Ghazali's ALTARSHEED Takes Feature; Avranche Guides Three Winners

Jassim Mohammed Ghazali trained ALTARSHEED (Lilbourne Lad x Lilakiya) continued with his great run in Qatar this season, notching up his third victory from five races, apart from two runner-up finishes. Harry Bentley rode the Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari owned gelding to a close win over another Ghazali ward, EXTREMIS (Invincible Spirit x Fidelite), in the 3200m feature on Thursday.
Earlier, Tariq Issa trained Full Combat set the pace up front, pulling away a couple of lengths on the back straight. Early pace left Full Combat vulnerable and soon he was overwhelmed, with Julian Smart's ward Fundamental grabbing the advantage. However, coming into the final two furlongs, Bentley moved Altarsheed up on the outside, and Convertino too made his move on Extremis. In the final 100m, a final burst of speed by Altarsheed saw the 4yo edged out the 5yo Injaaz Stud colt by a neck, while Zuhair Mohsen trained CAMERAMAN (Rail Link x Photographic) was third under Gerald Avranche, who had won thrice earlier in the evening.
Gerald Avranche picked up his third win of the day with Yousef Bentaher’s ward MOLHEB AL NAIF (Amer x Kesbah) continuing an impressive run this season. Thursday’s impressive three length victory has been the 5yo colt’s fourth this season, in which he also notched a second-place three weeks ago. Jassim Mohammed Ghazali trained duo, Al Jeryan Stud’s ALMUHEET (AF Albahar x Maboud) and Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s SAMJIDA (Majd al Arab x CR Samborsta), ridden by Harry Bentley and Pierantonio Convertino respectively, completed the top three.
The owner, trainer and jockey trio of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Stefano Ibido and Gerald Avranche combined well for a win for the second straight race on Thursday. OTWO (Medaglia D'Oro x Vacare) finished narrowly ahead of Mohammed Jassim Ghazali trained STEVIE’S WONDER (Art Connoisseur x Our Jo Jo), who had won a turf feature a week ago, under Harry Bentley. Ibrahim Al Malki’s gelding TOPSY TURVY (Pivotal x Helter Helter) followed up his two race winning streak with a third place finish with Eduardo Pedroza astride.
Stefano Ibido was the second trainer on the day to pick up a one-two with H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani owned WAR ORDER (War Front x Shades of Grace) registering his first victory over seven furlongs in Qatar. Ridden by Gerald Avranche for the first time in Qatar, the 4yo finished a little over a length ahead of Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri’s WAYWARD HOOF (Equiano x Mystical Sprit), who finished in the top three for the first time in Qatar after being well held in the earlier outings this season. Two and a half lengths behind, Ibrahim Al Malki trained GREYSCAPE (Dark Angel x Sugar Blossom), helmed by Saleem Golam, was third.
AL GOMRY (Exceed And Excel x Welsh Cake) registered his second victory this season when Tomas Lukasek guided the gelding first past the post in the seven furlong run. Trainer by Bustawi Ismail, the one and three quarters length victory was the gelding’s fifth overall. Stefano Ibido’s INLAND SEA (Scat Daddy x Cat's Eye Witness) bounced back from two forgettable finishes to finish second under Gerald Avranche, riding in the colours of H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani. A day after registering three victories, Qatari jockey Faleh Bughanaim was in the top three guiding Deborah Mountain’s charge ALIZOOM (Invincible Spirit x Lady Springbank) to third place.
Owner Sheikh Faisal Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Al Thani and trainer Ibrahim Al Malki emerged with a one-two in the mile long run with Saleem Golam riding IZGHAWA (Majestic Warrior x Wildcat Gold) to the filly’s first win this season. The 5yo edged out stablemate NEUTRON BOMB (Lope de Vega x Neutrina), helmed by Eduardo Pedroza. Neutron Bomb has now finished in the top three for six straight outings going back to April 2016. Abdulaziz Al Qathiri trained PURE AMBER (Shamardal x Ile Rousse) finished third two and a half lengths behind under Andrea Fele’s ride.
In the longest race of the day for Purebred Arabians, MESSINE DE SINUHE (Njewman x Amidou Douzaia) registered his first win on Qatari turf for trainer Mohammed Jassim Ghazali. Despite a win eluding the 5yo in the first three races this season, the Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari owned colt had shown quality with two top three finishes coming into Thursday’s 2200m race. Under Pierantonio Convertino, Messine De Sinuhe went past the post a little under two lengths ahead of Julian Smart’s ward HAGWA (Burning Sand x Mataleb ASF), helmed by Richard Mullen, while Harry Bentley guided RASI (Mared Al Sahra x Dixie Darlene) to the last place on the podium.
The royal blue silks with white stars shone in the second race of the day with Julian Smart schooled MAJNONA (Amer x Reesha ASF), owned by H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani, shedding her maiden status ahead of Jassim Mohammed Ghazali trained E’ZAAZ (Amer x Naama ASF) in the mile long run. Under Richard Mullen, Majnona edged out E’zaaz, ridden by Harry Bentley in the colours of Al Shahania Stud, by a neck for a win on her second outing. Bustawi Ismail’s ward ANWAAR (Af Albahar x Noisette Al Maury), helmed by JP Guillambert, finished half a length behind in third.
A day after picking up four second place finishes, Champion Trainer Jassim Mohammed Ghazali opened the nine race card with a win with Champion Jockey Harry Bentley riding Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mahmood's HIGH COMMANDER (Teofilo x Pellinore) to his first career victory over a mile on Thursday. Bentley guided the 3yo to a comfortable victory over AL MURAQABAH (Duke Of Marmalade x Marina Ellen), trained by Ghazali's son, Mohammed, and ridden by JP Guillambert, while Rabiah Al Kaabi schooled A G MAGNUM (Desert Party x Mary's Special) completed the top three. 

Source: QNA