Lady De Faust Dominates Athbah Cup at Al Uqda Racecourse

Doha, Qatar: Lady De Faust showcased her impressive abilities by clinching victory in the Athbah Cup, a feature race for Purebred Arabian Premium Maidens over 1400 meters at Al Uqda Racecourse on October 1, 2023. This marked a significant achievement for the 5-year-old bay mare, who was making her ninth career start and her second appearance in Qatar.

Building on her fourth-place finish in the 4-Year-Old PA Oaks in December, Lady De Faust asserted her dominance with a commanding performance. Under the guidance of jockey Pierre Charles Boudot, she cruised down the home straight, pulling ahead to win by an impressive five lengths. This victory contributed to a successful evening for owner Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari and trainer Julian Smart, marking a notable double for the team.

Strong Performances Throughout the Evening

The evening’s seven-race card featured several other remarkable performances. In the Local Thoroughbred Handicap over 1200 meters, Ghafan surged ahead to secure a win by three and a quarter lengths, with jockey Jefferson Smith riding for owner-trainer Ibrahim Khaled Elahmed. The race saw Barq Al Atam and Al Nasr Al Washeek complete the placings.

In a Purebred Arabian Handicap over 2200 meters, Khalil Du Croate returned to winning form, narrowly defeating Jalaad Al Shahania by a quarter length. Boudot was again in the saddle for trainer Smart. Meanwhile, Al Gamamah triumphed in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap over 2100 meters, winning by a head, with jockey Tomas Lukasek representing owner-trainer Ibrahim Saeed Ibrahim Al Malki.

Notable Winners and Highlights

The evening also saw RB Hot Mess make a strong late surge to win another Purebred Arabian Handicap by three lengths, under the direction of trainer Bader Al Balushi and jockey Alberto Sanna. Dahman Al Shahania and Namar followed closely behind.

In a competitive race, Al Shalfa SK shed her maiden status in the Local Thoroughbred Handicap over 1200 meters, taking the lead in the home straight to win by a length for owner Lekhreib Stud, with trainer Abdulla Dhabit Aldosari and jockey Salman Fahad Al-Hajri.

Finally, Bin La Hoor broke his maiden in the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate over 2200 meters, achieving victory by a length on his tenth career start. Ridden by Szczepan Mazur for trainer Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi, he displayed a strong late surge, finishing ahead of Agshar and Al Qaws.

The 35th Al Uqda Race Meeting highlighted the talents of both horses and jockeys, contributing to the vibrant equestrian culture in Qatar. The trophies were presented to the winners by Rashid Saed Adiba, Head of Racing Operations at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, underscoring the significance of the event.