Minister of Culture and Sports Crowns Winners of Qatar International Derby Festival

Doha, December 20 (QNA) - HE Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali crowned the winners at the Qatar International Derby Festival at Al Rayyan Park on Sunday. Injaaz Stud's HELLENISTIQUE (Wootton Bassett x Hasturianita) made a spectacular debut in Qatar landing the QATAR DERBY (QA Gr1) (Far Bend) (3 Year Olds) in thrilling fashion at Al Rayyan Park on Sunday. Saddled by Zuhair Mohsen Zuhair Maki, the gelding stayed at the back of the pack early on in the 2000m run on turf, before Marco Casamento had the bay horse move outside and steadily up the order coming off the final bend. As Hellenistique took the lead in the closing stages of the feature, another Zuhair Mohsen ward, KING PACHA (Acclamation x Regina Mundi), ridden by Julien Auge in the colours of Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari, followed but eventually could only manage second three lengths behind the winner. Gassim Mohammad Ghazali trained SIR ARTHUR DAYNE (Sir Prancealot x Shoshoni Wind), helmed by Jason Watson in the colours of Al Kuwari, finished third. Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari's LADY PRINCESS (General x Nacree Al Maury), second in the Qatar Derby last season, landed the Purebred Arabian feature QATAR DERBY (Gr2 PA) (Far Bend) (PUREBRED ARABIANS 4 Year Olds ONLY) on Sunday comfortably. Runner up behind Umm Qarn's JABALAH (Al Mamun Monlau x Kouthar) last year, Thomas Fourcy's ward, ridden by Julien Auge, reversed the order of the top two this time round as the HH The Amir Silver Sword topper bagged the 2000m run with two and three quarters of a length to spare at the post. HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani's METHGAL (TM Fred Texas x Theeba), saddled by Julian Colin Smart, completed the top three under Alberto Sanna. Umm Qarn's ANTAR (Al Mamun Monlau x Al Dahma) stayed unbeaten in Qatar, winning his second straight outing at Al Rayyan Park in the QATAR DERBY (Gr3 PA) (Far Bend) (PUREBRED ARABIANS 3 Year Olds Only) on Sunday. The mile long run saw Ronan Thomas giving a go-ahead to Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle's ward 200m from the finish and Antar was soon in the lead but being pursued by French raider HM JALFANE (Dahess x Al Musck), ridden by Julien Auge in the colours of Abdullah Bin Fahad Al Attiyah for Thomas Fourcy. Antar was able to keep his lead as Auge and his partner could only manage second by half a length. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik's TAREK DU SOLEIL (Dahess x Musique Du Soleil), ridden by Faleh Bughanaim for Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain, was third. Umm Qarn's EQUINOXE (Atlantic Air x Thurayya) led a spectacular one-two for the colours and the trainer Alban Elie Marie De Mieulle in the QATAR DERBY (Far Bend) (3 Year Olds Local TB) on Sunday. With Ronan Thomas in the saddle, the local Thoroughbred Guineas winner from last month and stablemate DREAM BOY (Toast Of New York x Fahirah), helmed by Soufiane Saadi, led the field coming on to the home straight in the 1850m run. Equinoxe surged forward easing past Dream Boy to win by five lengths, as Dream Boy held on for a runner up finish. Sheikh Abdulla Thani Al Thani's AL HINDI (Sleeping Indian x Lucilla), trained by Gassim Mohammad Ghazali, was third under JP Guillambert. Saeed Bin Mubarak Saeed Aljafali Al Naimi's WILYAN (AF AlBahar x Ussania Du Pouy) made light work of a step up in distance in the mile-long LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN PLATE (3 Year Olds) (Far Bend) on Sunday. Last month, the Majed Mahadi Seifeddine trained colt had impressed many with a runner up finish in a six furlong maiden sprint, and Alberto Sanna was astride the grey colt again. This time the colt went one better in breezy fashion taking the advantage on the straight and going past the post five lengths in front of the rivals. Al Jeryan Stud's HAJAJ (Dark Angel x And Again) had showed promise on his last two outings over a mile finishing in the frame. In Sunday's THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 3) (Far Bend) (75-95), the Hadi Nasser Rashid Al Ramzani schooled 6yo raced to his first victory since March 2019. Alberto Sanna nudged his bay mount forward 100m from the post, and Hajaj duly obliged, grabbing the lead on a bunch of rivals, and winning by one and a quarter length. Dhafi Rashid Al Marri's DUKHAN (Farhh x Dorrati) raced to his second victory this season and first ever on turf in the LOCAL THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Far Bend) (80 & below). Helmed by Luca Maniezzi for the fourth straight time this season, the Mohammed Hussain Afroz trained colt backed up the promise he showed with a win and a runner-up finish last month, topping the miler on Sunday with one and a half lengths to spare. Al Jeryan Stud's HARRY HOTSPUR (Dubawi x Hawsa) was a bit disappointing on his last two starts earlier this month having not built on his second place finish last month. However, on Sunday, in the THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE (Class 6) (Distance 1,850m), Alexander Reznikov was astride Rashid Al Ali saddled gelding for the seventh straight time and the 4yo shed his maiden status in a close finish to the 1850m race. A determined run on the outside on the home straight saw the bay horse win by one and three quarters of a length. Injaaz Stud's RODINA (Munjiz x Al Naamah) halted a string of fifth-place finishes to make a late run for victory in the LOCAL PUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAP (70 & below) on Sunday. Qatari rider Saleh Salem Al Marri continued what has been a big season for him so far as the apprentice jockey guided his 14th winner of the season in the 1850m run. As Meteb Ali Al Marri and his partner Rajab took the advantage coming on to the home straight, Rodina changed gears and the jockey guided her on to the inside, edging out her rival by a neck at the post. (END)