The three-day H H The Amir Sword Festival 2022, featuring top class runners including 15 international horses, concluded on Saturday after producing exciting action at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC). The 2022 edition of Qatar racing season’s headline meeting was special as it showcased activities on a larger scale, bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic.
A total of 24 thrilling races were decided (eight per day) during the Festival, with the competitors firing on all cylinders to wow fans, who turned out in big numbers throughout the prestigious event at the QREC. Apart from the races, QREC hosted many other activities including special horse shows.
The premier event – $1m HH The Amir Sword – lived up to its billing as Lady Princess, owned by Khalifa bin Sheail KH J Al Kuwari, bagged the victory after a stunning 2400m race. Another major race on the final day – HH The Amir Trophy – competed over the exact distance and offering the same prize-pot saw Outbox, steered by Hollie Doyle, shocking favourites to win the title. Also on the final day, Moshrif, also owned by Khalifa bin Sheail, stormed to impressive win in H H The Amir Silver Sword.
Competitors, who traveled from different parts of the world praised fine organisation during the Festival. “My first time here in Qatar straight from the UK, and it is fantastic, a great atmosphere here and everyone’s very welcoming to us. It’s been really, really good,” Outbox’s British trainer Archie Watson told reporters. Mehdi (Al Zubara Trophy) and Pao Alto (Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Cup) sealed victories in features races on the first two days respectively.
Besides the races, H H The Amir Sword Equestrian Festival, featuring dressage, Small, Medium, Big Tours and Future Riders competitions, was also held.
The showjumping event also turned out to be a huge success as riders showed their class to grab honours. However, Hamad Nasser Al Qadi clinched his second successive Amir’s Sword title while the Medium Tour was won by Mohamed Abdulla Juma. Abdulrahman Eisa Al Bukhari clinched the Small Tour.
The successful Amir Sword Festival 2022 proves that the sport has continued to grow despite the pandemic. There will more showjumping action in the country as Qatar will host the CHI Al Shaqab and world’s premier five-star showjumping championship Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and the Global Champions League (GCL) 2022 season opener in the next two weekends.
