Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club Hosts H E Sheikh Joaan Day

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club (QREC) is set to host a significant racing event on Saturday, featuring the H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle Day. This major race meeting will take place at the Al Rayyan Racecourse, attracting a strong field of owners, trainers, and jockeys eager to compete for top honors in one of the highlights of the domestic racing calendar.

The event precedes the eagerly awaited H H The Amir Sword Festival, which is scheduled from February 11 to 14, 2026. This weekend’s program will consist of ten races, varied by distance and category, showcasing a mix of local and international talent.

Race Details and Prize Money

The card opens with the Na’ama Trophy, a race for local Purebred Arabian fillies and mares over a distance of 1750 meters, offering a purse of $100,000. Following this is the Desert Rose Cup, which also features local Thoroughbred fillies and mares over the same distance, with a matching prize of $100,000.

Next up is the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Sprint Trophy for Thoroughbreds, contested over 1200 meters, with a purse of $50,000. This will be succeeded by another trophy race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds over 1400 meters, also offering $50,000. The mid-card highlight is the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for local Thoroughbreds over 1750 meters, which has a total value of $55,000.

As the day progresses, attention will shift to the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for Purebred Arabians, contested over 1750 meters with a prize of $50,000. There will also be a similar trophy specifically for four-year-old Purebred Arabians over the same distance, carrying a value of $100,000.

The penultimate race is an international contest, the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for Purebred Arabians (Class 1 – Group 3 PA) over 2200 meters, boasting a purse of $100,000. The finale, the highlight of the meeting, is the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle for Thoroughbreds (Class 1) over 2200 meters, also worth $100,000. Winning this race will qualify competitors for the Shalfa race at the upcoming H H The Amir Sword Festival.

Last Year’s Highlights

Last season’s edition of this meeting was notably staged at Al Uqda Racecourse for the first time instead of the traditional Al Rayyan venue. The prestigious H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Rifle was clinched by Aafoor, owned by Al Jeryan Stud. This Thoroughbred, trained by M.H.K Al Attiyah and ridden by Szczepan Mazur, triumphed in the Class 1 race for horses aged four years and above over 2200 meters.

Earlier in the program, another standout performance came from Abbes, who secured victory in the H E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani Trophy for Purebred Arabians. This race was notable for extending Abbes’ winning streak to three consecutive successes under jockey James Doyle, trained by Alban de Mieulle.

The excitement surrounding this weekend’s event underscores the vibrant racing culture in Qatar and the commitment of the QREC to host premier racing events that highlight both local and international equestrian talent.