Al Atique Wins QREC Harwood International Stakes at Doncaster

London, September 14 (QNA) - Al Atique in the colours of owner and breeder HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani beat a field of 12 rivals to land the UK's most valuable race for pure bred Arabians, the Sterling Pound150,000 Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Harwood International Stakes at Doncaster, held on Saturday, 13 September 2014. Ridden by Simon Walker the five-year-old who finished down the field in the inaugural running of the race last year may now head for the Qatar Arabian World Cup at Longchamp on Sunday, 5 October according to his trainer Julian Smart. "It transpired that he had been sick when he ran in the race last year. He finished seventh beaten eight lengths by some very good horses.", said Smart. "A year on, more mature and in better health I thought he deserved his chance.' Al Atique was dominant from the early stages under the 14-time champion Arabian jockey and was ridden out strongly to finish two and a quarter lengths in front of the Royal Cavalry of Oman's Al Mouhannad with Manark, owned by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, a further three and a quarter length back in third. The event which formed part of the St Leger Festival drew a crowd of more than 30,000 and was attended by Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) Chairman H.E Sheikh Mohamed Bin Faleh Al Thani who accompanied by QREC General Manager Sami Al Boenain and QREC Deputy General Manager and Racing Manager Tariq Al Siddiqi. Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club's next visit to the Great Britain is for the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club UK Arabian Derby on Thursday, 25th September. (QNA).