HORSERACING – SALAMANCA Lad lifted the Majid Rashid Alzayani Cup last night in the feature race at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.
Yesterday’s meeting was the 26th of the national horseracing season, and it marked the first of two nights in the REHC’s Eid Al Fitr Festival. In attendance were General Sports Authority deputy chairman Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, REHC High Committee deputy chairman Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa, and REHC CEO Yusuf Buheji, along with other high-ranking officials.
Salamanca Lad claimed a narrow triumph in the 2,000-metre race, which was the sixth of nine on the card and with BD4,000 in winnings. The four-year-old gelding was competing for owners Al Afoo Racing and trainer Jaber Ramadhan and was ridden by jockey Ebrahim Nader.
Intricacy came a close second with just a three-quarters-of-a-length gap from the victor, racing for Al Khaldiya, AM Smith, and Lee Newman. Rollajam finished third for Victorious, Fazi Nass, and Husain Makki, while Gumais was fourth for Al Mohamediya Racing, Osama Hashim, and Hussain Asghar.
Meanwhile, in the fourth race of yesterday’s programme, Mediterranean Moon lifted the REHC Cup, contested over 1,600m with a BD3,000 total prize.
The six-year-old mare took first place for owners M and E Racing and trainer AM Smith, with jockey Lee Newman in the saddle. Mediterranean Moon triumphed by two-and-a-quarter lengths from runner-up California, competing for Abdulla Sami Nass, Fawzi Nass, and Husain Makki. Rider On The Storm came third for M and E and Smith, with Marcialis Jaures as the jockey, while Hizaam took the final share of the winnings in fourth for Shaikh Salman bin Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Abdulla Kuwaiti, and Abdulrahim Jasim.
The fifth race last night was for the Late Shaikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Cup, held over 2,000m with a BD3,000 prize, and Phoenix Passion cruised to the win.
The four-year-old gelding, ridden by Hussain Asghar, won for owners Al Mohamediya Racing and trainer Fawzi Nass, finishing three-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of King Of The Throne, who took second for Al Afoo Racing, Jaber Ramadhan, and Hasan Asghar.
Flame Spirit finished third for Mohamed Yousif Sarhan, Yousif Sarhan, and Abdulla Al Hawaj; while Apres Dark came fourth for Al Asayel Racing, Khalid Al Khatri, and Qasim Jameel.
From the six other races held last night, Musannan M908 won race one for Mohamediya, Ali Abdulmajeed, and Hussain Asghar; Gharam took race two for Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, Haider Ebrahim, and Alberto Sanna; Catherine Parr won race three for Mohamediya and Abdulmajeed, with Soufiane Saadi in the saddle; Pegasus claimed race seven for L&Z Racing, Sayed Jaafar Isa, and Ebrahim Nader; Malakye took race eight for Al Sadah Syndicate, Mohammed Hasan, and Jaures; and What A Business won the night’s ninth and final race for Jawad Abdulwahid Ahmed, Jaffar Radhi, and Anas Al Siyabi.
The Eid Al Fitr Festival continues today with the second straight evening of racing at REHC. It is part of the kingdom-wide celebrations of Eid Al Fitr, and the programme on both days includes several night races held under REHC’s bright floodlights.
Tonight’s programme, which marks the 27th meeting of the season, eight races are scheduled. The Late Mr Abdulla Ahmed Nass Cup, sponsored by Nass Corporation and AA Nass and Sons, is the feature event. This 1,400m challenge for imported horses offers a whopping BD10,000 in prize money.
There will be three other cups up for the taking, including the Sarens Nass Cup and the Royal Golf Club Cup, both for imported horses and each carrying BD4,000 in winnings, and the Applied Science University Cup, also with imported runners who will battle for the BD3,000 prize.
Today’s programme is scheduled to get underway at 4pm and continue until after 7.30pm.
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