The desert at Al Rayyan will feel charged with purpose on Thursday as the 49th H.H. The Amir Sword Festival advances into its second day, elevating the standard of an event already regarded as a pillar of Qatar’s racing season. Eight races, scheduled between 3:00pm and 7:05pm, will unfold on the sand in a programme built around championship ambition. At its core, the Purebred Arabian Sand Championship Cup and the Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup, each carrying prize money of 110000 USD, will define the afternoon, drawing accomplished horses, globally respected riders, and leading stables into direct confrontation.
The card will open at 3:00pm with Race 1, the Purebred Arabian Handicap Cup 70-90, a Class 3 contest over 1900m. Eleven runners will compete for 50000 USD, immediately setting a competitive rhythm. The extended trip will demand balance and measured execution, especially on a surface that rewards patience as much as power.
At 3:35pm, Race 2 will bring the Sand Sprint Cup, a Thoroughbred Handicap 85-105 at Class 2 level over 1200m. With five runners chasing 70000 USD, it will likely develop into a sharp tactical contest where early positioning could prove decisive.
Race 3 at 4:10pm will stage the Middle Distance Cup, a Local Purebred Arabian Handicap 85-105, Class 2, over 1700m. Six runners will vie for 70000 USD in a race that will test both tactical intelligence and sustained acceleration through the final stages.
The championship narrative will begin to build further at 4:45pm in Race 4, the Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup. Thirteen runners will contest this Class 2 event over 1700m for 100000 USD, ensuring a deep and competitive field where class and composure will be equally vital.
Race 5 at 5:20pm will present the Local Purebred Arabian Sand Championship Cup, an Open Race at Class 2 level over 1200m. Eight runners will pursue 80000 USD in what promises to be a high-tempo sprint shaped by precision and split-second judgement.
Momentum will continue at 5:55pm with Race 6, the Local Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup. Thirteen runners will line up over 1200m for 80000 USD, adding another layer of intensity as the afternoon moves toward its headline acts.
At 6:30pm, attention will turn fully to Race 7, the Purebred Arabian Sand Championship Cup, a Class 2 contest over 1700m worth 110000 USD. Seven contenders will step forward with strong credentials. Al Mustafiz will be partnered by Tom Marquand for trainer Julian Colin Smart, bringing international poise to the contest. Al Nati Up will represent Faleh Bughenaim and trainer Mr. Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan Al-Sulaiti.
Burkan will see Tomas Lukasek ride for Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki. Kamun Du Nil will unite Pierre Charles Boudot with Hamad Al-Jehani, while Mared Al Jasra will be guided by Marco Casamento for Gassim AlGhazali. Sidi Star will pair Szczepan Mazur with Hamad Al-Jehani, and Sun Amer will carry the hopes of Soufiane Saadi and Bader Al Balushi. It will be a race shaped by international expertise and local ambition in equal measure.
The finale at 7:05pm, Race 8, will bring the Thoroughbred Sand Championship Cup, a Class 2 Restricted Race over 1700m for 110000 USD. Ten runners will close the evening in a field rich with established partnerships. Bailey Gate will combine with Oisin Murphy for Owaida Salem Al Hajri. Blewburton will see Szczepan Mazur represent Hamad Al-Jehani. Cei Connah will be ridden by Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik for Deborah Amanda Clare Mountain. Dubawi Spectre will join Marco Casamento with Gassim AlGhazali, while National Park will link Pierre Charles Boudot and Hamad Al-Jehani.
Nuvolari will have Ivan Rossi aboard for Abdulla Al-Mulla. Phoebus will partner Tom Marquand with Hamad Al-Jehani. Smart Hero will bring Maxime Guyon together with Gassim AlGhazali. Super Mo will be guided by Jefferson Smith for Wasim Al Sahn, and Upton Park will unite Tomas Lukasek with Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki. It will be a closing contest designed to crown the evening with authority.
As Day 2 unfolds within the four-day arc of the Festival, running from 11 February to 14 February, the meeting will reinforce its stature as a global gathering point for the sport. In Qatar Racecards 12 February, every stride on the sand will contribute to a broader story of prestige and pursuit at the highest level.
For more stories, results, and updates from the world of horse racing, stay tuned to RaceBuzz.