Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Thursday fixture on 11 December will be anchored by the Al Shaqab Cup over 2200m that brings together power, pace and pressure. The headline Thoroughbred Handicap (70–90) promises a finale worthy of an international race day, with riders and connections hoping their season-defining moment arrives under the QREC floodlights.
From the opening bell, the programme will offer a broad sweep of talent and testing conditions. The afternoon begins at 15:30 with Race 1, the Purebred Arabian Handicap (45–65) over 1400m for Qr 45,000. Often a race where improving runners make their mark, the shorter trip should encourage a genuine pace and an early burst of excitement.
Stamina will take charge next in Race 2 at 16:05, the Local Thoroughbred Maiden Plate over 2200m, also worth Qr 45,000. With no winners in the field yet, this long-distance maiden becomes a stage for progress, where late-developing stayers may finally begin to show their true ability.
The tempo tightens again at 16:40 in Race 3, the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0–65) over 1400m for another Qr 45,000. These competitive handicaps often deliver narrow finishes, with racing style and tactical judgment proving decisive.
Another stamina test awaits the field in Race 4, the Purebred Arabian Maiden Rated Plate for 4-year-olds, run over 2200m at 17:15. Also offering Qr 45,000, this event tends to reveal young horses with potential to climb the ranks as the season deepens.
At 17:50, the card moves into Race 5, the Thoroughbred Handicap (55–75) over 1400m, carrying Qr 50,000. This mid-card contest is traditionally unpredictable, featuring versatile types capable of turning the race in a matter of strides. Expect the betting boards to reflect that uncertainty.
The class level rises meaningfully in Race 6 at 18:25, the Local Purebred Arabian Conditions (Class 2) over 2200m for Qr 85,000. Here, proven horses with form and maturity step forward, and the tactical pacing early on will heavily influence the final 400 metres.
Then comes the crescendo — Race 7, the Al Shaqab Cup, scheduled for 19:00. The Class 3 Thoroughbred Handicap (70–90) over 2200m brings together seasoned handicappers and emerging contenders, each seeking the prestige and the Qr 100,000 prize. With daylight fading and tension rising, the final race of the night is set to offer a thrilling, hard-fought conclusion to an international race day rich with variety and competitive spirit.
The QREC prepares once more for a meeting that blends quality, storyline, and spectacle — and by the time the Al Shaqab Cup runners thunder down the straight, the evening may well produce its defining moment.
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