QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune Struff leaves QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune it late to secure quarter-final berth at BMW Open PAGE 11 FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021 Sheikh Abdullah’s Qaiser goes from strength to strength TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK perior opposition. ner, responding to a couple of to assess. I was a bit worried DOHA The Antoine de Watri- reminders from Olivier Pesli- about the soft ground as this gant runner lifted the cloud er, subsequently took the lead. isn’t his forte. It was a bit of a HAVING only visited the of doubt harboured by his He prevailed by a length and a falsely run race, as the other racecourse for the first time connections after delivering quarter, but giving the impres- horses in the race were ‘reined’ in February, three-year-old a second career victory full of sion that he was very much in back, but Olivier Peslier gave Qaiser (FR) (Charm Spirit x promise, winning the Class 2 his comfort zone. him a good ride. Holly Polly) got off the mark Prix Vans Theault. The JC. Rouget-trained “Qaiser acquitted himself at the third attempt a fortnight In a race in which Got and Jean-Bernard Eyquem- very well and I’m very happy. earlier. In Class 2 Prix Vans Bright (Intello x Rumored) helmed Mothill (IRE) He was supplemented for this Theault won by five lengths at set the tempo, Qaiser trav- (Golden Horn x Jilnaar) was because of the lack of suitable Lyon, but that form was hard elled in mid-division in a heat second while the R. Avial other opportunities in the to weigh up. which had been reduced to Lopez-trained and the Ju- calendar. On Wednesday, card at La five runners. lien Grosjean-ridden Paper “We chose La Teste be- Teste-de-Buch, near Bordeaux The race was run at a mod- Trophy (FR) (Spanish Moon cause we were looking for a in France, the representative est tempo, but the pace quick- x Mislix) was further three flat track. I don’t know where of His Highness Sheikh Abdul- ened on the turn when the quarters of a length behind he goes next, but he will prob- lah bin Khalifa Al Thani was quintet was line abreast. The in third. ably be earmarked for a Class not only tackling the 2,400m horses then made a beeline Antoine de Watrigant, 1 or a Listed race. He’s coming (12f) trip for the first time, but for the stands’ side rail in the said, “Unlike today’s race, along gradually and is a colt he was also up against far su- straight, and the future win- Qaiser in action at the La Teste-de-Buch Racecourse in France on Wednesday. (Pic: Robert-Polin) the Lyon victory was difficult who strengthened up.” PORTUGUESE GRAND PRIX Hamilton seeks 100th pole in F1 duel with Verstappen Al Shaqab Racing’s Noman made a winning debut at the Ayr Race- course in Scotland on Tuesday. (Racingfotos) DPA BERLIN Al Shaqab Racing’s Noman WORLD champion Lewis Hamilton eyes the Formula returns with 2nd straight victory One milestone of 100 pole po- sitions on the weekend at the TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK He did not have to force his Portuguese Grand Prix when DOHA talent as regards dominating he renews his duel with Max his two rivals. Logic dictated Verstappen. AL Shaqab Racing’s Noman that he looked capable of han- But the Mercedes star can (IRE) (Shalaa x Mathool) dling a rise in grade. The Da- not afford another mistake as made a seasonal winning de- vid O’Meara-trained and Cam two weeks ago in Imola if he but at the Ayr Racecourse in Hardie-helmed Doctor Par- wants to keep his fast Red Bull Scotland on Tuesday. nassus (IRE) (Make Believe rival at bay. The three-year-old colt x We’ll Go Walking) was the Hamilton won the season- completed a double on his runner-up. opener in Bahrain ahead of third career attempt, winning The Jim Goldie-trained Verstappen before the Dutch- I think this is really the rst time in the TV Profits Returned To and Paul Mulrennan-ridden man turned the tide in Italy, a long time that Red Bull have had Racing Novice Stakes, a three- Castle View (IRE) (Casamento with pole-sitter Hamilton rid- a championship-winning car, so I runner 2000-metre Class 5 x Spirit Of The Sea) was fur- ing out in a rare mistake after think it’s going to be close all the run for three-year-olds and ther 16 lengths behind. which he still managed to re- way through the year - and it’s just older, by three quarters of a Noman had opened his ac- bound from ninth to second at going to be, hopefully, more and length for trainer Hugo Palmer count on only his second start the chequered flag. with Jason Hart in the saddle. as a two-year-old last season. Red Bull ruled F1 with four more of these battles. straight drivers’ and construc- Lewis Hamilton tors’ titles 2010-2013 before Mercedes became unrivalled in the following years by La Liga sweeping all trophies on offer Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton attends the ofcial press conference of the Portuguese Formula One Grand Prix at the Algarve Interna- - including six of the drivers’ tional Circuit in Portimao, Portugal, on Thursday. (AFP) Barcelona crash 2-1 againt Granada, titles for Hamilton. Koeman sent off Mercedes’s total domi- nance has helped Hamilton Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen of Red Bull continue their BERLIN: Barcelona missed the chance to move top of LaLiga after to his extraordinary record of suffering a shock 2-1 loss to Granada at the Camp Nou on Thursday. Li- pole positions and race wins early-season duel for Formula supremacy, with title holder Hamilton onel Messi’s 23rd-minute goal appeared to have Barca on course for a which stand at 99 and 96 re- fth straight home win, a result good enough to see them leapfrog both spectively heading to Porti- also aiming for a 100th career pole position. rivals Real Madrid and long-time leaders Atletico for in the table. How- mao where he won from first ever, Granada - who had failed to even manage a draw in any of their on the grid last season. But to reactions. tum and keep that all the way Vestappen said, adding that Looking at Portimao (and previous 25 league visits to their Catalan opponents - turned the game Red Bull are re-emerging as a That means we have to through the year.” being “very, very competitive” beyond) Mercedes motor around to further change the outlook in the title race. Darwin Machis major threat and according to keep up the pressure constant- Verstappen and Hamilton in both races was “very prom- sport chief Toto Wolff said: equalised before Barca boss Ronald Koeman was shown a red card, their advisor Helmut Marko ly, if not increase it.” have both said they welcome ising but no guarantee.” “We’re expecting another meaning the Dutchman had to watch on from the stands as Jorge Mo- this also contributed to Ham- Long-time Red Bull team the fight for supremacy, with Said Hamilton: “I think close fight with Red Bull, and lina was afforded time and space to head in a 79th-minute winner. The ilton’s mishap in Imola. principal Christian Horner Hamilton naming his mis- this is really the first time in a both McLaren and Ferrari dramatic turnaround had never appeared on the cards, yet Barcelona “They didn’t have continu- also hopes that the great start take in Italy “a lesson” for the long time that Red Bull have could also be in the mix too.” allowed their opponents to score with their only two attempts on target ous opposition, but that’s now will boost them for the season future as he seeks a record had a championship-winning Lando Norris was an im- to cause a huge upset. Messi had broken the deadlock after linking up the case with Red Bull and with a record 23 races. eighth title. car, so I think it’s going to be pressive third for McLaren with Antoine Griezmann, the Frenchman timing his delayed return pass Max Verstappen,” Marko told “It’s by far the best start “It’s great to be fighting close all the way through the in Imola and Charles Leclerc perfectly to allow his team-mate to zz a low, left-footed shot beyond broadcasters RTL. we’ve had for quite a few against Lewis, Mercedes who year - and it’s just going to be, followed in fourth for Ferrari, goalkeeper Aaron Escandell and into the far corner of the net. (DPA) “And apparently – human- years,” Horner said. “We just have been so dominant and hopefully, more and more of with both teams keen to follow ly understandable – that leads want to build that momen- they’re very difficult to beat,” these battles.” up on that in Portimao. We won in Barcelona and Munich, we can win Of course, we played well in the rst half (vs in Manchester as well: PSG coach Pochettino Manchester City) and DPA uphill battle at the Etihad Sta- from home,” Pochettino told four European games against a great team, but we have to it’s our hope to go BERLIN dium next week. reporters post-game. City (D2 L2), only facing Ju- believe,” Pochettino said. “We and play well in However, PSG eliminated “We played well in Barce- ventus (eight) on more occa- have the talent to do it.” PARIS Saint-Germain head Barcelona 5-2 on aggregate in lona and also in Munich.