HORSERACING – SOLDIER’S Empire and Roman Dragon pocketed the $40,000 bonuses in the 2024-25 Bahrain Turf Series, which came to a close late Thursday night at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.
Soldier’s Empire won after finishing in first place in the Bahrain Turf Series’ middle-distance division, while Roman Dragon triumphed in the sprint category.
The last two races in this season’s Bahrain Turf Series headlined the first of two days of action in the His Majesty the King’s Cup Festival.
Isa Bin Salman Education Charitable Trust chairman, Labour Fund (Tamkeen) chairman, and REHC chairman Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa was in attendance.
Owned by Al Mohamediya Racing and trained by Marco Botti, Soldier’s Empire saved his best for last, having picked up series points all season for his placed efforts. He won the $100,000 International Handicap and in the process secured the $40,000 bonus for first prize in the series. It was the gelding’s first win of the campaign and also a first win in Bahrain for Newmarket trainer Botti.
Under a vintage Neil Callan ride, Soldier’s Empire overcame a wide draw and weaved an unlikely route through the field to hit the front in the dying strides to deny Mr Alan for trainer George Boughey and jockey Billy Loughnane. In doing so, Callan and Soldier’s Empire also denied Amo Racing-owned Mr Alan first prize in the middle-distance division.
Speaking after the race, Callan said: “I am not sure where I found the gaps, it’s probably just instinct. Credit has to go to His Highness Shaikh Sultan, as I kept telling him this horse is a miler, he’s not getting home, so he said to me ‘ride him to get the trip and be the last to play’. So, we did that today and the horse duly delivered.
“I am really pleased to finally get a win for Marco Botti and his team, that’s quite special as they have been out here all season and deserved this.”
The 15 points earned for the win took Soldier’s Empire’s total in the series to 35 points, enough to claim the $40,000 bonus ahead of Mr Alan and Majestic.
Winning trainer Botti commented: “I am delighted to have won the division of the Bahrain Turf Series and delighted for the owner, His Highness Shaikh Sultan, after the support he has given us.
“It was a pleasure to watch. It was an excellent ride from Neil Callan from a tricky outside draw. They went fast, which he enjoyed, and he has a good turn of foot. The horse deserved to win because he’s been so consistent here all season.”
The final race in the sprint division, the Al Fateh Cup, sponsored by Bapco Energies, produced a shock result with Nationwide winning under jockey Stephane Ladjadj for trainer Fawzi Nass and Victorious Racing. Desert Cop once again ran a fine race in defeat for George Baker and Callum Shepherd.
As it turned out, ninth place was good enough for Roman Dragon to hold on to his lead in the series and win the $40,000 bonus for the sprint division for owners Nick Hughes and Michael Owen.
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