Sixty meetings of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club mark the racing season for 2012-2013 at Doha’s Al Rayyan Racecourse. The Qatari racing operation has organized substantially in the last several years, gaining greater awareness on the global calendar, and increased interest from the UAE. Last season, Ali Rashid Al Raihe trainee Happy Dubai, a multiple Carnival winner, shipped for the Qatar 2022 Invitation Cup, running second, while 2010 Dubai Duty Free winner Al Shemali ran sixth in the HH The Emir’s Trophy.
Festivities commence on October 18, with the thrust of the international stakes schedule beginning a month later. Listed below are the key international thoroughbred races on the Qatari calendar for this upcoming season, along with the horse and winning jockey for each of the races last season. An equivalent for purebred Arabians is scheduled for most all of the races below. Trainer Jassim Al Ghazali was a runaway winner in the trainer standings, while Darren Williams managed 61 riding wins to defeat Gerald Avranche for the jockey premiership last season. Qatar has had some success at the Dubai World Cup meeting, winning two of the last three runnings of the Dubai Kahayla Classic (2010 – Jaafer, 2012 – TM Fred Texas).
15 November
Qatar Guineas (G3) – 1,600 metres (Ladyanne – Adrie De Vries)
Barzan Cup (G3) – 1,600 metres (Amico Mio – David Badel)
4 December
Qatar Oaks Trial (Listed) – 1,850 metres (Abeer – Marvin Suerland)
5 December
Qatar Derby Trial (G2) – 1,850 metres (Brittany – Adrie De Vries)
6 December
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani Trophy (G2) – 2,000 metres (Dubawi King – Gerald Avranche)
26 December
Qatar Oaks (G3) – 2,000 metres (Miss Starlight – Darryll Holland)
27 December
Qatar Derby (G1) – 2,000 metres (Ladyanne – Gerald Avranche)
7 February
H.H. The Heir Apparent Trophy (G1) – 2,200 metres (Amico Mio – David Badel)
22 February
Qatar 2022 Invitation Cup (G3) – 1,200 metres (Collect Art – Gerald Avranche)
27 February
Qatar International Cup (G2) – 1,600 metres (Flying Destination – Adrie De Vries)
28 February
H.H. The Emir’s Trophy (G1) – 2,400 metres (Lancelot – Olivier Peslier)