Qatar - Jockey Abdul Aziz Fahad al-Balushi completed a double during the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)’s 50th race meeting at the Al Rayyan Racecourse on Thursday.

Al-Balushi powered Abdullah bin Saeed Abdullah al-Mesnad-owned Ghannam to Musheireb Cup victory, the feature race of the day, for trainer Wasim al-Sahn. Ghannam finished off the 1,500m Conditions for four-year-old+ Purebred Arabians strongly to win by a length and three quarters.

Bader Mohamed al-Darwish, QREC Acting CEO, presented the trophies to the winners. In the second race of the day, al-Balushi guided Ali Hamad al-Atteya-owned and Mohamed Hamad al-Attiya-trained Thahan to win the 1,400m Maiden for three-year-old Purebred Arabians comfortably by four and a half lengths on his debut.

Wathnan Racing’s Real Cecile was another wide-margin winner on the card as the three-year-old filly won the 1,400m Thoroughbred Open Race for three-year-old+ Fillies & Mares by four lengths for trainer Alban de Mieulle. It was Carols Henrique who steered her to her third victory.

The Mohamed Khamis Eisa al-Kaabi-owned and trained Dhamir also got back to winning ways as he took the 1,750m Handicap (75-95) for three-year-old+ Thoroughbreds. The seven-year-old gelding responded generously to jockey Anas al-Seyabi’s urgings to take the lead inside the final stages and win going away by three quarters of a length at the line.

The 1,500m Handicap (0-85) for three-year-old+ Thoroughbreds saw an exciting finish, with three horses battling right the way to the line, but it was the Al Wasmiyah Farm-owned and Georges Mikhalides-trained Maraseem who came on top with a sustained gallop under Abdullah Alkhamis to hold off the charge of Killearn and Zucchini by a head and a further neck.

Earlier, Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred Shamlowl, on fourth career start and having finished placed in all previous three, got off the mark brilliantly in the Maiden for four-six-year-old Purebred Arabians. The Eric Lemartinel-trained five-year-old produced a stunning effort, winning the 2,350m race by four lengths with Faleh Bughanaim in the saddle.

The meeting began with the 1,400m Maiden for three-six-year-old Local Thoroughbreds, which saw a brilliant performance as the Khalifa bin Sheail al-Kuwari-owned and Julian Smart-trained Al Nasr Al Washeek bolted up by cracking ten lengths under jockey Jefferson Smith.

Results 50th Race Meeting - Musheireb Cup
(Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
1 - Musheireb Cup - Purebred Arabian Conditions (Far Bend)
Ghannam, Wasim al-Sahn, Abdul Aziz Fahad al-Balushi
2 - Thoroughbred Fillies & Mares Open Race (Class 2) (Far Bend)
Real Cecile, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Carlos Henrique
3 - Thoroughbred Handicap 75-95 (Class 3) (Far Bend)
Dhamir, Mohamed Khamis al-Kaabi, Anas al-Seyabi
4 - Thoroughbred Handicap 0-85 (Class 4) (Far Bend)
Maraseem, Georges Mikhalides, Abdullah Alkhamis
5 - Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Far Bend)
Shamlowl, Eric Lemartinel, Faleh Bughanaim
6 - Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (3yo only) (Far Bend)
Thahan, Mohamed Hamad al-Attiya, Abdul Aziz Fahad al-Balushi
7 - Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (Far Bend)
Al Nasr Al Washeek, Julian Colin Smart, Jefferson Smith

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