Studio City Triumphs in Lisha Cup at Al Uqda Racecourse

Studio City showcased an exceptional performance to secure victory in the Lisha Cup and the 2000m Thoroughbred Handicap at Al Uqda Racecourse on March 15, 2024. The six-year-old chestnut horse, starting from barrier 2, maintained a strategic position in third before executing a powerful surge down the home straight, ultimately winning by an impressive margin of 3¼ lengths.

This victory marked Studio City‘s second win out of three starts this season, complementing a runner-up finish for owner Faleh Suwayed Al Ajami. Trainer Mohammed Al Ghazali celebrated his third win of the evening, while jockey Lukas Delozier notched his second victory, demonstrating a strong partnership on the track.

Race Highlights and Results

The Lisha Cup presentation was conducted by Rashid Saed Adiba, the Head of Racing Operations at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, who awarded the trophies to the winning connections. Earlier in the day, another notable race saw Weissmuller, trained by Hamad Al-Jehani and ridden by Pierre Charles Boudot, clinch the Thoroughbred Handicap (85-105) by a narrow head.

In the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (75-95), Al-Yaseen Zakhir, under the guidance of jockey Alberto Sanna, delivered a strong performance for trainer Gassim Al Ghazali. Meanwhile, Samsa Al Shahania finished first in the Purebred Arabian Novice Plate, trained by Rudy Nerbonne and ridden by Delozier, crossing the line 2¼ lengths ahead of the competition.

In additional races, Temple Of Hera secured victory in the Thoroughbred Handicap (55-75) under trainer Nayef Batal Al-Otibi, with jockey Salman Fahad Al-Hajri in the saddle. Noble Patron, trained by Mohammed Balasim Al Jumaili and partnered with Szczepan Mazur, also won in the Thoroughbred Handicap (55-75).

The Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-65) saw Taimoor, trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi, triumph with jockey Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi aboard. Furthermore, Dance Acclaim, trained by Al Ghazali, earned a win in the Thoroughbred Handicap (0-60) under the direction of the same jockey.

Finally, My George, also trained by Al Ghazali, showcased impressive speed, finishing first in the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate for three-year-olds with jockey Soufiane Saadi riding. The day’s events at Al Uqda highlighted the thrilling atmosphere of racing in Qatar and the remarkable talent present in the field.