NBA | Page 5 FOOTBALL | Page 7 Lakers still Guardiola sorting out how takes swipe at to improve title Barcelona over chances Man City ban Friday, February 21, 2020 CRICKET Jumada II 27, 1441 AH Warner joins GULF TIMES Aussie charm off ensive in SA SPORT Page 2 HH THE AMIR’S SWORD FESTIVAL Mehdi beats Umm Qarn stablemate for feature win ‘MISSED A FEW, BUT WE WON THE BIGGEST PRIZE OF THE DAY. SO I AM QUITE HAPPY WITH IT’ By Mikhil Bhat Doha fter a couple of near misses earlier yesterday, the famous white stars and maroon silks of AUmm Qarn entered the paddock on the double as Mehdi edged out stablemate Sealine for a thrilling victory in the Al Zubara Trophy, the feature race on the fi rst day of His Highness The Amir’s Sword Festival at Al Rayyan Park. Umm Qarn and trainer Alban de Mieulle had fi nished runner- up a couple of times on the day, but the Frenchman was beaming as Ronan Thomas-ridden Me- hdi and Olivier Peslier-helmed Sealine locked in a duel of their own on the home straight of the 2000m feature for local Purebred Arabians. A mere nose separated the two at the post as early leader, She’ris, rounded up the podium Ronan Thomas (left) rides Umm Qarn’s Mehdi to victory ahead of stablemate Sealine, ridden by Olivier under Eduardo Pedroza. Peslier, in the Al Zubara Trophy yesterday. “Missed a few, but we won the biggest prize of the day. So I am tered the winner’s circle yet again quite happy with it,” De Mieulle when Eduardo Pedroza raced Al told Gulf Times after the victory. Shahania Stud’s Dahra to a close Jockey Tomas Lukasek celebrates as Woodkid is led in to the winner’s circle after a victory in the “I am really happy for (His victory in the Purebred Arabian Thoroughbred Handicap event yesterday. Highness) Sheikh Abdullah’s (bin Handicap event for horses rated Khalifa al-Thani) breeding oper- 85 & below. the fi rst time this racing weekend RESULTS Race 5: 1. Jacko (Harry Bentley), ation. It’s very important to win Woodkid’s consistency has when the latter guided Jacko to Race 1: 1. Mon’nia (Tomas Lu- 2. What A Surprise (Soufiane a big one in the fi rst race meeting never been in question as the a thrilling victory in the 2000m kasek), 2. Jabir (Ronan Thomas), Saadi), 3. Al Mujahaz (Marco (of the Festival). Smart-trained horse has fi nished handicap run for Thoroughbreds. 3. Maiuf (Faleh Bughanaim), 4. Al Casamento), 4. Thunderbolt “I am really happy for Sealine in the top fi ve each time he has Shaheen bin Khalid Shaheen al- Hazm (Olivier Peslier). Won by: Rocks (Luca Maniezzi). Won by: since it is the fi rst time he has lined up at Al Rayyan Park, even Ghanim’s colt was well held over 4, 2, Hd. Time: 1:43.53. Owner: His Nk, 1, ¼. Time: 2:02.82. Owner: done the distance on turf. if victories have been few and far course and distance last month, Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Shaheen bin Khalid Shaheen “I had told the two jockeys to in between. but did well yesterday to nego- Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian al-Ghanim. Trainer: Jassim Mo- not push the horses if they both Yesterday, the bay horse sur- tiate traffi c problems and then Smart. hamed Ghazali. end up in the lead together, and prised even his handler with a picking up a neck victory. Race 2: 1. Damon Runyon (Leo Race 6: 1. Woodkid (Tomas that’s exactly what happened. I late surge in pace under Lukasek After fi nishing in the money on Salles), 2. Dreaming Away (Tom Lukasek), 2. Sir Commander am really pleased with the way as they kept increasing the gap all four previous outings, Majed Marquand), 3. Rate Exchanged (Marco Casamento), 3. Tremen- things have gone today. on Jassim Mohamed Ghazali- Seifeddine-schooled Al Shomos (Eduardo Pedroza), 4. Wa’ad dous Leap (Theo Bachelot), 4. “I hope the results are the same trained duo – Sir Commander registered her fi rst career victory, (Rashid Ali al-Marri). Won by: 2 Skate (Ryan Curatolo). Won by: on Saturday too.” and Tremendous Leap – to even- topping the Local Thoroughbred ¾, 2 ¾, No. Time:1:11.41. Owner: 2, Nk, 2. Time: 1:35.38. Owner: His It was a great day in the offi ce tually win the Thoroughbred Handicap event for horses rated Al Murtages Racing Syndicate. Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin for the colours of His Highness Handicap event by a comfortable 85 and below. Carlos Henrique, Trainer: Mohamed Hamad al- Khalifa al-Thani. Trainer: Julian Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al- two lengths. riding in the colours of Mubar- Attiyah. Smart. Thani and Al Shahania Stud too In the penultimate race of ak bin Saeed al-Jafai al-Naimi, Race 3: 1. Al Shomos (Carlos Hen- Race 7: 1. Dominus (Luca Maniez- after their horses bagged a hat- the day, Stefano Ibido-saddled guided the mare to a one-length rique), 2. Al Adheed (Leo Salles), zi), 2. Receding Waves (JP Guil- trick. Dominus brushed aside a slow win in what was the fi ve-year- 3. Rawdat Al Khail (Theo Bach- lambert), 3. Mr Diamond (Marco The Festival began with a fan- start to pick up an impressive old’s longest outing so far at elot), 4. King Of Hearts (Meteb Ali Casamento), 4. Shaheen (Anas al- tastic victory of Mon’nia, who, victory, with Luca Maniezzi rid- 2000m. al-Marri). Won by: 1, ¾, 1 ¾. Time: Seyabi). Won by: 3, 2, Shd. Time: under Tomas Lukasek bagged ing the colt to a three-lengths Mohamed Hamad al-Attiyah- 2:04.92. Owner: Mubarak bin 1:10.79. Owner: Abdulhadi Mana the Purebred Arabian Plate event victory in the Thoroughbreds schooled Damon Runyon had Saeed al-Jafai al-Naimi. Trainer: al-Hajri. Trainer: Stefano Ibido. with ease. The Julian Smart- Class 2 sprint. shown promise under Leo Salles Majed Seifeddine. Race 8: 1. Mehdi (Ronan Tho- trained fi lly had little trouble The victory in the six-furlong coming into yesterday’s maiden Race 4: 1. Dahra (Eduardo Pedro- mas), 2. Sealine (Olivier Peslier), surging forward at the business sprint was the Abdulhadi Mana for Thoroughbreds, fi nishing in za), 2. Djamil (Ronan Thomas), 3. 3. She’ris (Eduardo Pedroza), end, leaving a quartet saddled al-Hajri-owned colt’s fi rst since Asian and Qatar equestrian federation President Hamad bin the frame twice. Yesterday, she Aneeq (Ryan Curatolo), 4. Fazan 4. Ishfaq (Harry Bentley). Won by de Mieulle behind, eventu- arrival in Qatar. Abdulrahman al-Attiyah (left) presents the trainer’s trophy to Alban shed her maiden status in fi ne (Meteb Ali al-Marri). Won by: ½, by: No, 8 ½, 5 ¼. Time: 2:13.66. ally winning with four lengths to Champion trainer Ghazali and de Mieulle after Umm Qarn’s Mehdi won the Al Zubara Trophy fashion, winning the six-furlong Hd, ¼. Time: 1:45.92. Owner: Al Owner: Umm Qarn. Trainer: spare. champion jockey Harry Bentley at Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club’s Al Rayyan Park yesterday. sprint by a little under three Shahania Stud. Trainer: Ibrahim Alban de Mieulle. The famous blue colours en- combined well for a victory for PICTURES: Juhaim lengths. al-Malki. BOTTOMLINE Inside line for defending champions Ebraz and French King on big day By Sports Reporter and-a-half, His Highness Sheikh the Qatar International Stakes and there is a long way to go. There in Gazwan,” said De Mieulle, re- Next door in fi ve will be De race from the last time,” Peslier Doha Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani’s at Goodwood, the Qatar Arabian is added pressure of the Triple ferring to another Smart-trained Mieulle-trained Chamekh, while said yesterday. Ebraz is gunning for a double-tri- World Cup at Longchamp and His Crown, and possibly a third Amir’s ward and two-time event winner. French raider Khataab, trained by Another French raider in the ple in the USD 1mn Arabian feature Highness The Amir Sword at Al Sword. But if there is any horse “But he still has to face Ebraz and Thomas Fourcy for Al Shaqab, will race is Pedro Cara, owned by His efending champions in — His Highness The Amir Sword Rayyan. who deserves, it’s him, he is a war- (Al Shaqab Racing’s) Khataab. He line up in third. Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin both the feature races of (Group 1 PA). The seven-year-old son of the rior,” said Smart during the draw is a good horse and Insha Allah.” Osama Omer al-Dafea’s Evo- Khalifa al-Thani, while the col- His Highness The Amir If Julian Smart-trained Ebraz prolifi c Arabian sire Amer has ceremony at Qatar National Mu- The two Alban de Mieulle wards lution Du Croate and Mohamed ours will also represented by Otwo DSword Festival will line lands the big Arabian prize over shown the versatility to land the seum yesterday. will start on the other end of the Nasser al-Naimi’s Akmar com- and American contender Standard up in Gate 1, aiming for supremacy mile-and-a-half, he will not only miler in the UK and the mile-and- Pushing Ebraz in the race will gates in seven and eight, with a plete the fi eld and will line up in Deviation. The trio will start from in Qatar’s fl agship and most pres- be the fi rst to win the event thrice, a-quarter in France, and will have be Umm Qarn’s Yazeed, winner third De Mieulle charge, Meb- gates six and two respectively.