, the Premium Maiden Cup for Purebred Arabians saw a stunning performance from Al Jeryan Stud’s homebred AJS Falak, who opened his account with an impressive victory as he stretched four and a half lengths clear of the field under jockey Szczepan Mazur for trainer M H K Al Attiyah.
QREC Acting CEO Bader Mohammed Al Darwish crowned the winners of the Purebred Arabian Sand Championship, won by Sun Amer (FR).
Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki saddled Jungle Mate to win the Thoroughbred 3YO Sand Championship, which saw a close finish as the Saeed Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-owned gelding who stuck on the best under jockey Tomas Lukasek, defeated Hadi Al Ramzani-trained Foehn by a head.
The Festival got underway with the Premium Maiden Cup race for Local Purebred Arabians and it was the Nasser Owaida Salem Al Hajri-owned Munhamik, who set the early pace clinching a one-length win under Faleh Bughanaim.
Today’s card includes another 10 races with the day culminating with the lucrative Al Rayyan Breeders Cup offering $400,000 in prize money. Al Zubarah Trophy, worth $200,000, for Local Bred Purebred Arabians will be the other major event on the second day.
Jockey Tom Marquand guides Al Shaman to victory in the Thoroughbred Sand Championship race.
Apart from exciting action, spectators are enjoying an array of entertaining activities at the venue, organized by QREC for the prestigious Festival.
Carrying the total prize money of whopping $10m, the three-day racing has attracted an unprecedented number of international challengers.
The Festival will conclude with tomorrow's feature races – H H The Amir Trophy (International Group 3) and H H The Amir Sword each carrying prize money of $2.5m.
