Bint Saffian bags Al Ghariya Cup as new QREC racing season begins
BINT Saffian (IRE) from the stable of Al Azraq bagged her 4th victory to land the the Al Ghariya Cup run on dirt at Qatar Racing Equestrian Club’s (QREC) Al Rayyan park on Wednesday as the new QREC racing season kicked off.
Ridden by jockey Alberto Sanna, the Bader Al Balushitrained 5YO bay mare won by a whopping 5 -length in the 1100m Class.
The winning team was honoured by QREC Racing Manager Mohammed Khalid Al Khalifa.
In the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate, Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Alsdry (TM Fred Texas x Dixie Darlene) emerged supreme. Soufiane Saadi rode the Alban de Mieulle-trained 4YO bay filly to a 3 -length win in the 1200m run.
Al Shahania Stud’s homebred Rajeh (FR) (Jaafer x Nelka) enhanced his strike rate to 8 winnings in the Purebred Arabians race on dirt.
Saleh Al Marri jockeyed the Jassim Ghazali-trained 6YO grey horse to a -length win in the 1700m run.
Al Thumama Racing’s Barig Al Thumama (GB) (Kyllachy) won the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-75) on dirt. Meteb Al Saaq rode the Mohammed Hussain-trained 5YO chestnut horse to a short-head win in the 1200m run.
Dhafi Rashid Al Marri’s homebred Tahri Baha (QA) (Mared Al Sahra) added a 3rd win to tally in the Local Purebred Arabian Conditions.
Carlos Henrique rode the Mohammed Hussain-trained 7YO horse to a head win in the 6f run.
Umm Qarn’s Badda (FR) (Seraphin Du Paon) also added 4th ( 2nd straight) win to her record in a Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-90 1700m) race.
Ronan Thomas rode the the Alban de Mieulle-trained 5YO bay mare to a fine 2 -length win.
Abdullah Mohammed Al Kuwari Sons’ Shellbrook (GB) (Shamardal) won the Thoroughbred Maiden (1100m) race with Saleh Al Marri rifing the Jassim Ghazali-trained 4YO to a -length win in the opening race of the 2020 21 season.
The meeting was the first of 49 meetings that have been scheduled this season, with as many as 12 meetings to be organised at the new Al Uqda Racing Complex in Al Khor.
Commenting on the start of the new season, especially after the previous season was abruptly halted due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, QREC CEO Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi said, “We have been preparing for a long time for the start of the new season. And I am sure that with the programme already announced, the owners and the trainers would have already begun arranging their cards, especially since the new season is expected to be a different from the others in the past, given the current circumstances.
“The club has kept the financial prizes unchanged, especially for the big races, and has also increased the number of race meetings to 49. We are also hosting races at the new track, which is completely ready, and the first meeting at the new track will be the Huwaila Cup Day on November 25.
“In the future, more races will be held at the new track, which is well-equipped with all the facilities to ensure success of the races and is also a great support for Qatari equestrian,” he added.