HORSERACING – ROMAN Dragon gave trainer Hugo Palmer and jockey Harry Davies their first winners of the season in Bahrain as the six-year-old came back to his best to win the $80,000 Al Sakhir Cup, sponsored by Beyon, round five in the sprint division of 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 was in attendance; along with SCYS first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa; as well as Isa Bin Salman Education Charitable Trust board of trustees chairman, Labour Fund (Tamkeen) chairman, and Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) High Committee chairman Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
A six-time winner around the tight turns of Chester, Roman Dragon also relishes the straight track at the REHC. The gelding won a Bahrain Turf Series race last season and repeated the feat here, under an excellent ride from Davies, who was getting off the mark for the season in Bahrain, as was Palmer.
There was plenty of pace on over the 1,000m trip, with Roman Dragon eventually overhauling Desert Cop, ridden by Callum Shepherd for trainer George Baker, in the closing stages.
Speaking after the race, Davies said: “It panned out perfectly for me. I got the lead I wanted, which took me to the furlong pole. And then he was very game. Here they go very fast in the sprints, so being able to stay that bit further will always help you out.
“He’s a legend, this horse. Hugo and the team have had so much fun with him and for him to win out here again is just fantastic. I am also delighted for Nick Hughes, the owner, with Michael Owen. They love their racing and I am sure they will be celebrating back at home.”
Earlier on the card, there was a minor upset in the His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup when Zagato bounced back to winning ways at the expense of Phantom Flight.
The first staging of the race since its promotion to Listed status saw the recent Crown Prince’s Cup winner, Phantom Flight, comprehensively beaten by Zagato, taking the win for owners Al Mohamediya Racing, trainer Fawzi Nass, and jockey Neill Callan.
The King’s Cup winner back in 2022, on his last two starts, Zagato has chased home Phantom Flight and this weekend’s Neom Cup contender in Saudi, Sovereign Spirit. However, winning rider Callan attributed the turnaround in form to the step-up in trip to 2,200m.
Callan said: “He’s actually been running well this season, he’s just been running over distances too short for him. We knew Phantom Flight was going to be a tough nut to crack, but if there’s a nut to be cracked, this is the horse to do it.
“I am so pleased to be associated with His Highness Shaikh Sultan and his family and this win means a lot.”
Next stop for Zagato will be The King’s Cup, run on March 7.
There was a quick double for Mohamediya when Knight Of Honour took the Bahrain Vision Cup, sponsored by Alba, round five in the middle-distance division of this season’s Bahrain Turf Series.
Knight Of Honour, a winner at the last meeting just seven days ago, followed up in a much more competitive event as 17 horses went to post for a fast-run 1,800m race.
In a tight finish, Knight Of Honour held off international challenger Killybegs Warrior, having just his second run for trainer George Baker, with Bleak back in third. Close up but out of the placings were two more internationals in Snellen and Mr Alan.
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