A competitive day of horse racing is set to unfold at Al Rayyan Racecourse on May 8th, 2025, as the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) prepares to host seven exciting races. This event marks the fourth race meeting of the month, offering racing fans an action-packed evening on the dirt track.
The race day opens with a Thoroughbred Handicap for horses rated 0-60, to be run over 1200 meters on dirt at 17:45. This race carries a total prize of QAR 25,000, distributed as follows: QAR 14,250 for first place, QAR 5,500 for second, QAR 2,750 for third, QAR 1,500 for fourth, and QAR 1,000 for fifth. Among the leading contenders are Barig Al Thumama (GB), who will be ridden by Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and trained by Mohammed Hussain Afroz; Emirates Angel (IRE), partnered by Alberto Sanna and trained by Julian Colin Smart; Ensyaaby (IRE), who will be ridden by Szczepan Mazur and trained by Gassim AlGhazali; Time Traveller (GB), with Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri in the saddle and trained by Mohammed AlGhazali; and Bercheny (IRE), to be guided by Tejash Juglall under the training of Hadi Al Ramzani.
The second event on the card is another Thoroughbred Handicap for 0-60 rated horses, this time over a longer 1900-meter dirt track, scheduled to start at 18:20. It too offers a total purse of QAR 25,000. Key runners include Cobber Kain (GB), to be ridden by Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri and trained by Saeed Al Shafi; Pour La Vie (GB), ridden by Szczepan Mazur and trained by Gassim AlGhazali; Gold Medallist (IRE), partnered by Alberto Sanna and also trained by Gassim AlGhazali; Half Moon Bay (IRE), with Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi in the saddle and trained by Hamad Al-Jehani; and Cardinal Rouge (IRE), guided by Tejash Juglall and trained by Abdulrahman Abdulwahed.
The third race of the day is a Thoroughbred Handicap for 0-70 rated runners, taking place at 18:55 over a 1200-meter dirt course, with the same prize fund of QAR 25,000. Prominent entries include Main Reef (GB), who will be ridden by Mohammed Hassan Ali Alabdulmalik and trained by Ahmed Kobeissi; Bunglejungleparty (IRE), with Alberto Sanna aboard and trained by Julian Colin Smart; and Perfect Approach (GB), to be ridden by Rashid Ali Al-Marri and trained by Nasser Ghazali.
The fourth race, scheduled at 19:30, shifts the spotlight to the Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-65), which will be run over 1900 meters. This race too features a QAR 25,000 prize and sees entries such as Amoor (QA), ridden by Maikon De Souza and trained by Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan Al-Sulaiti; Noorah Al Hadi (QA), partnered by Szczepan Mazur and trained by Salmeen Al-Jabri; and Dhi Qar Zakhir (QA), to be guided by Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi and trained by Gassim AlGhazali.
At 20:05, the Purebred Arabian Handicap (0-65) will take place over a 1700-meter dirt track, maintaining the QAR 25,000 prize pool. Leading the field are Texas Pride CS (US), with Szczepan Mazur in the saddle and trained by Ahmed Al Jehani; Muna (FR), to be ridden by Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi and trained by Mohammed Ahmed Al-Hajri; and AJS Sinjaar (GB), who will be ridden by Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri and trained by Gassim AlGhazali.
Bringing the day to a close is the Local Purebred Arabian Maiden Plate for three-year-olds, which is set to start at 20:40. This final race covers 1200 meters on the dirt track and offers the same QAR 25,000 purse. Notable participants include Al Molheb Zakhir (QA), who will be ridden by Saleh Faraj Al-Otaibi and trained by Mohammed Hassan Al Matwi; Alebb Katara (QA), to be partnered by Abdulla Rashid Al-Hajri and trained by Hadi Al Ramzani; and Farouq Alghania (QA), who will be guided by Youssef Lachhab and trained by Mohamed Khaled Elahmed.
With six competitive races and a strong lineup of local and international contenders, the upcoming race day at Al Rayyan Racecourse promises to be a highlight of the month. Organized efficiently by QREC, this event will showcase the skills of both horses and their teams, offering a thrilling spectacle that horse racing fans won’t want to miss.
