HORSERACING – TRAINER George Scott and jockey Callum Shepherd enjoyed an evening to remember at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) yesterday as the pair teamed up to land a hat-trick of wins, concluding with victory by Phantom Flight in the Al Adiyat Cup, round three in the 2024-25 Bahrain Turf Series.
His Majesty King Hamad’s humanitarian work and youth affairs representative and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS) chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and SCYS first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa were both on hand for yesterday’s events, along with other high-ranking officials.
For Scott, it was his fifth winner from nine runners in Bahrain this season, while for Shepherd, it was his first visit to the kingdom since Isle Of Jura’s successes last year, having spent a lengthy time out through injury.
The third leg of their treble came in the $80,000 Al Adiyat Cup, sponsored by YBA Kanoo, when Phantom Flight, on his debut in Bahrain, wore down Sovereign Spirit in the closing stages, with last year’s winner, Zagato, back in third.
Like Isle Of Jura before him, Phantom Flight was carrying the colours of Shaikh Nasser’s Victorious Racing.
Earlier on the card, Scott and Shepherd had struck with Touch The Moon, also owned by Victorious Racing, and then City House.
Reflecting on Phantom Flight’s success and the three winners, Scott said: “It has been a special evening for us. All credit to the team out here who have done all the hard work. It’s nice that I just get to turn up and put the saddles on!
“Callum did great to get Phantom (Flight) up as it was a messy race. The horse showed his quality at the end. I was impressed with him.
“I had left a little bit to work on as I didn’t want him completely ready to roll tonight and he will be back here in two weeks for the Crown Prince’s Cup.”
Shepherd added: “Phantom Flight travelled very strong, probably a little bit fresh. I thought I was going to win quite cosily, but then a bit of rustiness showed as Sovereign Spirit got first run on us, but I really liked the resilience my horse showed when I asked him to dig in.
“Isle Of Jura is a rock star and Phantom Flight is not quite there yet but he’s a really nice horse and the programme out here will suit him. It is exciting to have got off to the best possible start.”
The Bahrain Turf Series’ sprint division race yesterday, the Al Wasmiya Cup, sponsored by National Bank of Bahrain, run over the minimum trip of 1000m, went to the improving Ava Go Joe, who overhauled long-time leader and previous Bahrain Turf Series winner Swift Asset.
Ava Go Joe was ridden to victory by Ebrahim Nader, the kingdom’s leading rider this season, and trained by Ali Jan. The seven-year-old has now won four races this campaign with this effort being a career best. Kiwano, trained by George Baker, did best of the international runners, finishing sixth.
Jan was pleasantly surprised by the result: “He is a very consistent horse and I was expecting a good run from him, but he is clearly improving with every race.
“He was already a good horse before this season, but this year we have made some changes and now we don’t know where the improvement will stop.”
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