Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Hosts H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day

The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) is set to host a significant race meeting on Saturday, featuring the highly anticipated H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day. This event will take place at the Al Rayyan Racecourse, where ten races will unfold, showcasing the skills of owners, trainers, and jockeys eager to compete for prestigious titles in the current domestic racing season.

Exciting Races and Significant Prizes

Saturday’s meeting precedes the renowned H H The Amir Sword Festival, which is scheduled for February 11-14, 2026. The ten-race card offers a variety of distances and categories, promising thrilling competition throughout the day. The opening race features the Na’ama Trophy, showcasing local Purebred Arabian fillies and mares over a distance of 1,750 meters, with a substantial prize of $100,000.

Following this, the Desert Rose Cup will see local Thoroughbred fillies and mares compete over the same distance, also offering $100,000. The next highlight is the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Sprint Trophy for Thoroughbreds, where participants will race over 1,200 meters for a prize of $50,000.

Another key event is the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy, which is open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds racing over 1,400 meters, with a purse of $50,000. The mid-card contest, the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for local Thoroughbreds over 1,750 meters, will offer $55,000 to the victor.

As the day progresses, the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for Thoroughbreds over 1,400 meters will feature another $50,000 prize. Attention will then shift to the race for Purebred Arabians, which carries a prize of $50,000 for a distance of 1,750 meters, followed by a similar event restricted to four-year-olds, valued at $100,000.

The penultimate race is an international contest, the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for Purebred Arabians (Class 1 – Group 3 PA) over 2,200 meters, boasting a purse of $100,000. The main event, the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle for Thoroughbreds (Class 1) over 2,200 meters, also features a prize of $100,000. Winning this race qualifies participants for the Shalfa race at the upcoming H H The Amir Sword Festival.

Last Year’s Highlights and Key Competitors

During last season’s renewal, the event took place at Al Uqda Racecourse for the first time, rather than the traditional Al Rayyan venue. The feature race, for the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle, was claimed by Aafoor, owned by Al Jeryan Stud. The horse, trained by M.H.K Al Attiyah and ridden by jockey Szczepan Mazur, triumphed in the Class 1 contest for Thoroughbreds aged four years and older over 2,200 meters.

Earlier in the program, another standout performance came from Abbes, a runner from Wathnan Racing. The horse secured victory in the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for Purebred Arabians, extending his winning streak to three consecutive successes in the Group 3 PA race under the guidance of jockey James Doyle and trainer Alban de Mieulle.

With high stakes and an exciting lineup, the H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day promises to deliver an exceptional day of racing that is sure to attract fans and enthusiasts alike.