On a roll: from Qatar to Dubai and America

Across a sensational two days for the Wathnan Racing team, no fewer than 11 winners and two hard-fought seconds were chalked up to continue a successful start to the new year.

A double at Meydan on Friday courtesy of Royal Ascot winner English Oak in the Burj Azizi and French Duke in the Vazirabad Handicap gave Hamad Al Jehani his second and third winners in Dubai so far this season, with retained jockey James Doyle in the saddle for both horses. 

Then came the debut of Black Cherry in a maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park. Smartly bred and smartly away, the three-year-old filly made all under Junior Alvarado to win gamely, holding off late challengers to win by a neck.

These three victories proved to be mere hors d’oeuvres to the main course of action in Doha on Saturday for the HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day.

The Wathnan colours flew high over Al Rayyan right from the start of play with the Alban de Mieulle-trained mare Razika taking the Al Na’ama Cup for purebred Arabian fillies and mares.

With James Doyle already having one win on the board, he was given the leg-up by de Mieulle on another mare, the Qatar-bred Doha Bu Thaila, who proceeded to take the Desert Rose Cup. 

De Mieulle’s incredible start to the day continued when he struck again, this time with Soufiane Saadi taking the reins to guide Soldier’s Gold to victory in the HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for sprinters.

There are few more popular horses in Doha than the Qatar-bred Equinoxe and the nine-year-old proved that age was no barrier to continued success when landing his 24th career win in the HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for local Thoroughbreds.

With four winners from five races already on the day, the Alban de Mieulle team struck again when James Doyle brought another admirably consistent galloper Dark Trooper through to win his third race this season and 13th in the last four years.

Switching briefly away from Doha, a further burst of excitement for the weekend was provided back in Dubai by David Of Athens. His victory in the Jebel Ali Mile Prep Stakes extended the run of success for Wathnan to 11 consecutive wins across three different countries, and brought Hamad Al Jehani’s tally in Dubai to four victories.

While the next race back at Al Rayyan saw the talented Arabian mare Intisar De Monlau have to settle for second place, the day was far from over. Khaddah followed this valiant effort by notching an important first success on one of the biggest days in Qatar’s racing calendar, followed by the victory of Lippo De Carrere, who clinched an important trial for the prestigious Emir’s Sword to be run at Al Rayyan next month. 

With German Group 1 winner Simca Mille being narrowly denied by a neck in the day’s feature race, the HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, the tally across the card was seven victories for Wathnan Racing along with two near misses. Add to those the three wins in Dubai and one in America and it was truly a weekend to remember for Wathnan Racing.