HORSERACING – BLACK Pearl lifted the Late HH Shaikh Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa Opening Day Cup yesterday at Rashid Equestrian Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.
The meeting was the first of the 2024-25 campaign at REHC, and it featured eight races, all offering Late HH Shaikh Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa Cups.
In attendance were National Arts Council deputy chairman Shaikh Turki bin Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa and Supreme Council for Environment deputy chairman and REHC vice-chairman Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid Al Khalifa.
Competing for owners M and E Racing, AM Smith-trained Black Pearl took the win amongst a field of 16 locally bred contenders with Lee Newman in the saddle. It was the day’s concluding event, held under the new night lighting system at REHC.
The four-year-old triumphed with a dominant ride over eight furlongs, winning with a margin of five lengths ahead of Silk Road, racing for Al Adiyat Racing, also trained by Smith, and with Alejandro Brun as the jockey.
Tharb claimed third place for Abdulla Sami Nass and Fawzi Nass, and ridden by Husain Makki, while Mister Dollar finished fourth and took the last share of the BD5,000 total prize for Al Mohamediya Racing, Ali Abdulmajeed, and Oisin Orr.
In yesterday’s seventh race, also with a BD5,000 total purse and contested over eight furlongs, Pure Dreamer triumphed competing for owners Al Adiyat Racing and trainer Smith, saddled by Seamie Heffernan.
Mehmento was the runner-up for Al Afoo Racing, Mohammed Hasan, and David Liska. Wowzers, racing for Al Mohamediya, Fawzi Nass, and Andrew Breslin, came third, and Royal Scimitar was fourth for Al Mohamediya, Fawzi Nass, and Orr.
In race six, held over a six-furlong straight with a BD4,000 prize, Ava Go Joe took first place for AMS Racing, Ali Jan, and Ebrahim Nader. Kaasib was second for Al Mohamediya, Ali Abdulmajeed, and Orr, while Ibn Arabi was third for Al Nasser Syndicate, Ali Nasser, and Hasan Al Saffar. Corcovado finished fourth for Al Mallah Racing, Abduljaleel Al Mallah, and Breslin.
The day’s fifth race was won by Sovereign Spirit, competing for Al Afoo, Jaber Ramadhan, and Liska. The winner triumphed after nine furlongs for the lion’s share of the BD4,000 prize.
Bond’s Boy came second for Al Mohamediya, Osama Hashim, and Breslin, while Panning For Gold was third for Al Mohamediya, Fawzi Nass, and Orr. King Of The Throne ranked fourth to also come away with prize money for Al Afoo, Ramadhan, and Marcelian Kolmarkaj.
Elsewhere yesterday, Signalman won race four, held over nine furlongs with BD3,000 in prize money, for Victorious, Fawzi Nass, and Husain Makki; while Waqiaah triumphed in race two, held over five furlongs with a BD3,000 total prize, for Al Afoo, Hasan, and Liska.
The day’s third race, held over nine furlongs with BD2,000 in prizes, Great Dane won for M and E, Smith, and Newman. The first race of the day, which was a five-furlong event with a BD2,000 prize purse, was claimed by Kuheilan Weld Umm Zorayr 1838, racing for Victorious, Yousif Taher, and Abdulrahim Jasim.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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