Action during the 12th Al Rayyan Meeting at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
Doha, Qatar: Jockey Arnaud De Lepine guided One Nation to a stylish victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap (85–105), capturing the prestigious Doha Cup at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.
Lepine and the Ahmed Al Jehani-trained One Nation began the 1700m contest for four-year-olds calmly, settling in the middle of the pack. Turning for home, De Lepine made his move, and One Nation responded instantly, powering past rivals and cruising to a decisive three-length win for owner Hamed Ali Al-Mulla.
Jockey Arnaud De Lepine guides One Nation to victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap race.
Millions finished runner-up, followed by Dubawi Spectrein in third place.
After the clinical victory, jockey De Lepine praised the five-year-old gelding.
“I was very confident before the race, and the horse really did well. He is a nice competitor. The weather is perfect, and it is really nice to ride,” he said.
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya crowned the winners of the feature race.
Earlier, Za’eer Al Shahania produced a dominant performance to win the penultimate race of the 12th Al Rayyan Meeting. Owned and trained by Osama Omer Al-Dafea, Za’eer Al Shahania looked a class apart in the 1900m Local Purebred Arabian Handicap, claiming an eight-length victory under Soufiane Saadi.
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Chairman Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiya crowned the winners of the feature race. PICTURES: JUHAIM/QREC
Wasim Al Sahn-trained Taaghi, ridden by Olivier d’Andigne, also impressed in the Purebred Arabian Handicap (55–75), winning the 1900m race by over four lengths.
In the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0–45), Marco Casamento guided Harba Alseej to a 2¼-length win, while AJS Kabul secured the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate with a narrow victory under Youssef Lachhab.
The action began with a triumph for Al Fareq, who topped the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap under Alberto Sanna, followed by a first win of the day for jockey Casamento, who rode Ruling Master to perfection in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate.
Today’s 13th Al Rayyan Race Meeting - The Late Sheikh Ali Bin Faleh Al Thani Cup - will be held at Al Uqda Racecourse, featuring nine races.
12th Al Rayyan Race Meeting - Doha Cup
WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
Doha Cup - Thoroughbred Handicap 85-105 (Class 2)
One Nation, Ahmed Al Jehani, Arnaud De Lepine
Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (60-80)
Za’eer Al Shahania, Eng. Osama Omer Al-Dafea, Soufiane Saadi
Purebred Arabian Handicap (55-75)
Taaghi, Wasim Al Sahn, Olivier d’Andigne
Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-45)
Harba Alseej, Nayef Batal Al-Otibi, Marco Casamento
Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate
AJS Kabul, Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, Youssef Lachhab
Thoroughbred Maiden Plate
Ruling Master, Gassim Al Ghazali, Marco Casamento
Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-65)
Al Fareq, Julian Smart, Alberto Sanna
