Tribune News Network
Doha
Jockey Szczepan Mazur enjoyed a four-win ‘amazing’ afternoon on an exciting Saturday as he guided Al Jeryan Stud’s Aafoor to a thrilling HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle triumph by half a length at the Al Rayyan Racecourse.
On an action-packed 10-race card day, Abbes retained the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (Gr3 PA) for the four-year-old+ Purebred Arabians for the third year in a row.
In the feature race, Aafoor – the four-year-old son of Qurbaan trained by MHK Al Attiyah – delivered an incredibly powerful and determined performance in the final strides, taking on some of the strongest horses, to land the coveted title and give a third win on the day to the owner and the trainer and a fourth to Mazur.
“It was an amazing day as I won the four races on the card,” said Mazur.
The Polish jockey was all praise for the colt for his speed in the 2200, race for the four-year-old+ thoroughbreds. “Aafoor travelled very well in the last stretch of the race. Basically, I sit behind the best horse (Haunted Dream). I followed him all the time, which was actually the best for me as it was the horse to beat, which I did at the end, and it was just the right call,” he said.
Mazur notched his third win of the day, when he guided Al Buraq to a thrilling win in the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for Local Thoroughbreds, completing a double for Al Jeryan Stud and trainer MHK Al Attiyah.
A patient, precise ride from Mazur also saw Al Falah Stud’s Phoebus make an impressive impact on Qatar debut, winning the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for three-year-old thoroughbreds in just his third career start. The colt struck in the home straight to secure the win.
Mazur claimed his first win of the day when he guided Al Jeryan Stud AJS Agadir to victory in the Local Purebred Arabian Novice Cup for four-year-old+. The five-year-old mare left her competition in the dust, storming to an impressive victory by 8½ lengths after making a stunning sweep in the home straight, winning the cup.
The Wathnan Racing-owned and Hamad Al Jehani-trained Haunted Dream came second and last year’s winner Simca Mille of Wathnan Racing, ridden by Maxime Guyon finished third.
HE Sheikh Hamad bin Joaan Al Thani crowned the winners in the presence of HE Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi, QREC chairman.
In the penultimate race of the day, champion Abbes retained the HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for the third year in a row. Wathnan Racing-owned and Alban de Mieulle-trained the eight-year-old grey horse clinched the victory by a short head from stablemate Raed, not only securing a one-two for the owner and trainer, but also adding their fourth win on the day. With the win jockey James Doyle also completed a quick-fire double.
Doyle was earlier in the winners’ enclosure, when he guided Wathnan Racing’s Lippo De Carrere to HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for the Purebred Arabians (four-year-olds) victory as the 4-year-old bay colt mesmerized the racegoers on Qatar debut with the commanding win in the colours of Wathnan Racing. The son of Al Mourtajez, saddled by Alban de Mieulle, surged through the home straight to overtake the leading pack and was eased to a very comfortable victory, completing a remarkable treble for the connections.
Sheikh Hamad also crowned the winners of the traditional Al Sabiq races in presence of QREC Chairman Al Mohannadi. The first four placed riders were Hamad Meshlesh Al Khayareen aboard Malzoom, Abdulrahman Abdullah Al Hajri aboard Burkan Al Zaeem, Rashid Mohamed Abdulla aboard AJS Saddam and Abdulla Hezam Al Saaq Al Marri aboard Nasser Al Meydan.HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day
