Al Rayyan will set the tone for Arabian excellence as the Baidaa Alga Cup leads the 33rd Race Meeting on January 7, with the Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club preparing to stage an evening shaped by depth, balance, and regional pride. From 4:00pm through to 8:40pm, a nine-race programme will unfold under the lights, blending Thoroughbred competition with a strong Arabian presence and building steadily toward a feature that carries both prestige and purpose.
The Baidaa Alga Cup, scheduled as Race 9, will stand as the focal point of the evening. Run as a Local Purebred Arabian Novice Plate over 1700 metres, the contest will offer prize money of 120,000 QAR and will serve as a fitting finale to a card designed around opportunity and progression. With eight runners set to line up under Class 5 conditions, the race is expected to test stamina and composure, placing emerging Arabian talent firmly in the spotlight.
Contenders: Al Maqam, Fathi, Kehailane Zakhir, Mared Al Zaeem, Windsor, Taya, Egaab Zakhir, Ghara FBR
Proceedings will begin promptly at 4:00pm with Race 1, the Thoroughbred Maiden Plate over 1200 metres. Fifteen runners are set to go to post in this Class 6 opener, ensuring an immediate test of speed and intent. With 50,000 QAR on offer, the race is likely to provide early signals of horses capable of stepping forward as the season advances.
The programme will then stretch out in both distance and complexity. Race 2, a Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0–45), will be run over 1900 metres at 4:35pm, drawing together eleven runners for a 55,000 QAR purse. That will be followed by Race 3 at 5:10pm, a Thoroughbred Handicap (0–70) restricted to Qatari riders, again over 1900 metres. With thirteen runners declared, the contest will add a strong local dimension that remains a hallmark of QREC race meetings.
Arabian racing will begin to assert itself more strongly through the middle of the card with 55000 QAR on line. Race 4, a Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (55–75), will be staged at 5:45pm with seven runners covering 1900 metres. Momentum will continue with Race 5 at 6:20pm, a Purebred Arabian Handicap (55–75) featuring a competitive field of fourteen runners, making it one of the deepest races on the programme.
Quality will rise further in Race 6, the Purebred Arabian Handicap (60–80) over 1200 metres at 6:55pm. Ten runners will contest the 60,000 QAR prize, where sharp acceleration and tactical awareness are expected to prove decisive. The Thoroughbreds will return at 7:30pm for Race 7, a Class 3 Handicap (0–95) restricted to three-year-olds over 1700 metres. Despite a compact field of five, the elevated conditions and 70,000 QAR prize money will ensure a contest of substance.
The final phase of the meeting will begin with Race 8, the Purebred Arabian Show Horses event at 8:05pm over 1000 metres carrying prize money of 50000 QAR. Twelve runners are due to take part, offering a sharp contrast in distance and tempo before attention turns fully to the closing feature.
A nine-race journey through classes, distances, and breeds will converge on a contest that reflects Arabian prestige at its most aspirational level. At Al Rayyan, Qatar Racecards 7 January will be set to deliver not just competition, but a clear statement of intent from QREC as the season continues to gather momentum.
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