Mon'nia, Noor Al Hawa claim biggest prizes as HH the Amir Sword Festival concludes

The His Highness Amir Sword Festival came to an exciting conclusion yesterday with Mon'nia, owned by HE Sheikha Yasmeen bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and Al Wasmiyah Farm's Noor Al Hawa claiming the Amir Sword and Trophy prizes, respectively in addition to the $1 million prize-money each at the Race Track and Equestrian Club in Al Rayyan Park.

HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended the grand finale, and he crowned the winners.

Also in attendance were HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani and HE Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Al Thani and many Sheikhs, Ministers, horse owners and fans of equestrian sport.

While Mon'nia (Amer x Margouia) ensured trainer Julian Smart returned to the winner's circle for the biggest prize in Purebred Arabian racing for the sixth straight year in Qatar, Al Wasmiyah Farm's Noor Al Hawa, meanwhile, finally landed the biggest prize that had hitherto been missing from his long list of achievements with the Amir Trophy for Thoroughbreds.

The filly, Mon'nia, showed some fantastic pace coming off the bend, right until the post to land the HH The Amir Sword (GR1 PA) (Sponsored by Al Hazm) (Purebred Arabians 4-Year-Olds & Older).

Helmed by Tomas Lukasek, Mon'nia was midfield even as Umm Qarn's bin General and Jabalah set the pace up front early on in the 2400m feature. Mon'nia began her move up on the bend before pulling away.

Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari's Lady Princess, trained by Thomas Fourcy, gave chase and even closed the gap but not enough to threaten the leader. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani's Ebraz (Amer x Massamarie) too upped the pace under Maxime Guyon with his characteristic kick and managed to edge out Julien Auge ridden Lady Princess (General x Nacree Al Maury) for the runner up spot a length and a quarter behind the winner.

Al Wasmiyah Farm's Noor Al Hawa (Makfi x Majestic Roi) continued with his fantastic season in style as the prolific winner landed the biggest Thoroughbred prize in Qatar, the 2400m HH The Amir Trophy (QA GR 1) (Presented by Longines) (Class 1 Thoroughbreds 4-Year-Olds & Older).

Abdullah bin Fahad Al Attiyah's Munir Du Soleil (Munjiz x Rahab) produced a late kick to win in two different countries in as many starts. Helmed by Tomas Lukasek, the Thomas Fourcy ward bided his time and surged forward, coming off the final bend.

Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari's King Pacha (Acclamation x Regina Mundi) overcame a forgettable start to land the HH The Amir Shalfa (4-Year-Olds & Older Class 1 thoroughbred 85 & Above) in scintillating fashion on Saturday.

Khalifa bin Sheail Al Kuwari's Devious Company (Fast Company x Seren Devious) was the first of the two win for the colors on the final day of HH The Amir Sword Festival when the Mohammed Ghazali schooled colt landed the Al Biddah Mile (QA Gr 2) (Thoroughbreds (Class 1) 3-Year-Olds Only) in fine fashion yesterday.

Osama Omer Al Dafea's Taxiwala (Holy Roman Emperor x It's True) improved his strike rate this term when landing fourth win this season on Thursday. Winner in the Muaither Cup in January and then the Al Shaqab Racing Trophy over the distance earlier this month, the gelding his own under pressure from an Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki trained duo Zyzzyva and X Force, especially the former. In the six furlongs Dukhan Sprint (QA Gr 3) (Sponsored by Breeders' Cup) (3-Year-Olds & Older), Alberto Sanna and his mount held a slender advantage at the business end and held on even as Ryan Curatolo rode Zyzzyva couldn't find the reserves to put the affair to bed despite breathing down the leader's neck.

HE Sheikha Reem bint Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani's METHGAL (TM Fred Texas x Theeba) won the Qatar International Cup (GR1 PA)(Sponsored by Daam) (4-Year-Olds & Older) for the second consecutive year with a fantastic run down coming off the final bend on Saturday.

Al Jeryan Stud's Al Lusail (Footstepsinthesand x Gooey) went one step better than last year in the Al Rayyan Breeders Cup (Local Thoroughbreds 4-Year-Olds & Older) to win the 2000m affair in a thrilling contest that went right down to the wire. Helmed by Alberto Sanna, the Hadi Al Ramzani schooled 7yo built on a promising run of results, hattrick on return this term, to embellish the season with a big win.

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