Bahrain-based jockey Rosie Jessop teamed up with Newmarket trainer George Boughey and Spangled Mac to land yesterday the $80,000 Al Riffa Cup, sponsored by BBK, in round two of the sprint division in the 2024-25 Bahrain Turf Series.
In a one-two-three for internationally trained horses, Spangled Mac was in the front rank all the way and was chased home by two previous Turf Series winners, Rocket Rodney, trained by George Scott, and Roman Dragon, trained by Hugo Palmer.
Spangled Mac had clearly improved for his debut run in Bahrain three weeks ago and relished the step up in trip to 1,200m. In the race before, Boughey had gone close with Mr Alan, but it was Spangled Mac who provided him with a third success in the kingdom following the exploits of Thunder Moor last season.
The card also featured the second round in the middle-distance division of the Bahrain Turf Series, the $80,000 Al Dana Cup, run over 2,000m.
Under an audacious ride by Seamie Heffernan, Majestic came from last to first in the 16-runner event.
Following a slow start from a wide draw, Heffernan dropped the seven-year-old gelding in behind the field and bided his time until the home straight when he pulled Majestic out and came with an irrepressible run down the outside, passing all the runners to win the $80,000 race going away.
A runner-up three weeks ago, the victory was a first win in Bahrain for trainer Jack Channon and a first win for Majestic since landing the 2022 running of the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket, when the gelding was trained by Jack’s father, Mick.
On this occasion, Mick Channon was the winning owner as Majestic carried his yellow and black silks to victory.
Finishing in second was the long-time leader and locally trained Merlin’s Beard, followed by George Boughey’s Mr Alan.
In a tight finish for the minor honours, Snellen, the winner of round one in the middle-distance division of the Bahrain Turf Series, was a close-up fifth, with Lion Of War in sixth, both denied clear runs in the closing stages, unlike the winner who found clear sailing down the outside.
&uuid=(email))