The connections of Studio City celebrate their win. PIC: Juhaim/QREC
DOHA: Studio City produced an authoritative performance to claim the day’s feature, the 2000m Thoroughbred Handicap and the Lisha Cup, at Al Uqda Racecourse yesterday.
Drawn in barrier 2, the six-year-old chestnut tracked prominently in third before launching a decisive run in the home straight, surging past rivals to win by 3¼ lengths.
The victory extended his impressive campaign, marking his second win from three starts alongside a runner-up finish for owner Faleh Suwayed Al Ajami.
Trainer Mohammed Al Ghazali celebrated his third winner of the evening, while jockey Lukas Delozier completed a double.
Head of Racing Operations at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club Rashid Saed Adiba presented the Lisha Cup trophies to the connections.
Earlier, Weissmuller, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot, won the Thoroughbred Handicap (85-105) by a head.
In the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (75-95), Alberto Sanna rode Gassim Al Ghazali-trained Al-Yaseen Zakhir to win.
In other race, Samsa Al Shahania crossed the line 2¼ lengths clear in the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate, trained by Rudy Nerbonne with Delozier in the saddle. Temple Of Hera claimed the Thoroughbred Handicap (55-75) under Nayef Batal Al-Otibi’s training, with Salman Fahad Al-Hajri riding.
Noble Patron, trained by Mohammed Balasim Al Jumaili and partnered with Szczepan Mazur, won the Thoroughbred Handicap (55-75).
In the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-65), Taimoor, trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi, prevailed with Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi up, while Al Ghazali-trained Dance Acclaim, secured the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-60) under Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi.
My George, also trained by Al Ghazali and partnered with Soufiane Saadi, finished fastest in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for three-year-olds.
