Jefferson Smith guides Glory Of The Stars to Lusail Cup victory. PIC: JUHAIM/QREC
DOHA: Glory Of The Stars continued her flawless campaign with a stunning display in the Lusail Cup for 3YO+ Thoroughbred fillies and mares over 1200m at Al Uqda Racecourse yesterday.
The five-year-old bay mare, owned by Eng. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and trained by Debbie Mountain, appeared to have plenty to do when still at the back of the field approaching the final 300m. But she produced a powerful late surge down the outside, and under a perfectly judged ride from Jefferson Smith, she swept past her rivals to win decisively by 1¼ lengths, sealing her second straight victory of the season.
The winning connections were presented their trophies by Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of Racing Operations at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club.
Earlier in the card, Sun Amer, trained by Bader Al Balushi and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, delivered a strong front-running performance to take the Purebred Arabian Conditions race. In the Purebred Arabian Handicap (70–90), Nah’ash Al Shahania, saddled by Rudy Nerbonne and partnered by Lukas Delozier, proved too sharp for the field, finishing with authority to claim a well-earned victory.
The meeting also featured several competitive races for emerging talent. Court Poet, trained by Nayef Batal Al-Otibi and ridden by Maikon De Souza, impressed in the Thoroughbred Novice Plate, showing speed and maturity to pull clear in the closing stages.
In the Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0–50), Achika produced a determined effort for trainer Yousef Al-Jumaily, guided home by Fayos Martin Borja. The Purebred Arabian Handicap (50–70) saw Awamir, representing trainer Zuhair Mohsen and jockey Pierre Charles Boudot, dominate with a confident and well-timed run.
The action got underway with the Thoroughbred Rated Maiden Plate, where Corpus Juris, trained by Gassim Al Ghazali and ridden by Marco Casamento, broke through stylishly to seal his first career win.
