The QA Gr1 Qatar Derby at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Uqda Racecourse’s turf saw a commanding victory by Wathnan Racing’s Supercooled. Following a narrow win in the Trial race, the son of Lope De Vega secured a four-length victory in the feature race. This victory was part of a remarkable day for Wathnan Racing and Alban de Mieulle, who also celebrated five wins and a hat-trick for jockey James Doyle. The winners were crowned by HE Eng. Yasser bin Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Jamal, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth.
Another highlight of the event was Al Zeer’s win in the Gr2 PA Qatar International Derby. The grey colt, owned by Mohammed bin Fahad AH Al Attiya and trained by Francois Rohaut, showcased remarkable responsiveness in the 2100m race for four-year-olds. Ridden by Guillaume Guedj-Gay, he surged from mid-field in the home straight to secure a hard-fought ½-length victory, becoming a group winner in the process. In addition, Rebel Diamond won the Al Rayyan Stakes on his Qatar debut, extending his unbeaten streak to four races.
Aneed Al Shahania continued his unbeaten streak in the Qatar National Derby, winning the 2100m Derby for four-year-old Local Purebred Arabians. Owned by H E Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and trained by Rudy Nerbonne, the grey colt overtakes the long-time leader to secure a commanding 3¼-length victory. In another impressive win, Chdia claimed the Qatar three-year-old Purebred Arabian Derby, delivering a dominant performance over 1400m. Ridden by Soufiane Saadi, the bay filly won by a remarkable 6½ lengths, completing a treble for the connections and a double for the jockey on the day.
Nah’aab Al Shahania emerged victorious in the three-year-old Local Purebred Arabian Derby, showcasing remarkable determination in the 1400m race. The homebred son of Burning Sand, owned by H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, responded well to jockey Lukas Delozier, unleashing a late surge in the home straight to win by a short head. The event also saw other thrilling races with notable wins by Khisah in the Local Thoroughbred Derby, Curzon in the Al Rayyan Thoroughbred Handicap Cup, and Kovanot in the Derby Day Thoroughbred Handicap Cup, among others.
Overall, the 17th Race Meeting of the QREC provided exciting races, showcasing talented horses, skilled jockeys, and dedicated trainers. The victories by Supercooled, Al Zeer, Rebel Diamond, Aneed Al Shahania, Chdia, and Nah’aab Al Shahania were moments of triumph for their respective owners, trainers, and jockeys. The event demonstrated the competitive spirit and thrilling atmosphere of horse racing, drawing in racing enthusiasts and fans alike. The prestigious titles won by the horses will go down in the history of Qatar’s equestrian sports, highlighting the excellence and skill of all those involved in making the event a success.
