Mehdi bags Al Zubarah Trophy as The Amir Sword Festival kicks off

Tribune News Network Doha The prestigious HH The Amir Sword Festival 2022 began with a grand start in the presence of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, P...

Tribune News NetworkDohaThe prestigious HH The Amir Sword Festival 2022 began with a grand start in the presence of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee, at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club on Thursday. The feature race honours were bagged by Mehdi which set early pace for a thrilling Al Zubarah Trophy triumph.The three-day event, featuring 15 international horses besides the GCC formidables, started with exciting races with eight titles being decided on the inaugural day which also featured many activities off the racecourse for fans. The Umm Qarn-owned Mehdi with Soufiane Saadi in the saddle, stole the limelight with a come-from-behind victory in for Al Zubara Trophy - Local Purebred Arabians, which offered a prize purse of $150,000. It was Alberto Sanna-helmed Muale’m, who took the lead in the beginning but Ghali Al Athman – guided by JP Guillambert – snatched the lead at the 500m-mark. Keeping pace with the pack, Alban Elie De Mieulle-trained Mehdi made a surge in the final 100m to overcome a swift move from Olivier Peslier-led Al Balagh and complete a neck win to secure winners’ prize of $85,500. While Balagh finished second, Sealine – ridden by Ronan Thomas – finished third, with Ghali Al Athman and Muale’m being fourth and fifth respectively. Meanwhile, HE Sheikh Joaan received the Open Sprint Cup from HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani after Al Shaqab Racing’s Lauded won the Thoroughbred event.The Faleh Bughanaim guided colt also completed a hat-trick of victories for trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, in the 33rd Race Meeting.Meanwhile, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s homebred Hameed continued the fine run, clinching the 1600m Purebred Arabian Cup title. The Rudy Nerbonne’s trainee was ridden by Alberto Sanna to a 1½ length victory. Sheikh Mohammed received the Cup from Bader Mohammed Al Darwish, Acting QREC CEO. Earlier, Al Bida Racing’s Balmari stormed to 1600m Thoroughbred Handicap Cup victory by 1½ length under Lukas Delozier. It was second win of the day for trainer Al Malki.Marco Casamento guided Jassim Ghazali-trained Saoud Al Sulaimi to win the Purebred Arabian Handicap Cup while Semper Augustus, ridden by Maxime Guyon, claimed victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap Cup. In the first two races on the inaugural day, Irtiqaa and Meteb Ali Al Marri teamed up to take the Local Thoroughbred Handicap Cup title while Caidok and Dylan Browne McMonagle combined to give yesterday’s first win to trainer Al Malki by claiming the Thoroughbred Maiden Cup. Friday’s card also includes a total of eight races with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup (Qa Gr2) - Thoroughbreds (Class 1) being the feature race on the second day of the prestigious festival. HH The Amir Sword Festival - Day 133rd Race Meeting - Al Zubarah Trophy (WINNERS)Horse, Trainer, Jockey1 - AL ZUBARA TROPHY - LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIANSMehdi, Alban Elie De Mieulle, Soufiane Saadi2 - THOROUGHBRED OPEN SPRINT CUP (Class 2)Lauded, Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, Faleh Bughanaim3 - PUREBRED ARABIAN 4 YEAR OLD OPEN CUPHameed, Rudy Andre Nerbonne, Alberto Sanna4 - THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP CUP (Class 3)Balmari, Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, Lukas Delozier5 - PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP CUPSaoud Al Sulaimi, Gassim Ghazali, Marco Casamento6 - THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP CUP (Class 4)Semper Augustus, Gassim Ghazali, Maxime Guyon7 - LOCAL THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP CUPIrtiqaa, Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, Meteb Ali Al-Marri8 - THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN CUP (Class 6)Caidok, Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, Dylan Browne McMonagle.