Bin Amer wins Sprinters Championship Sputnik Sweetheart edges Ladyanne in Al Kharaib Cup

Bin Amer

Mohammed Hamad Al Attiya-trained Bin Amer lifted the Group III Pure Arabian Sprinters Championship, which featured the races at the Racing and Equestrian Club on Wednesday, January 15. Bin Amer continued his winning sequence with its fourth win on the trot. Jockey Harry Bentley positioned Bin Amer in mid field, letting Al Uraiq head the field. Entering the last 300 metres, the race got to a boil with Bin Amer taking the first initiative. Harran and Al Uraiq started to change gears. However, once Bin Amer was shown the daylight, Al Attiya’s trainee raced away from the pack to win in a convincing manner. Harran pipped Al Uraiq to be the runner-up.

Jassim Ghazali -schooled Sputnik Sweetheart won the Al Kharaib Cup, which was the other highlight of the day, in a tight finish. Jockey Bentley, who had earlier been successful on four mounts, came into contention even as Ladyanne had stolen a march. After a grueling battle for supremacy, Sputnik Sweetheart edged out Ladyanne in virtually the last stride of the race to win by a neck.

Amongst the professionals, jockey Bentley had a glorious day with six winners while trainer Ghazali led in four winners to take his tally to a whopping record of 62 winners.

Sputnik Sweetheart

In the opening event of the day, Sheail Bin Khalifa Al Kuwari’s Ras Al Qimmah (Ladjadj up) shed her maiden status with a convincing victory in the first division of the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. After racing a handy second until the home turn, Ghazali-schooled Ras Al Qimmah assumed command and stretched away to win in her second career run. Moddhish,  Nakhwat Al Arab and  Al Baaz took the second, third and fourth places respectively.

Halul Stud’s Jak Al Elm was another runner who broke through the maiden ranks with one and a half length win over AJS Admiral in the second division of the Local Bred Pure Arabian Maiden Plate. Having being unplaced in his previous three starts, Mohammed Hamad Al Attiya-nurtured Jak Al Elm (Gerald Avranche astride) grew stronger at the finish to keep AJS Admiral at bay.

Abdulaziz Al Qaithri’s Rose Gloria recorded her first career win with a narrow victory in the first division of the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. German lady jockey Rebecca Danz rode a confident race on the winner while taking her third win in 45 mounts this season.

Zakhir Stud’s Gaazaa (Harry Bentley up) broke through the maiden ranks in her second appearance on Qatar’s race track. Asfoor-saddled Gaazaa raced a handy third before taking control of the proceedings in the final furlong. Once into top gear, Gaazwa went away to win by half a length. Instant Update held on for second place while Lilly White was a faraway third.

Hassan Ali Abdulmalik-owned Elastomer, with Darren Williams in the saddle, recorded a thrilling victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 50 to 70. Though stable mate Nawarah came threateningly close, Darren Williams was up to the challenge as he goaded Elastomer to thwart the spirited challenge and win by a short head.

Ghazali and Bentley had a double for the day when Millers Wharf decimated the opposition in the Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 65 to 85. After being switched into top gear, Millers Wharf raced away to win as he pleased. Sunley Pride was a tame second ahead of Andhesontherun.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mishal Bin Hamad Al Thani-owned Momalorka clinched a thrilling victory in the Thoroughbred Advanced Plate to give trainer Ghazali and jockey Bentley a treble for the day. After taking control of the proceedings in the final furlong, Momalorka kept at bay the spirited bid of Umm Qarn’s Mu Tazz, which impressed while finishing a close second ahead of Polperro.

HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani owned Rathowan came up with a stunning gallop in the final stages of the race to overhaul stable mate Al Bashtoon and win the Pure Arabian Conditions race, run over ten furlongs. Racing in mid field, till entering the home stretch, Rathowan was alerted to the task ahead and Julian Smart’s trainee came like a whirlwind to storm ahead and register an exciting victory. Vetlana De Faust was a notable third.

Source: Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club - Media - Photos: Juhaim CP