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Raajiv Tripathi
DOHA
When there is a full moon, you may expect some unexpected things to happen. In the main race of the Qatar International Derby Festival, the Qatar Derby (Group 1), Full Moon upstaged some of the famed names to land the 2,000m thriller at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Racecourse in New Al Rayyan on Sunday.
With the favourite and unbeaten in his two races in Doha, Tip Two Win, falling a bit behind after the final curve, other principal challenger Mr Satchmo, owned by OTI Management Pvt Ltd and ridden by Olivier Peslier, used the chance to leap to the front.
Even as Mr Satchmo, undefeated in his two races in Chantilly this season, kept pushing for the finish line, Full Moon, whose original rider Ray Fuentes had to be replaced by Ryan Curatolo at the last moment, was in the mix along with Al Adaid, Ming and Tip Two Win.
But as the pace picked up and Mr Satchmo sprinted towards the line, Full Moon also responded spirited and he not only caught him but edged him on the line by short head to cause a huge upset. Es’hail (Stephan Ladjadj), Al Adaid (Ronan Thomas) and Ming (Tadgh O’Shea) completed the top five.
Full Moon’s trainer Deborah Mountain got quite emotional after the win and said, “When I saw the full moon out there, I felt he could do something. Actually I was a bit emotional as my other horse (Prepare For Battle) had some issues and stopped on the first turn.
“Full Moon is a very good horse and was caught in the rails during the Guineas (in November). There is nothing much difference between him and the winner (Prepare For Battle). I was confident that if he gets another trip, he can do well. He has done nothing wrong in the training and he proved me right with the win,” she added after his mount’s first win in two runs this season.
“Ray Fuentes was to race but he had some personal issues back home. So we changed the jockey for his sake. Ryan is a good jockey and everything went well for him in this race,” Mountain added.
Jockey Curatolo said, “It was a fantastic race. French jockey Olivier is also good and had a good horse. On the stretch, we both went all out and I managed to strike first. I am very pleased to have been given a chance by the owner and the trainer.
“I feel to be blessed after this race. I feel for Ray Fuentes. He is a good guy. But today it was my day,” said Curatolo, who has come to Qatar on his own to try his luck. Indeed, he was fortunate to strike really big!
Mission complete
Watched by owner His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, Amir Al Cham and Rijm, both ridden by Julien Auge, bagged two of the feature races, completing the mission with which Al Shaqab Racing and trainer Thomas Fourcy had come here for.
Auge kept three-year-old gray gelding Amir Al Cham in the firing line behind pace-setter Tabouk, who was followed by Daloob. After the final bend, Daloob, also from Al Shaqab Racing, led the charge with Faleh Bughanaim having the reins. Just as Daloob, AJS Moaddie (Tomas Lukasek) and Tabrouk started the action, Amir Al Cham shot to the front from outside and kept going until the finish line to wrap up the win in his first run in Doha.
This was the third winner for Amir Al Cham in five races. But it fired Auge well enough and the jockey went on to make Rijm’s debut quite memorable. The four-year-old chestnut colt produced a good turn of foot and clinched the Qatar Derby (Group 2 PA) with one and three quarters of a length.
Ghazali’s two wards, Rajeh and in-form Easter De Faust attempted to catch the Al Shaqab Racing’s runner but failed. Easter De Faust, coming off three wins in a row, was stuck a little and could not time his dash well. Abercrombie (Eduardo Pedroza) and Al Naama (Faleh Bughanaim) got the fourth and fifth spots.
“I love Qatar and racing here. So I’m delighted with two victories,” said Fourcy.
Revenge by Surra Man Raa
Surra Man Raa exacted a sweet revenge on Nahaab as the three-year-old bay colt grabbed the Qatar Derby for his biggest win of the career.
Three weeks ago, both had clashed in Doha and the Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al Thani’s horse got boxed in the traffic and finished second to Nahaab.
On the basis of the form, the two came to the front. But this time, the Ibrahim al Malki’s trainee Surra Man Raa, with Eduardo Pedroza on the back, controlled the race from inside the rails and went on to record his second win of the season in three races by over three lengths. Overall it was his third win in six races and it also fetched the owner Mercedes A200 as well. Al Motanaa (JP Guillambert) was third.
Double by Bentley
Unlike his only victory in the last race on Friday, British rider Harry Bentley struck early and bagged two races in a row for owner Khalifa bin Sheail al Kuwari and trainer Jassim Mohahmmed Ghazali. First he helmed Hydroxide to a thrilling neck victory against Top Face (Tomas Lukasek) in the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 3). Third was First To Post (Eduardo Pedroza).
Then Bentley rode Al Junood to the win over Fahim (Ronan Thomas) in the Local Purebred Arabian Plate (1,600m), also by neck. Da’aas was third with Anas al Seyabi) astride.
While Al Junood was leading in his race, Hydroxide could not find any clear passage. Top Face was already in full cry with about a little 100m to go. Hydroxide timed his dash well and denied Top Face victory on the line. It was the fourth win in 16 races and this season, he contested in four races, getting a boost through his second place last week.
For the thee-year-old bay colt Al Junood, this was first victory in three races, two of them this season.
Another win by
Reem Brooq
Meteb Ali al Marri pressed Reem Brooq at the right time and the five-year-old bay filly from Brooq Stud went on a lightning dash to claim the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (1,600m) with a hairline difference. This was her second win in a row, continuing her strong form. In four seasons, she ran 22 races without a win.
On the home stretch, Shaman Bu Thaila under Faleh Bughanaim was in the lead. Owned and trained by Ibahim al Malki, the four-year-old chestnut colt was followed by Mister Lal (Eduardo Pedroza). From the middle of the pack, Reem Brooq burst off with about 100m to go. She lunged at the line to beat Shaman Bu Thaila, who was also coming off a win, by neck and Khoud was third.
Grand Doha debut
Halul, a three-year-old chestnut colt from Al Shaqab Racing, celebrated his first race in Doha, with a brilliant sprint finish against Istibad to win the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6) 1,850m.
Faleh Bughanaim guided Halul, trained by Alban de Mieulle, nearly two lengths ahead of Injaaz Stud’s Istibad, ridden by JP Guillambert. This was his first victory in eight runs so far. Suprematism (Tomas Lukasek) was third less than a body length behind Istibad.
Hot chase by Arbed
When the home stretch started in the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate (1,850m), favourite Elwan, with Harry Bentley astride, was the first to attack. However, Tadgh O’Shea urged Arbed to go all out and the Al Jeryan Stud’s four-year-old gray colt responded well.
With 100m to go, the Mohammed al Naime-trained Arbed caught up with Elwan and within flashes, he got ahead and clinched the race by a quarter of length for his first victory in 17 runs. Even this season alone, he has run in semven races. Overall, his previous best had been one second-place finish, besides three third places. His stablemate AJS Al Maha was third, two lengths behind Elwan.
DOHA
When there is a full moon, you may expect some unexpected things to happen. In the main race of the Qatar International Derby Festival, the Qatar Derby (Group 1), Full Moon upstaged some of the famed names to land the 2,000m thriller at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Racecourse in New Al Rayyan on Sunday.
With the favourite and unbeaten in his two races in Doha, Tip Two Win, falling a bit behind after the final curve, other principal challenger Mr Satchmo, owned by OTI Management Pvt Ltd and ridden by Olivier Peslier, used the chance to leap to the front.
Even as Mr Satchmo, undefeated in his two races in Chantilly this season, kept pushing for the finish line, Full Moon, whose original rider Ray Fuentes had to be replaced by Ryan Curatolo at the last moment, was in the mix along with Al Adaid, Ming and Tip Two Win.
But as the pace picked up and Mr Satchmo sprinted towards the line, Full Moon also responded spirited and he not only caught him but edged him on the line by short head to cause a huge upset. Es’hail (Stephan Ladjadj), Al Adaid (Ronan Thomas) and Ming (Tadgh O’Shea) completed the top five.
Full Moon’s trainer Deborah Mountain got quite emotional after the win and said, “When I saw the full moon out there, I felt he could do something. Actually I was a bit emotional as my other horse (Prepare For Battle) had some issues and stopped on the first turn.
“Full Moon is a very good horse and was caught in the rails during the Guineas (in November). There is nothing much difference between him and the winner (Prepare For Battle). I was confident that if he gets another trip, he can do well. He has done nothing wrong in the training and he proved me right with the win,” she added after his mount’s first win in two runs this season.
“Ray Fuentes was to race but he had some personal issues back home. So we changed the jockey for his sake. Ryan is a good jockey and everything went well for him in this race,” Mountain added.
Jockey Curatolo said, “It was a fantastic race. French jockey Olivier is also good and had a good horse. On the stretch, we both went all out and I managed to strike first. I am very pleased to have been given a chance by the owner and the trainer.
“I feel to be blessed after this race. I feel for Ray Fuentes. He is a good guy. But today it was my day,” said Curatolo, who has come to Qatar on his own to try his luck. Indeed, he was fortunate to strike really big!
Mission complete
Watched by owner His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani, Amir Al Cham and Rijm, both ridden by Julien Auge, bagged two of the feature races, completing the mission with which Al Shaqab Racing and trainer Thomas Fourcy had come here for.
Auge kept three-year-old gray gelding Amir Al Cham in the firing line behind pace-setter Tabouk, who was followed by Daloob. After the final bend, Daloob, also from Al Shaqab Racing, led the charge with Faleh Bughanaim having the reins. Just as Daloob, AJS Moaddie (Tomas Lukasek) and Tabrouk started the action, Amir Al Cham shot to the front from outside and kept going until the finish line to wrap up the win in his first run in Doha.
This was the third winner for Amir Al Cham in five races. But it fired Auge well enough and the jockey went on to make Rijm’s debut quite memorable. The four-year-old chestnut colt produced a good turn of foot and clinched the Qatar Derby (Group 2 PA) with one and three quarters of a length.
Ghazali’s two wards, Rajeh and in-form Easter De Faust attempted to catch the Al Shaqab Racing’s runner but failed. Easter De Faust, coming off three wins in a row, was stuck a little and could not time his dash well. Abercrombie (Eduardo Pedroza) and Al Naama (Faleh Bughanaim) got the fourth and fifth spots.
“I love Qatar and racing here. So I’m delighted with two victories,” said Fourcy.
Revenge by Surra Man Raa
Surra Man Raa exacted a sweet revenge on Nahaab as the three-year-old bay colt grabbed the Qatar Derby for his biggest win of the career.
Three weeks ago, both had clashed in Doha and the Sheikh Faisal bin Hamad bin Jassim al Thani’s horse got boxed in the traffic and finished second to Nahaab.
On the basis of the form, the two came to the front. But this time, the Ibrahim al Malki’s trainee Surra Man Raa, with Eduardo Pedroza on the back, controlled the race from inside the rails and went on to record his second win of the season in three races by over three lengths. Overall it was his third win in six races and it also fetched the owner Mercedes A200 as well. Al Motanaa (JP Guillambert) was third.
Double by Bentley
Unlike his only victory in the last race on Friday, British rider Harry Bentley struck early and bagged two races in a row for owner Khalifa bin Sheail al Kuwari and trainer Jassim Mohahmmed Ghazali. First he helmed Hydroxide to a thrilling neck victory against Top Face (Tomas Lukasek) in the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 3). Third was First To Post (Eduardo Pedroza).
Then Bentley rode Al Junood to the win over Fahim (Ronan Thomas) in the Local Purebred Arabian Plate (1,600m), also by neck. Da’aas was third with Anas al Seyabi) astride.
While Al Junood was leading in his race, Hydroxide could not find any clear passage. Top Face was already in full cry with about a little 100m to go. Hydroxide timed his dash well and denied Top Face victory on the line. It was the fourth win in 16 races and this season, he contested in four races, getting a boost through his second place last week.
For the thee-year-old bay colt Al Junood, this was first victory in three races, two of them this season.
Another win by
Reem Brooq
Meteb Ali al Marri pressed Reem Brooq at the right time and the five-year-old bay filly from Brooq Stud went on a lightning dash to claim the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (1,600m) with a hairline difference. This was her second win in a row, continuing her strong form. In four seasons, she ran 22 races without a win.
On the home stretch, Shaman Bu Thaila under Faleh Bughanaim was in the lead. Owned and trained by Ibahim al Malki, the four-year-old chestnut colt was followed by Mister Lal (Eduardo Pedroza). From the middle of the pack, Reem Brooq burst off with about 100m to go. She lunged at the line to beat Shaman Bu Thaila, who was also coming off a win, by neck and Khoud was third.
Grand Doha debut
Halul, a three-year-old chestnut colt from Al Shaqab Racing, celebrated his first race in Doha, with a brilliant sprint finish against Istibad to win the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Class 6) 1,850m.
Faleh Bughanaim guided Halul, trained by Alban de Mieulle, nearly two lengths ahead of Injaaz Stud’s Istibad, ridden by JP Guillambert. This was his first victory in eight runs so far. Suprematism (Tomas Lukasek) was third less than a body length behind Istibad.
Hot chase by Arbed
When the home stretch started in the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate (1,850m), favourite Elwan, with Harry Bentley astride, was the first to attack. However, Tadgh O’Shea urged Arbed to go all out and the Al Jeryan Stud’s four-year-old gray colt responded well.
With 100m to go, the Mohammed al Naime-trained Arbed caught up with Elwan and within flashes, he got ahead and clinched the race by a quarter of length for his first victory in 17 runs. Even this season alone, he has run in semven races. Overall, his previous best had been one second-place finish, besides three third places. His stablemate AJS Al Maha was third, two lengths behind Elwan.
