Tribune News Network
Doha
The HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day featuring 10 races produced thrilling action with Simca Mille, Abbes and Mkaee’lat Al Shahania claiming coveted titles at the Al Rayyan Racecourse on Saturday.
President of Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani crowned the winners of the last two races. Chairman of the Asian Equestrian Federation and QREC Vice-Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya was also present on the occasion.
As expected, the highly-anticipated meeting – one of the major events on Qatar Racing and Equestrian Meeting’s (QREC) annual calendar –brought the best out of the racers with Wathnan Racing-owned Simca Mille culminating a memorable day with H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle triumph.
Under Mickael Barzalona, the Alban de Mieulle-trained won the 2200m Thoroughbred race by a neck ahead of Haunted Dream and Jeff Koons – both also owned by Wathnan Racing.
Trainer De Mieulle returned with five victories from the eventful day which saw Barzalona riding four winners.
In the penultimate contest, multiple Gr1 champion Abbes, also trained by De Mieulle, retained the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, winning the Gr3 PA race for the second year.
Barzalona guided the seven-year-old to victory after a surge in final 200m of the exciting 2200m race.
Earlier, H E Sheikha Yasmeen bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Mkaee’lat Al Shahania emerged winner of the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, claiming a comfortably victory in the 1750m race for Purebred Arabians under Maxime Guyon. The title completed a double for trainer Rudy Nerbonne.
24th Al Rayyan Meeting - H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day
WINNERS (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, Thoroughbreds
Simca Mille, Alban de Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
2 - H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 PA), Purebred Arabians
Abbes, Alban de Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
3 - H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy
Mkaee’lat Al Shahania, Rudy Nerbonne, Maxime Guyon
4 - H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Purebred Arabians Open Race
Ghadah, Jean de Mieulle, Christophe Soumillon
5 - H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Thoroughbred Open Race
Band Width, Alban de Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
6 - H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Local Thoroughbreds
Horse: Harb, Rashid Al Jehani, Tomas Lukasek
7 - H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Thoroughbreds
Soldier’s Gold, Alban de Mieulle, Mickael Barzalona
8 - H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, Thoroughbred Sprint
Come Quick, Bader Al Balushi, Maxime Guyon
9 - Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup, 4YO+, 1400m
Toufik, Alban de Mieulle, Alberto Sanna
10 - Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Cup
Talg’at Al Shahania, Rudy Nerbonne, Lukas Delozier
