Desert' Stars On Doha Day Two

By Michele MacDonald
   As far as international racing is concerned, there was one place on the planet to be on February 26-Doha, Qatar. The second program of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club's International Racing Festival featured lifetime milestones for some of the winners and subsequent unrestrained jubilation on a postcard perfect sunny day. 
Watching it all unfold was a lineup of high-profile figures from around the world that keeps getting larger with each day of the festival. Those present for this program included Rogers Beasley and Will Mayer of Keeneland, Arqana President Eric Hoyeau, English-based trainer Sir Michael Stoute, France Galop Chairman Bertrand Belinguier, Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive Brian Kavanagh, and The Curragh's General Manager Paul Hensey. 
    What they saw was a visual feast of Thoroughbred and Purebred Arabian racing that included Frankie Dettori riding one of the Arabians owned by his new employer, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, in the QR1 million (about $274,646) Qatar International Trophy, a Group 1 race for the breed. On the other end of the fame spectrum, 26-year-old Omani amateur woman jockey Fatma Al Manji won the opening event, a special race for female amateur jockeys. 
But it was jockey Darren Williams who brought the day to an electric conclusion as he popped his mount Mojave Desert (Ire) (Shamardal) out of her stalking position at just the right moment to gain the lead while having just enough left to hold off a closing challenge from Miblish (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) in the QR1 million Qatar International Cup. The winner's time for the 1600 meter event, a domestic Group 2 race for Thoroughbreds 3-years-old and older, was 1:35.16 on firm turf. 
    Parade ring commentator Derek Thompson declared the race was the biggest win of Williams' career, and the jockey waved his whip in victory at the finish line and then lifted his arms and stood up in the saddle to encourage the crowd to cheer as he returned on the winner for photos. 
    “I was confident that Mojave Desert would run a good race,” said Williams, who started his career in England. “I had a great race and she traveled very strong and quickened very well. I must thank the owner and trainer for giving me an opportunity to ride her.” 
    A 4-year-old filly, Mojave Desert defeated 15 male rivals in the race for her third consecutive victory in Qatar, proving she was a shrewd purchase for owner Saeed Mubarak Saeed Aljafali Al Naimi at the 2013 Tattersalls July sale, when she cost just 11,000 guineas ($17,170). After racing for Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum, she was consigned to the sale by the Kingsley House Stables of trainer Mark Johnston. 
    “This is huge victory for me. I bought this filly as a maiden at Tattersalls in July and she has really improved very much,” said trainer Majid Safedeen. The Qatar International Cup win was worth $156,529, boosting Mojave Desert's career earnings to $207,291. 
    The competition she defeated was nothing to scoff at, with Miblish a stakes winner and group stakes placed in England who cost 250,000 guineas ($390,233) at the same Tattersalls sale. Miblish, ridden by James Doyle, missed catching Mojave Desert by a neck. 
    Another Tattersalls July purchase, Beach Club (GB) (Footstepsinthesand {Ire}), finished third, 1 1/4 lengths back; in December, the now 4-year-old had finished second in the Qatar Derby to Dubday (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), who is the favorite for the festival's crowning Thoroughbred race, today's HH The Emir's Trophy. 
Prior to Mojave Desert's dramatic win, the Arabian Raddad made history for Oman by becoming the first horse to win an international race for Omani owners not connected to the Royal Cavalry of Oman. The 6-year-old British-bred horse by renowned racing Arabian sire Amer captured the Qatar International Trophy over 1600 meters in time of 1:44.13. 
    “This is my dream,” said exhilarated owner/trainer Ahmed Abdullah Al Marzooqi, who excitedly hugged members of his stable team and later nearly danced away from the trophy presentation holding the gold prize high above his head. 
The victorious Omanis, including jockey Asad Al Seyabi, unfurled an Omani flag in the parade ring, which they held above and in front of Raddad, and later held as a group for more photos. Cheers erupted from the Qatari crowd for the Omanis' accomplishment, and Al Marzooqi later gave thanks for the kind reception. 
    “We are very happy to come here,” he said, adding: “We are thrilled with the way Raddad won today. I think Raddad is ready for the races in Europe now. We will target him at the Qatar Arabian World Cup [on the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe program at Longchamp] this year, and look forward to winning many more important races with him.” 
    Dettori's mount in the race, No Problem Al Maury, was well placed by his rider but could not keep up in the stretch. Regardless, Dettori brought his own element of excitement to the proceedings and posed for photographs prior to the race with some of the Al Shaqab connections. 
    Today's closing program promises even more, with the featured race for Thoroughbreds, the QR2 million ($549,210) HH The Emir's Trophy, and the QR3 million ($823,815) HH The Emir's Sword for Arabians, both set for 2400 meters on turf. Other highlights will include the finals of traditional-style match races for Arabians wearing colorful traditional saddles and carrying riders in desert garb.