Naseeb Zakhir (left), ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, claimed a nose victory in the feature race yesterday. PIC: Juhaim/QREC
Doha, Qatar: Naseeb Zakhir captured the Al Mafiar Cup in dramatic fashion, landing the Local Purebred Arabian Conditions race over 1200m (Class 2) for four-year-olds and above, as five runners went to post at Al Rayyan Racecourse yesterday, winning by the narrowest of margins - a nose - in the feature event.
The five-year-old grey, owned and trained by Osama Omer Al-Dafea and ridden by Faleh Bughenaim, produced a determined finish to secure back-to-back victories. The win marked his fifth success of the season while extending an impressive run of consistency, having finished in the top three in his last 11 starts.
Naseeb Zakhir settled behind early leader Muqtarib, with Hay’er Al Shahania close in attendance, as the trio maintained their positions through the early and middle stages. Turning for home, Naseeb Zakhir ranged up to challenge and briefly struck the front, only for Hay’er Al Shahania to respond strongly and ignite a compelling duel.
Inside the final 300m, Naseeb Zakhir appeared to be in command, but Hay’er Al Shahania rallied again to regain a slender advantage and looked poised to take victory. The momentum shifted once more in the closing strides as Naseeb Zakhir dug deep for one final effort.
The pair went head-to-head inside the final 50m, hitting the line together in a thrilling finish, with a photo-finish verdict confirming Naseeb Zakhir as the winner by the smallest of margins in a contest befitting the feature race of the evening.
Hay’er Al Shahania, representing Mansoor Mesfer Al-Shahwani from the Abdulla Mesfer Al-Shahwani yard, and ridden by Soufiane Saadi, was denied by a whisker and narrowly missed completing a treble on the night. He finished four lengths ahead of Deauville, owned by Umm Al Shukhut Farm, trained by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed and ridden by Alberto Sanna, highlighting that the top two had the race largely to themselves in the closing stages.
The meeting featured eight races in total. Silver Spirit won the opener with a strong late run, Zabeel Flower broke her maiden, and Raphello made all to score. Jabra’an Al Shahania dominated his contest, Mawhob finished strongly to win, and Blazing Sunset edged another tight finish. Damaah won comfortably before Naseeb Zakhir sealed the feature in a pulsating duel.
69th Al Rayyan Race Meeting Al Mafiar Cup
WINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)
Al Mafiar Cup, Local Purebred Arabian Conditions
Naseeb Zakhir, Eng. Osama Omer Al-Dafea, Faleh Bughenaim
Thoroughbred Handicap (45-65)
Silver Spirit, Debbie Mountain, M. Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik
Thoroughbred Maiden Plate
Zabeel Flower, Abdulla Dhabit Aldosari, Salman Fahad Al-Hajri
Thoroughbred Maiden Plate
Raphello, M. Al Ghazali, S. Saadi
Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate
Jabra’an Al Shahania, Mohammed Al Ghazali, S. Saadi
Thoroughbred Handicap (45-65)
Mawhob, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hajri, Salman Fahad Al-Hajri
Thoroughbred Handicap (55-75)
Blazing Sunset, Rashid Al Jehani, Maikon De Souza
Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (55-75)
Damaah, Hadi Al Ramzani, Alberto Sanna
