HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Essa wins Athbah Cup

Essa ridden by Alberto Sanna. Photo: Juhaim/QREC

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The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the seventh race meeting in the 2021-22 season at the Uqda Racecourse on Saturday, 8 January. The six-race card day was run on turf and was wrapped up with the feature event, Athbah Cup, a 1400m contest for 4-6YO Unraced Purebred Arabians.

The Cup went to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Essa (FR, Assy x Assefa D’aroco), who won the day’s feature by a length under Alberto Sanna for trainer Rudy Nerbonne. The Umm Qarn-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained Matraz (FR, Tabarak x Friandise Al Maury) finished second under Ronan Thomas 2¼ lengths in front of the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani-owned and Jassim Ghazali-trained Azooz (QA, Aziz x Halla), who was ridden by Marco Casamento.

Osaila ridden by Faleh Bughanaim. Photo: Juhaim/QREC

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Al Shaqab Racing’s Osaila (QA, Amer x Redjila) took the 2100m Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-75) for 4YO+ by 1½ lengths, doubling her account on her 5th time of asking. The Eric Lemartinel-trained 4YO filly was ridden to success by Faleh Bughanaim.

Sweet Dream ridden by Tonan Thomas. Photo: Juhaim/QREC

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The first race of the day went the way of Umm Qarn’s Sweet Dream (QA, Amer x Zabieh) who won comfortably by 1¾ lengths on her 3rd time of asking.  The Alban de Mieulle-trained 4YO filly was pushed clear by jockey Ronan Thomas in the closing stages of the 1400m Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for 4-6 YO fillies and mares.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club/Mohamed Saad