Saqr, First Classs, Ajs Sarhan, Moshrif and Al Mirage land Derby titles

Under the patronage of His Excellency Salah Bin Ghanem Al-Ali, Minister of Sports and Youth, the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) organised the Qatar International Derby meeting, the 22nd race day of the current 2021/22 season, at the Al Rayyan Racecourse turf track on Thursday, 23 December.

As one of the highlights of the racing season, the day had a bumper 10-race card, with six races, including three group contests, bearing Derby titles as very special contests being once-in-a-life opportunities for every horse as they are reserved to 3YOs as well as 4YO Arabians. Another important race in the card was the Al Rayyan Stakes, which is reserved for 2YOs only. His Excellency the Minister of Sports and Youth, presented the trophy of the Gr1 QA Qatar Derby to Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari, owner SAQR, winner of the final race of the day, in presence of Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari.

Saqr ridden by Marco Casamento. Photo: Juhaim/QREC

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The meeting was wrapped up with the 10th and feature race, Qatar Derby (Gr1 QA) for 3YO Thoroughbreds over 2000m. It was a fitting finale of an excellent day for both owner Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari and trainer Jassim Ghazali as each gained a treble on the card with SAQR (FR) (Dutch Art x Varega) landing the Gr1 QA contest. Under Marco Casamento, the gelding powered home to a 2¼-length victory, marking a new twist in his career. He came to this race with his victory in the Gr1 QA Guineas already under his belt and left with another black-type title added to his record. In doing so, SAQR has announced himself a classy star who will be closely watched as a hot favourite in the coming big days. Devious Company (IRE) (Fast Company) was the runner-up under Maxime Guyon as he finished a neck in front of the third-placed Thunderstone (IRE) (Night Of Thunder).

First Classs wins Gr2 Qatar International Derby

First Classs ridden by Ronan Thomas. Photo: Juhaim/QREC

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In the penultimate race, the Qatar International Derby for 4YO Purebred Arabians (Gr2 PA) over 2000m, Nayef Bin Saad Bin Sharida Al Kaabi’s FIRST CLASSS (USA, Dahess x Toppoftheclass) continued his good run of form, which had started with his debut and lasted until this 14th start in his career. The gelding managed to add to his record a black-type success as he clinched the Gr2 title by a nose under Ronan Thomas, giving trainer Alban de Mieulle his second on the day.

This victory came as a reward for FIRST CLASSS, who has had scored three wins and has never been out of the top places in all other starts. It can be safely said that he has started a new stage in his career and higher expectations and hopes will be associated with him in the near future. Surely, he still has more to offer, especially as, in scoring this victory, he beat some tough horses, headed by the runner-up Abbes (FR, TM Fred Texas) and Dawi (FR, Amer) who was only a further head behind in third. Her Excellency Mrs Marie-Gaëlle Robles, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of France in Qatar, crowned the winners.

AJS Sarhan wins Qatar National Derby

AJS Sarhan ridden by David Allan. Photo: Juhaim/QREC

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Following the seventh race of the evening, Al Jeryan Stud’s colours and trainer Jassim Ghazali were in the winners’ enclosure once again as AJS SARHAN (QA, AF AlBahar x Mangaline Du Loup) was ridden by David Allan to take the Qatar National Derby for 4YO Local Purebred Arabians, over 2000m, by a length. Al Balagh (QA, General) and AJS Al Mared (QA, AF AlBahar) finished second and third respectively, with the former a quarter of a length ahead. Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies to the winners.

Moshrif wins Gr3 Qatar Derby

Moshrif ridden by Jim Crowley. Photo: Juhaim/QREC

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The other black-type race came earlier in the sixth race, Qatar Derby for 3YO Purebred Arabians (Gr3 PA). It was the first attempt of the Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari-owned MOSHRIF (FR, Dahess x Tashreefat) in Qatar. The French raider managed to make his Qatari debut a success with another black-type victory to his record as he prevailed by two lengths in the 1600m contest. Trained by Francois Rohaut and ridden by Jim Crowley, the colt made it three wins from four career starts. The frame was completed by two other French raiders, namely, Sahab (FR) (AF AlBahar) and Hargan (FR) (Al Mamun Monlau) with further one-and-a-half lengths separating them in this order. Bader Mohammed Al Drawish, QREC Acting CEO, presented the trophies to the winners.

Al Mirage wins Local Purebred Arabian Derby

Al Mirage ridden by Faleh Bughanaim. Photo: Juhaim/QREC

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The Derby of 3YO Local Purebred Arabians was in the fifth race. It was Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred AL MIRAGE (QA, AF AlBahar x New Princess) who won the 1600m contest for the trainer and jockey combination of Eric Lemartinel and Faleh Bughanaim. With this half-length win, the colt completed a double on his third career start, which is a very impressive strike rate, indicating he looks a hero in the making. Blue Star (QA) (Al Mamun Monlau) was the runner-up and Al Sij Al Sakab (QA) (T M Fred Texas) was 5¼ lengths behind in third. Mohammed Khalid Al Khalifa, Manager of QREC Equine & Riding Services Dept. presented the trophies to the winners.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club/Mohamed Saad