Equinoxe lands Al Rayyan Breeders Cup

Wathnan Racing’s Equinoxe under jockey Ronan Thomas produced a lightning pace in the final furlong to win the Al Rayyan Breeders Cup on the action-packed second day of the HH The Amir Sword Festival.  

It was a close 2000m contest for 4YO+ Local Thoroughbreds at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday before Alban de Mieulle-trained Equinoxe picked up pace to beat Black Pearl – ridden by Maxime Guyon – by two and quarter lengths. Tomas Lukasek piloted Harb to third place in biggest contest of the 10-race day. 

Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi honoured winners of the lucrative $400,000 race as Equinoxe’s recorded fourth straight title and 14th overall victory in 20 career starts.     

QREC Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi with connection of Equinoxe after their Al Rayyan Breeders Cup triumph yesterday. 

While Guyon failed to claim title in final race of the day, the jockey had already sealed four victories yesterday what was dubbed the QREC’s 33nd Race Meeting - Al Zubara Trophy & Al Rayyan Breeders Cup Day. 

In 2000m 4YO+ Local Purebred Arabians race for Al Zubara Trophy carrying $200,000 in prize money – yesterday’s second major race – Guyon completed his fourth victory as he teamed up Al Jeryan Stud’s homebred AJS Sarhan to record a thrilling half-length win. It was also the third triumph of the day for trainer Gassim Ghazali.

In other major race yesterday – the $200,000 the Purebred Arabian Sprint Cup – Guyon guided Sharida bin Nasser bin Sharida Al Kaabi’s Shgarde, who edged AJS Berline after an exciting 1200m run to complete a double for trainer Mohamed Khaled Elahmed.        

Each of the first seven races on the marathon day offered $100,000 in prize money with contestants producing nail-biting action to take top honours. 

Guyon was astride Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s Mystical Music when he kicked off the day, registering a three quarters of a length victory to clinch the Thoroughbred Open Sprint Cup. The win was also first of the day for trainer Gassim.    

Noora Racing Limited’s Roma, trained by Elahmed, claimed second win of the day for Guyon after the four-year-old emerged winner in 1750m Local Purebred Arabians Al Na’ama Cup for 4YO+ fillies and mares by one and three quarter lengths. 

Also yesterday, H E Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s AA Feel The Burn reigned supreme in the 1750m Purebred Arabian Open Cup for 4YO+ claiming a head victory in the tough race. Lukas Delozier rode the Rudy Nerbonne-trained colt.        

QREC Vice Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah presents trophy to representative of AJS Sarhan's connection. 

Delozier had also teamed up with H E Sheikha Yasmeen bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Divine Princess for a quarter of a length victory in the 1750m Purebred Arabians Seada Cup for 4YO+ fillies and mares for trainer Rudy Nerbonne. 

Meanwhile, the 1750m Local Thoroughbred Desert Rose for 4YO+ fillies and mares saw Al Jeryan Stud’s homebred Latamah under Szczepan Mazur earning a three-quarter length victory for trainer MHK Al Attiyah. 

Later, Gassim-trained Make A Wish – owned by Injaaz Stud – sealed win in the Thoroughbred Oryx Cup for 3YO+ fillies and mares under jockey Jim Crowley while Abdullah Saeed Abdullah Al Mesnad’s Hadlan, ridden by David Egan, dazzled yet again landing the Gulf Cup. 

Today, the final day of the Festival will feature a total of seven races with world’s best horse set to compete in the prestigious HH The Amir Sword (Gr1 PA) and the HH The Amir Trophy (Gr1 QA) races.