Horse racing: Emir’s Sword Festival kicks off at QREC

DOHA: Umm Qarn-owned Majeed will be one of the favourites to nail the Al Zubara Trophy, the feature race on the first day of the three-day Emir’s Sword Festival at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC).
With a staggering $150,000 in prize money in the nine-entry field, O Peslier will ride out Majed hoping to bag the top prize of $85,500 against a field that also includes Julian Smart-trained six-year-old Reda owned by H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The 2000-metere turf race - for purebred Arabians - will also feature Al Marboush to be ridden by popular Briton Harry Bentley. Al Marboush is owned by Jassim Mohammed Ghazali.
Another top entry is Mekhbatt who will have Pierantonio Convertino  in the saddle.
The second prize in today’s feature race is $33,000 followed by a purse of $16,500 for the third-placed rider. The fourth-placed rider will get $9,000 while a bag of $6,000 is reserved for the fifth-fastest rider.
Tomorrow the riders will eye the top honours in the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup which offers $200,000 in total prize money.
The 1600-meter turf will see Gordon Lord Byron as one of the favourites for a win tomorrow. The 10-year-old gelding - trained by Tom Hogan - will be ridden by Billy Lee. Diplomat - to be ridden by Alexander Pietsch - is also in good form.   
The top prize is worth $114,000 while the second-placed rider gets $44,000. A prize of $22,000 will be won by the third-fastest entry.
The three-day horse racing gala will end with four key races on Saturday - H H The Emir’s Shalfa (sponsored by Manateq, 2000m), H H The Emir’s Silver Sword (sponsored by Al Hazm, 1850m), H H The Emir’s Trophy (GR , presented by Longines, 2400m) and H H The Emir’s Sword (GR1 PA, sponsored by Total, 2400m).
The total prize money in the H H The Emir’s Sword race is $1m with the winning rider winning $570,000. The second-placed rider gets $220,000 while $110,000 awaits the third-fastest entry.