BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Racing legend Frankie Dettori yesterday issued a warning to his rivals as the celebrated Italian jockey powered Dubday to a thundering win in the Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy.
Dettori guided Dubday with his trademark commanding control to finish the QR1m feature event at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) ahead of chief rivals Amico Mio and Fanunalter.
Keeping close to the railings for the most part of the 2,000m race, 43-year-old Dettori broke free of the pack near the end to seal his win with a time of 2:02.29.
Last year’s winner Amico Mio — ridden by Gerald Avranche — and Fanunalter — who had Marco Monteriso in the saddle — closed the day with second and third spots respectively.
Dettori is expected to feature in the Emir’s Trophy and Qatar Gold Cup — the two top races — later in the season.
“It was quite difficult but I got him out at the right time,” Dettori said yesterday. “Yes, it was a big race. And yes, I will be back here again in February,” he added.
Trainer Jassim Al Ghazali was all smiles after the race.
“I am happy for Frankie today. I congratulate H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani on this spectacular win,” Ghazali said. “This horse does not compete in every race. We are looking at the Emir’s Trophy and the Qatar Gold Cup races,” he added.
After copping flak following not-so-impressive runs, ageing Foulad yesterday sparkled for a brief while as jockey P Convertino rode the 6-year-old to an easy win in the Challenge Cup.
Foulad jumped off the starting grid with confidence and then sustained his dominating run, taking the QR100,00 race with a time of 1:31.14.
Foulad, who disappointed in Paris in early October, finished ahead of Seif Ennar and Kassam as Convertino celebrated his second win of the day following victory in race one yesterday.
“I am just glad to see Foulad win this one. We are taking one race at a time and it was good to see him run so beautifully,” Convertino said. The winnings were worth QR 57,000.
Minutes earlier, Haidara emerged a runaway winner in race six at the QREC yesterday, taking the honours with a dominating run ahead of Sraab and Moaddie in the 10-entry field.
Ridden by Yanis Aouabed, the Mishal bin Ali Al Attiya-owned Haidara created a huge gap against second-placed Sraab —who had S Golam in the saddle — and Moaddie, who was guided home by jockey Marvin Suerland.
Ghazali-trained Haidara finished the 1600m race with a time of 1:37.67.
In race five, Excuse To Linger emerged the easy winner as jockey Avranche picked up his first win of the day.
Ridden by Avranche, Excuse To Linger closed with a time of 1:11.06 as he outran Captain Cleo and Hearts Of Stone in a very tight contest.
Avranche picked up the top prize as Captain Cleo — ridden by Stephan Ladjadj — and Hearts Of Stone who had jockey Golam in the saddle.
Minutes earlier, British jockey Harry Bentley brought delight to trainer Ghazali’s camp by powering Late Debate to a superb win in race four at QREC.
Late Debate had to rally for the win, trailing second-placed Seamless and Power Punch at first but seconds later, he went past the two for a slick finish.
Late Debate ended the race with a time of 2:04.79. Seamless, who had Dettori in the saddle, finished ahead of Power Punch who was ridden by Monteriso.
Minutes earlier, Murabitoon — ridden by Bentley — posted a creditable win when he outpaced Haraz Al Naif and Rassan in race three.
Bentley, very familiar with the QREC turf, chalked out a win by breaking free from the pack and stormed to his win in 2:06.55.
Al Naif — ridden by Avranche — finished some five lengths behind Murabitoon. Rassan — with J Guillambert in the saddle — finished third.
Pure Amber, ridden by Monteriso, produced a late surge to seal win in race two. Owned by Abdulaziz Ali Al Qhahtri, Pure Amber finished the 1850m race ahead of Three Cliffs and Galaxy.
Monteriso paced himself well by staying within the pack but with 400m to go, he surged ahead and beat Three Cliffs and Galaxy to the finish. Monteriso ended with a time of 1:55.03. Ghazali-trained Three Cliffs was one length behind the winner.
Jockey Convertino kicked off proceedings with a slick ride, winning the opening race with a time of 1:19:71.
Convertino and Umm Qarm’s Fiteen powered to win in the 1200m ahead of Taghya who had Harry Bentley in the saddle.
Sirat Al Naif, with Avranche in the saddle, finished in third spot, around two lengths behind Fiteen.
On December 10, the riders will return to claim glory in Qatar Cup and Club Cup Day.
THE PENINSULA
