RECEDING WAVES Shines on Umm Al Afai Cup Day

Doha, January 16 (QNA) - Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari's RECEDING WAVES (Dick Turpin x Welanga) had respectable efforts all three starts this season coming into Wednesday's Umm Al Afai Cup, a Handicap for Thoroughbreds Rated 75 - 95 (Class 3). In the 1100m sprint, the Mohammed Jassim Ghazali Jahromi-saddled colt was steered by JP Guillambert to edge the Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani-schooled TOP FACE (Tiznow x Toppisme), ridden by Tomas Lukasek, by a length at the post. Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari's MIDSUMMER KNIGHT (Dream Ahead x High Spice) made a striking debut in Qatar finishing third in the feature under Marco Casamento. Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari's CAID DE L'ARDUS (Mahabb x Jelfa De L'Ardus) improved his strike rate with his 11th victory in 20 outings with an imposing win in the penultimate race of the day, the six-furlong Purebred Arabian Conditions. The 7yo's win, with three and a quarter lengths to spare, was the first on the day for champion jockey Harry Bentley, but the third for trainer Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi. Injaaz Stud's RAHIBAH (Amer x Malakbe) was the second winner on the day for champion trainer Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi and jockey JP Guillambert. The mare was impressive in her first victory this season when she won the Local Purebred Arabians (Fillies & Mares) (4yo & older), topping the six-furlong sprint by four and three quarter lengths at the post. Jimmy Quinn and SHAMAN BU THAILA (Soviet Secret x Picnic Party) led a one-two for Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (85 & below). In the 1700m run, Quinn rode the colt to a one-length victory, the 5yo's second this season, at the post over the Faleh Bughanaim-ridden Mister Mahjoob. Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim helmed Al Shaqab Racing's BSHEER (Amer x Frynch) to the horse's second career victory in the Purebred Arabian Handicap (80 & below). The two-length victory was the first for the Hossin Mohammad Ashour-saddled 7yo since he shed his maiden status in March 2017; also under Bughanaim. Qatari jockey Yousef Al Hajri and trainer Abdullatif Saad Al Muslamani combined well for their second victory on the day when THORNDYKE (Bahamian Bounty x Nurse Gladys) topped the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 4) (80 & below) in dominant fashion. The gelding had a C&D runner-up finish a week ago with Al Hajri in the saddle and on Wednesday, went one better in the six-furlong sprint to win by eight and three quarter lengths Mohammed Nasser Al Naimi's NORMANDIE ATTACK (Kendargent x Agenda) brushed aside two forgettable finishes on turf last month to notch his first victory in Qatar on dirt in the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 5) (70 & below) on Wednesday. The 5yo had Tomas Lukasek for company in the 1900m-race and the two won with a close short head to spare at the post. After finishing in the rear third last month, Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari's LO DE NALANE (Pivotal x Ilhabela) bounced back with a thrilling win in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6) event. The six-furlong sprint saw JP Guillambert in the saddle for the Jassim Mohammed Ghazali Jahromi-schooled 4yo and the duo beat Modhafarah, helmed by Marco Casamento, by a nose at the post. Qatari jockey Yousef Al Hajri opened the day with his first win of the season. In the six-furlong Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate, he helmed the Abdullatif Saad Al Muslamani-saddled ESKANDER YAR (Jaafer ASF x Marwa Bint Oseilah) to an impressive three and a half lengths victory. That was after the 5yo colt, owned by Dr Ebtesam Abdullatif Al Muslamani, had been well beaten on his last outing a month ago over a mile. (QNA)