Al Shaqab Racing's LAUDED Shines in Marmi Cup Sprint Victory

Doha, January 21 (QNA) - LAUDED (Acclamation x Thatsallimsaying) brushed aside a forgettable outing last time round to land the MARMI CUP (THOROUGHBREDS (Class 2) 3 YEAR OLDS ONLY) at the Al Rayyan Park dirt track on Wednesday. Saddled by Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki, the colt was in the gates at the track for only the third time since his arrival from the British shores and had Ronan Thomas for company for the first time. The six furlong sprint saw the bay horse utilise a Gate 1 start to stay on the rails and eventually managed to win a duel with Al Hajaj Stud's Nastase (Sixties Icon x Rough Courte), ridden by Soufiane Saadi for Gassim Ghazali, by half a length. Two more Ghazali wards completed the frame with Hassan Ahmad Al Hammadi's Swagger (Pearl Secret x Ermine And Velvet) finishing third under Michael Forest, and Marco Casamento ridden Unbutton coming home in fourth. Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari's SHAKOUR (Declaration Of War x Another Storm), winner in his C&D season opener in October (Wathnan Cup), entered the winner's circle once again under JP Guillambert. Saddled by Zuhair Mohsen, the 6yo lined up for the THOROUGHBRED CONDITIONS (Class 2) in Gate 4. At the post in the 1800m run, the bay horse beat Rashid Ali Al Marri ridden Zarandi for his fifth career victory. Osama Omer Al Dafea's BAKER DE SAULARIE (Kerbella x Babiche De Saulari) met with his ideal conditions when he lined up on dirt for the PUREBRED ARABIAN CONDITIONS on Thursday. In the 1800m run, the 7yo had Alberto Sanna for company for only the second time this season. Coming off a third place in a six furlong conditions sprint a week ago, the chestnut had little trouble moving back up in distance to land the win with three lengths and a quarter to spare. Abdullah Saeed Abdullah Al Mesnad's GHANNAM (AF AlBahar x Bedur ASF) went one better than his last outing to win for the first time in Qatar on Thursday. The Wasim Al Sahn trained 5yo had Alberto Sanna in the saddle for the second straight, including a C&D novice plate earlier this month. In the six-furlong sprint, the grey horse put up a determined run to win the PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (90 & below) with a length and a quarter to spare. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik's CATCH A WAVE (Approve x Casablanca Jewel) brushed aside a string of mixed results to win for the fourth time in his career on Thursday. In the THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 3) (70-90). the Debroah Amanda Clare Mountain-trained gelding was partnered by Alberto Sanna and the duo did well to edge out Rashid Al Al Marri ridden I Am Thunder by three quarters of a length in the six furlong sprint. Mansoor Ebrahim Al Mahmoud's ROMAN LEGEND (Holy Roman Emperor x Talking Liberties) won for the first time since November 2018 bagging the THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 4) (85 & below) on Wednesday. Coming off Gate 2, the Gassim Ghazali ward stayed on the rails under JP Guillambert for the bulk of the race, squeezing past Tomas Lukasek ridden Massam on the inside on the home straight to win the 1700m run by three lengths. Injaaz Stud's RODEYNA (Intense Focus x Hidden Meaning) picked up her second straight C&D victory landing the LOCAL THOROUGHBREDS (Fillies & Mares) (4yo & older) on Thursday. In the 1700m run, the Mohammed Ghazali trained mare had apprentice jockey Khalid Al Balushi for company and the two had a sizeable advantage on the home straight and brought the win home, finishing four lengths and a quarter in front of Ronan Thomas ridden Al Faisaliya. Mansoor Ebrahim Al Mahmoud's BURANO BOY (Footstepsinthesand x Ghost Of A Girl) made a thrilling debut in Qatar topping the THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE (Class 6) in a close finish on Wednesday. Helmed by Soufiane Saadi in the 1900m race, Gassim Ghazali trained gelding was locked in a duel with Khalid Al Balushi ridden Tafaahum on the home straight, one which 4yo won by a head at the post. Khalid Nasser Hamad Al Naimi's RAJAB (Harran ASF x Fiha) entered the winner's circle for the first time since October 2019 when the landed the LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (70 & below) in dominant fashion on Wednesday. Helmed by Francois Herholdt in the 1800m race, Rajab had a health gap at the business end of the dirt race and managed to go past the post four lengths in front of Tomas Lukasek ridden Taizz. (QNA)