Emir steals the show as game of two halves brings sword festival to a close
The final day of HH The Amir Sword Festival in Qatar's capital Doha is something of a story of two halves.
The first part is akin to a warm, summer's afternoon at any number of Britain's smaller Flat circuits. Bathed in sunshine, the atmosphere is as relaxed and soothing as an August twilight card at Hamilton or Windsor – minus of course the alcohol and gambling.
Racegoers – ranging from native thawb-attired dignitaries, to your run-of-the-mill Qatari racefans, to some of global racing's biggest power brokers – shelter from the blistering midday sun in the shade cast by Al Rayyan racecourse's understated yet regal grandstand.
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