HORSERACING – CALIFORNIA lifted the Owner’s Cup, sponsored by Bapco Energies, in the feature race last night in the season-ending meeting at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.
National Guard commander Lieutenant-General Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa was in attendance during yesterday’s programme.
California triumphed in the 2,000m event for local runners, which headlined an exciting eight-race card in the 30th and concluding night of the 2024-25 national horseracing campaign.
The four-year-old gelding claimed the lion’s share of the BD12,000 total prize – the richest of the evening – for owner Abdulla Sami Nass and trainer Fawzi Nass, with jockey Alberto Sanna in the saddle.
California and Sanna won by a three-quarter’s length from runner-up Memory Card, competing for M and E Racing, AM Smith, and Marcialis Jaures. Living Art was third for Abdulla Sami Nass and Fawzi Nass, with Rosie Jessop as their jockey; while Mudallal finished fourth for Al Mohamediya Racing, Fawzi Nass, and Neil Callan.
Also yesterday, Zagato and Piz Nair claimed two other major trophies, both sponsored by Bapco Energies and offering BD10,000 apiece in winnings.
Zagato clinched the Bahrain Gold Cup, held over a distance of 2,000m. The seven-year-old gelding triumphed amongst the field of imported horses for the Al Mohamediya-Nass-Callan connections, winning by a head from second-placer Bleak, racing for Abdulla Fawzi Nass, Fawzi Nass, and Sanna. Salamanca Lad was classified third for Al Afoo Racing, Jaber Ramadhan, and Szczepan Mazur, while Intricacy came fourth for Al Khaldiya, Smith, and Lee Newman.
Piz Nair won the Champions Sprint, held along a 1,200m straight for imported runners. The four-year-old gelding competed for Al Adiyat Racing, Smith, and jockey Ebrahim Nader, finishing a length in front of Devaste, racing for Al Mohamediya, Osama Hashim, and Callan. Nomadic Empire was classified third for Al Mohamediya and Hashim, with Hussain Asghar in the saddle, and Inveigle came fourth for Sayed Jawad Marzooq, Mahmood Jawad, and Jessop.
Also yesterday, Byline won the Bapco Energies Mile Cup and Cracksking took the Bapco Energies Cup. Both races offered BD5,000 in total prize money.
Byline won the 1,600m race for imported horses competing for the Al Adiyat-Smith-Nader triumvirate. Merlin’s Beard was a close runner-up for the Al Mohamediya-Hashim-Callan connections, while Pure Dreamer finished third for Al Adiyat, Smith, and Abdulrahim Jasim. Juantorena came fourth competing for Victorious, Fawzi Nass, and Sanna.
Cracksking was another winner for the Al Adiyat-Smith-Nader trio, finishing ahead of Panning For Gold, who came second for the Al Mohamediya-Nass-Callan connections. Vestigia was third for Al Afoo Racing, Jaber Ramadhan, and Mazur, while fourth was Knight Of Honour for Al Mohamediya, Ali Abdulmajeed, and Asghar.
Elsewhere yesterday, Son Of Zous won the Bapco Energies Victory Sprint, offering BD4,000 in winnings, for M and E, Smith, and Jaures; Night Lantern clinched the Bapco Energies Prestige Cup, also offering BD4,000 in prize money, for M and E, Smith, and Newman; and Kuheilan Al Adiyat 1894 lifted the Bapco Energies Arabian Cup, with BD1,500 in prizes up for grabs, for Victorious, Yousif Taher, and Jasim.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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