Doha: Roma with Szczepan Mazur in the saddle overcame a stiff challenge from Habes to clinch the Zekreet Cup for trainer Hamad Al Jehani at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
The five-year-old mare, owned by Sharida bin Nasser bin Sharida Al Kaabi, got into top gear and knuckled down close home to win the 1200m Local Purebred Arabian Handicap feature race by 1¾ length.
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi presented the trophies to the winners.
The eight-race 10th Al Rayyan Race Meeting witnessed dazzling performances with jockeys Mazur, Lukas Delozier and Gavin Matt Ryan each sealing a double.
Trainers Hamad Al Jehani, Jassim Ghazali and Julian Smart all completed a double on the card. Mazur had claimed his first win of the day when he guided Al Jehani-trained Pockett Rockett to Thoroughbred Handicap 55-75 (Class 5) title.
Delozier won the Thoroughbred Graduation Plate (Class 4) with Ahmed Al Jehani-trained Imaginary World after guiding Mastoora to a stunning 21-length win in Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate (Filles & Mares - Class 5).
Ryan won titles with Nadiraha (Local Thoroughbred Handicap 0-50 - Class 5) and Al Mosayterah (Thoroughbred Maiden Plate - Class 6).
The Thoroughbred Handicap 0-80- Class 4 for Qatari riders saw Youssef Lachhab piloting Jassim Ghazali-trained Meraj to a comfortable win. Action got underway with Marco Casamento steering Dawn Vega to Thoroughbred Maiden Plate - Class 6 triumph.
