Guillambert guides Dhergham Bu Thaila to Al Dibal Cup win

Tribune News Network Doha Subaiya Awad Ibrahim’s Dhergham Bu Thaila scored a delightful maiden win – for the first time this season – when the gelding land...

Tribune News NetworkDohaSubaiya Awad Ibrahim’s Dhergham Bu Thaila scored a delightful maiden win – for the first time this season – when the gelding landed the Al Dibal Cup in the 45th Race Meeting of Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club at Al Rayyan Park’s dirt track on Wednesday.Helmed by JP Guillambert, the Mohamed Khaled Elahmed-trained 6yo Dhergham Bu Thaila (Soviet Secret x Dualite) had shown sparks of farm when second and third over C&D earlier in the season but had left a lot to be desired. On Wednesday, in the six-furlong sprint for Local Thoroughbred Conditions, the chestnut put up a determined run on the straight to bag the feature with two and a half lengths to spare as Guillambert rode his fifth winner of the evening. Abdulatif Hussain Al Emadi’s Bab Al Rayyan (Mayson x Dorothy’s Dancing), trained by Bader Al Balushi, finished runner up under Marco Casamento while the Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki-schooled Al Faisaliya (Coach House x Shielaligh) was ridden to third place by Tomas Lukasek in Al Sakab Stud colours.Earlier, Injaaz Stud’s Lekhraib (AF AlBahar x Grace T) improved his strike winning for the 6th time in his 11th start this season when he landed the Purebred Arabian Conditions event with ease.In the 1100m sprint, the Mohammed Ghazali-schooled 7yo had Marco Casamento, who had guided the chestnut to three victories earlier this season, in the saddle and a fantastic ride yet again saw Lekhraib win three lengths and three quarters in front of the Alberto Sanna-ridden Kasser.Meshaal Bin Ali Al Attiyah’s Shine That Light (Acclamation x Spotlight) built on a couple of runner up finishes earlier this season to finally enter the winner’s circle for the first time in his career. Helmed by JP Guillambert in the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 5) (75 & below), the Gassim Ghazali schooled colt won comfortably beating Marco Casamento ridden Golden Bear by three and a half lengths at the post.Nasser Saeed Al Eida’s Ccreativity (Mayson x Fantasize) went one better than her last outing to register her first career victory.In the Thoroughbred Handicap (Fillies & Mares) (Class 5) (75 & below), the Gassim Ghazali-schooled filly had Alberto Sanna for company and a fantastic ride by the Italian in the six-furlong sprint saw the duo take a comfortable victory with three and a half lengths to spare.Al Hajaj Stud’s William Bligh (Territories x Arbella) built on a few promising results earlier this season when fifth in the Al Biddah Mile and HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy (3YO T/B), and then runner up in March in a 2000m run on dirt. On Wednesday, in the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 5) (75 & below), the Gassim Ghazali-schooled colt edged out the Faleh Bughanaim-ridden Dramatic Sands by half a length in a close finish for his first victory in Qatar and second overall.Al Ghazali Stud’s AJS Al Aredh (Majd Al Arab x Karreema) had topped a claiming race back in January this year and even followed it up with a third place finish to show potential. However, after being well held in the two handicaps since, the Mohammed Ghazali-schooled gelding was back in the winner’s circle with a fine victory in the Purebred Arabian Handicap (75 & below). JP Guillambert guided the gelding to win in the 1700m run with a length and a quarter to spare.Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari’s Majd’or (Majd Al Arab x Case D’or) was well held in his last outing in the Qatar Silver Sword a week ago. However, a drop in class worked well for the Ali Yousuf Al Kubaisi-schooled colt as the 4yo registered his first career win in the Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (4-6yo), edging out the Pranil Arvind Kharat-ridden Bakir by a half a length at the post.Hamad bin Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Attiya’s Badira (Al Tair x Moonlit) had a mixed bag of results this season coming into Wednesday’s Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate (Fillies & Mares). Despite a couple of top three finishes, the 5yo had missed out on a victory in her first eight outings. That changed in the 1700m run when JP Guillambert guided the Gassim Ghazali-schooled bay mare to a fine victory with a length and a quarter to spare.Abdullah Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber’s Umm Thaga (Muthaaber x La Pampita) went one better than his last outing to shed her maiden status in dominant fashion. Helmed by Qatari rider Rashid Ali Al Marri in the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate, the 5yo mare was in her elements in the six-furlong sprint as she went past the post a massive seven lengths in front of the competition, with Adnan Hawa-ridden Doha Surprise in second spot.Results (45th QREC Race Meeting)Al Dibal CupDhergham Bu Thaila (QA), Mohamed Khaled Elahmed, JP Guillambert PUREBRED ARABIAN CONDITIONSLekhraib (QA), Mohammed Ghazali, Marco CasamentoTHOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (CLASS 5)Shine That Light (GB), Gassim Ghazali, JP GuillambertTHOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Fillies & Mares) (Class 5)Creativity (GB), Gassim Ghazali, Alberto SannaTHOROUGHBRED HANDICAP (Class 5)William Bligh (GB), Gassim Ghazali, JP GuillambertPUREBRED ARABIAN HANDICAPAJS Al Aredh (QA), Mohammed Ghazali, JP GuillambertPUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATEMajd’or (FR), Ali Yousuf Al-Kubaisi, Marco CasamentoPUREBRED ARABIAN MAIDEN PLATE (Fillies & Mares)Badira (QA), Gassim Ghazali, JP GuillambertLOCAL THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATEUmm Thaga (QA), Abdulla Al Jabir, Rashid Ali Al Marri* (-3kg)• (Horse, trainer, jockey)