Doha: Faleh Suwayed Al Ajami’s Glitter Queen brushed aside a forgettable Guineas outing from a month ago to race to a smashing victory in the Qatar Oaks (F) (QA Gr 3) (Far Bend) (3yo TB) as the Qatar International Derby Festival kicked off in glamorous fashion at Al Rayyan Park turf yesterday.
Hamad Ahmed Al Malki Al Jehani trained filly had finished 10th over a mile in the Gr 3 Guineas after a promising third in the Oaks Trial earlier in November. Yesterday's step up in distance to 2000m, however, did not seem daunting as Ronan Thomas raced his fourth winner of the day to consolidate his top spot in the jockeys’ standings. Thomas had his mount stay on the rails midfield early on before dropping back in the order briefly.
However, coming off the bend, Glitter Queen upped the pace and surged forward to win by two and three quarters lengths in front of Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik’s She’s Our Queen, ridden by Faleh Bughanaim for Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain. Gassim Mohammad Ghazali trained Forced was ridden to third by Marco Casamento in the colours of Meshaal bin Ali Al Attiyah.
Earlier, Sheail bin Khalifa Al Kuwari’s Soldierpoy had shown promise with two Class 2 wins in his first two starts in Qatar, the last one being a month ago over seven furlongs.
Yesterday, the bay horse landed the Al Rayyan Stakes (Far Bend) (2yo Thoroughbreds) to complete a hat-trick at Al Rayyan Park.
With French star jockey Julien Auge astride, the Mohammed Hussain Afroz saddled gelding started the packed 16-strong C&D run from Gate 2, and tracked the leaders early on. Coming off the bend, Auge gave his mount the go ahead and Soldierpoy responded, surging forward and building a healthy lead, eventually winning by four and a half lengths.
Among the other winners yesterday were Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri’s Jimmy Sparks, Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Efreeta, Umm Qarn’s Al Khisah, Al Kuwari’s Unbutton , Al Shahania Stud’s Alf Lyla, Umm Qarn’s Muqla, Al Shaqab Racing’s Mkayns and Jassem Mohammed Al Badi’s Qatar Gold.
Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, President of Qatar and Asian Equestrian Federations, and Iraq’s Minister of Youth and Sports, H E Adnan Dirjal, crowned the winners.
Source: thepeninsulaqatar.com