The Ras Rokn Island Cup meeting delivered a compelling afternoon of racing at Al Uqda Racecourse on Wednesday, 4 February, as a competitive nine-race programme staged under the banner of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) unfolded on the dirt. Progressive maidens, tightly matched handicaps and a strong feature finale combined to test patience, positioning and late-race resolve, with several contests decided only in the closing strides and the feature producing a performance of real authority.
From the outset, the card carried a sense of balance and depth. Early races rewarded composure and timing, while the later contests demanded stamina and class. By the time the sun dipped and the feature approached, the meeting had already established itself as one marked by fine margins and disciplined riding.
Across the nine races, the winners in order were Tariqu Al Shahania, Gasham, Midrass, Habes, Necessitate, Gulf Legend, Sha’alan, Sham Alghania and Mutamarrid, who closed the programme in emphatic style. Abdulla Rashid Al Kubaisi, QREC Racing Manager, presented the trophies following the final race, bringing the curtain down on a well-contested meeting.
Ras Rokn Island Cup: Mutamarrid Delivers with Authority
Mutamarrid returned to the winner’s enclosure in decisive fashion to land the Ras Rokn Island Cup, the ninth and concluding race on the card. The Local Thoroughbred Handicap (45–70) for four-year-olds and upwards over 2000m brought together seven runners, but the outcome was settled with clarity once the field straightened.
The nine-year-old grey, owned by Injaaz Stud and trained by Jihad El Ahmad, had been knocking firmly on the door with solid placed efforts and finally converted promise into his ninth career success. Ridden with confidence by Pierre Charles Boudot, Mutamarrid scored by a commanding two and three-quarter lengths.
He was positioned close to the pace early, tracking Al Gamamah before being eased into midfield while remaining within striking distance. Royalty briefly took control through the middle stages, with the field shuffling behind, but the complexion changed approaching the straight. Moharb moved into the lead, only for Mutamarrid to be angled out and asked to lengthen. His response was immediate. Covering ground with ease, he ranged up within strides and asserted decisively inside the final 200 metres, drawing clear in polished fashion.
Moharb, trained by Gassim Al Ghazali, stayed on resolutely to secure second, well clear of the remainder, while Al Gamamah finished third after a steady run. Mutamarrid’s performance capped the meeting with a display that combined patience, timing and class.
Strong Supporting Races Add Depth to the Card
The meeting opened with Tariqu Al Shahania shedding his maiden status in the first race, a Local Purebred Arabian Premium Maiden Plate over 2000m. Owned by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani and trained by Rudy Nerbonne, the five-year-old showed resolution under Lukas Delozier to prevail by half a length after a sustained duel in the closing stages.
Gasham followed with a convincing breakthrough in the second, a Local Thoroughbred Premium Maiden Plate, where patient tactics paid dividends. Ridden by Saleh Salem Al-Marri, the gelding asserted fully inside the final furlong to score decisively and maintain his consistent profile.
Midrass rolled back the years in the third race, a Purebred Arabian Handicap over 1200m, producing a well-timed late run to secure his first victory since early 2023. The veteran gelding found more when it mattered, pulling clear in the final strides of a tightly packed finish.
Habes returned to winning ways in the fourth, edging home by half a length after a fiercely contested sprint where all six runners held chances deep into the straight. The result underlined the competitiveness of the race and the resilience of the winner.
Necessitate set the tempo from the front in the fifth race, a Thoroughbred Handicap over 2200m, and proved difficult to reel in. Despite late pressure from well-fancied closers, he held on gamely to secure a deserved success after dictating throughout.
Gulf Legend followed with an authoritative display in the sixth, returning to form with a strong, sustained run that saw him assert decisively inside the final furlong. The seventh belonged to Sha’alan, who edged a closely fought sprint after responding gamely under pressure, while Sham Alghania impressed on debut in the eighth, quickening clear of more experienced rivals with a polished performance.
Taken as a whole, the meeting reflected the depth and competitiveness of racing at Al Uqda. Several winners announced themselves as horses capable of building on their success, while others confirmed their consistency and resilience. The Ras Rokn Island Cup itself stood out as a fitting finale, with Mutamarrid’s assured victory providing a clear benchmark for the division.
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