Arnaud De Lepine guides Jenkille Hipolyte towards the finish line to win Al Arish Cup. PIC: JUHAIM/QREC
Doha: Jenkille Hipolyte captured the Al Arish Cup in thrilling fashion while Pacifiste staged a late surge to qualify for the H H The Amir Shalfa at the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club’s 40th race meeting at Al Uqda Racecourse yesterday.
In the feature of race of the day, Eng. Osama Omer E Al-Dafea-owned Jenkille Hipolyte was expertly ridden by Arnaud De Lepine as the seven-year-old bay horse delivered a phenomenal performance to claim the Al Arish Cup by a head.
Al Shaqab Racing’s Al Khbaib came second with Olivier d’Andigne in the saddle in the 1300-metre contest, while H E Sheikha Reem M K Al Thani’s Nah’ash Al Shahania, who partnered with Lukas Delozier, completed the top three.
QREC Racing Operations Section Head Rashid Saed Adiba presented the Al Arish Cup to the winners.
Earlier, Pacifiste produced a striking Qatar debut to land the penultimate race, the Thoroughbred Handicap over 2200m, a Class 3 Shalfa Qualifier for four-year-olds and upward.
The four-year-old chestnut colt, racing for Sharq Stud and trained by Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan Al-Sulaiti, overcame a 13-strong field to win by 1¼ lengths to book his place in the prestigious H H The Amir Shalfa, part of the H H The Amir Sword Festival scheduled for February.
It was the second career win for Pacifiste, who was ridden by Jefferson Smith, in eight starts.
Rashid Awajan K A Al-Khayarin-owned Evergreen came second under Pierre Charles Boudot, while Hornsea Bay, in the colours of Saif Rashid Saif Al Khayarin, was third with Arnaud De Lepine in the saddle.
Earlier, Agshar set the tone on the track by winning the opening race of the evening in the Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Plate Class 6. The Al Galayel Stud-owned 7-year-old delivered a composed performance under jockey Szczepan Mazur.
Ponga won the Thoroughbred Handicap 70–90 Class 3, while Al Mundher took the same class by a head.
Tabahi claimed the Thoroughbred Fillies and Mare Novice Plate Class 5. Al Qaws won the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap Class 6. Jabroot captured the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate Class 6, and Navarzato topped the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for four-year-olds.
