Mater beats Dukhan in a close contest to win Bu Samrah Cup

QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi (third left) poses with the connections of Mater, which won the Bu Samrah Cup yesterday.

Mater overcame a late surge from Dukhan to clinch the Bu Samrah Cup, winning the Local Thoroughbred Handicap title during Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s (QREC) 23rd race meeting at Al the Rayyan Racecourse yesterday.      Carlos Henrique rode Ahmed Hassan al-Malki al-Jehani-owned four-year-old, who was dominating the feature race before Szczepan Mazur-helmed Dukhan made a late fightback to threaten his lead. However, Mater continued the good pace to complete a thrilling win in the QR100,000 race, securing a prize money of QR57,000 for his team. QREC Racing Manager Abdulla Rashid al-Kubaisi presented the trophies to the winners of the event. Also yesterday, Ahmad Mubarak al-Kuwari’s Tamih sealed a comfortable victory in the Purebred Arabian Handicap. Guided by J P Guillambert, the Mohamed Rashid Seif al-Kuwari-trained five-year-old won the race by five lengths, sealing a double of the day for the jockey.Guillambert earlier steered Fahad bin Mubarak bin Jassim al-Groon-owned and trained Mallhog to a thrilling victory in the 1600m Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate. Jockey Tomas Lukasek also bagged a title yesterday, guiding Al Thumama Racing’s X Force to an easy win in the 1,200m Thoroughbred Conditions. X Force is trained by Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki.    Millions, trained and owned by Abdulaziz Ali al-Kathiri, was also impressive yesterday winning the Thoroughbred Handicap title after a 2¼-length victory. Rashid Ali al-Saaq rode the three-year-old gelding, who won the race after a late surge in the 1,200m run. In the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate, Marco Casamento rode Ali Yousuf al-Kubaisi-trained Majd’or to win, while Mohamed Ghazali-trained Arges claimed the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate title, with David Allan in the saddle. Earlier, jockey Szczepan Mazur helmed Sergeant Major for a victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 6) in the opening race of Bu Samrah Cup Day. WINNERS (Horse, Trainer, Jockey) 1. Bu Samrah Cup - Local Thoroughbred HandicapMater, Hamad al-Jehani, Carlos Henrique2. Purebred Arabian HandicapTamih, Eng. Mohamed Rashid Seif al-Kuwari, J P Guillambert3. Thoroughbred Conditions (Class 2)X Force, Ibrahim Saeed al-Malki, Tomas Lukasek4. Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 4)Millions, Abdulaziz Ali al-Kathiri, Rashid Ali al-Marri5. Purebred Arabian Novice PlateMajd’or, Ali Yousuf al-Kubaisi, Marco Casamento6. Local Thoroughbred Maiden PlateMallhog, Fahad Bin Mubarak al-Groon, JP Guillambert7. Thoroughbred Maiden Plate (2yo only) Arges, Mohamed Ghazali, David Allan8. Thoroughbred Handicap (Class 6)Sergeant Major, Osama Al al-Dafea, Szczepan Mazur