Wathnan Racing’s Dark Trooper lands Barzan Cup after thriller

DOHA: Wathnan Racing and jockey James Doyle completed a quick fire double in the feature contest as Dark Trooper took the QA Gr3 Barzan Cup, 1400m rac...

DOHA: Wathnan Racing and jockey James Doyle completed a quick-fire double in the feature contest as Dark Trooper took the QA Gr3 Barzan Cup, 1400m race for Thoroughbreds at Al Uqda Racecourse yesterday.

It was a thrilling finish as the Alban de Mieulle-trained 4YO winner held off the charge of Fuwayrit by a neck, marking the start of his career in Qatar with a black-type success. Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, crowned the winners.

With the meeting featuring five races, the QA Gr3 Thoroughbred Guineas saw an exciting finish as well with three horses, all in the colours of Wathnan Racing, battling in the closing stages of the 1400m race and it was Garfield Shadow who stole a march to win for trainer Hamad Al Jehani. In the hands of Doyle, the 3YO bay colt prevailed by 1¾ lengths from Soldier’s Gold.

Also yesterday, Al Khbaib, carrying the colours of Al Shaqab Racing, made his Qatari debut a success, winning the Purebred Arabian Guineas. Trained by Jean de Mieulle, the 4YO colt was ridden by Faleh Bughanaim, who waited until the final 200m to unleash his mount’s turn of foot and he sauntered clear to win the 1400m race by 1¾ lengths.