Doha, January 11 (QNA) – Al Thumama Racing’s X Force produced a dominant show to clinch the Ras Laffan Cup during Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 27th Race Meeting at Al Rayyan Racecourse on Wednesday.
Ridden by Tomas Lukasek, the six-year-old led the 1100m race for Thoroughbreds (Class 2) from the beginning to win the feature race by almost a length after a late surge by Return To Senders – guided by Lukas Delozier.
Gassim Ghazali-trained Return To Senders overcame two competitors in the final moments but failed to outpace X Force as the Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-trained gelding remained consistent throughout the race to secure impressive win. Alberto Sanna rode I Am Thunder to third place in the race.
Earlier, Sanna bagged victory leading Murjan to win in 1200m Purebred Arabian Handicap 75-95 race by half-length following a tough challenge by Mared Al Jasra, who had Lukas Delozier in the saddle.
Eng. Hassan Ali A M Alabdulmalik’s Dramatic Sands, handed jockey Jefferson Smith his second victory of the day, winning the Thoroughbred Handicap 60-80 (Class 4) by 112 length.
Smith had earlier rode Elaaf to a commanding 312 length win in 1200m Local Thoroughbred Handicap 0-65, what was the first race of the day.
In other thrilling race on Wednesday, Al Junood claimed a neck win over Habes in 1700m Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 65-85 with Abdulla Faisal in the saddle.
Also on Wednesday, Delozier and six-year-old bay Wukair teamed up to earn a 4-length victory in Local Thoroughbred Handicap 60-80 after producing a lightning pace in the 1700m run.
Nuwar – led by Pranil Arvind Kharat and I Am Joking with Yousef Khalifa Al Jehani in the saddle also notched up victories on the day that featured eight races.
Thursday’s action will see a total of nine races with Al Waad Cup – Thoroughbred Handicap 75-95 (Class 3) – up for grabs. The feature will see a total of 18 horses in action competing for the top prize in the 1600m. (QNA)