Port Lions triumphs to lift Bapco Cup

Manama :

Port Lions powered to an impressive victory in the day’s main race yesterday for the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) Cup at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Riffa. In attendance at yesterday’s meeting were High Committee Deputy Chairman of REHC His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Executive Director at REHC Shaikh Salman bin Rashed Al Khalifa, and other high-ranking officials.

Owned by Victorious, trained by Hesham Al Haddad and ridden by Paddy Mathers, Port Lions clinched the win in the 1,400m sprint with a time of one minute 24.019 seconds. Port Lions was three lengths ahead of runner-up San Dimas, owned and trained by Yousif Alboainain, and ridden by Marcialis Jaures, who had a time of 1:24.631. In third a further threequarters-of-a-length behind was Starboy, owned by Al Afoo Racing Stable and trained by Mohammed Saeed. Starboy was able to claim a finishing time of 1:24.772 with jockey Lee Newman.

The main race, which was the seventh of the day with the richest prize of BD6,000, had 11 horses at the start. Meanwhile, winning the sixth race, also for the Bapco Cup and over a distance of 1,400m was Strong Challenge, owned by Jawad Abdulwahid Ahmed, trained by Jaffar Radhi and ridden by Ahmed Maki. Five Angels was in second two lengths back, while Jabir came third. Yaoud, owned by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, clinched the day’s fifth race over 1,200m for another Bapco Cup. Trained by James Naylor and ridden by Andrea Atzeni, Yaoud powered to a narrow win by a neck over Victorious’s Mohaayedah, while Nardeen came third. In the day’s fourth race, also for the Bapco Cup, Lolla Fincess won after completing the 1,000m straight in 59.436 seconds.

Owned by Awal Racing Syndicate, trained by A Kuwaiti and ridden by Andrew Elliott, Lolla Fincess beat Jim Rockford by a length and a half. Dodger Marley came third. In race number three over 2,000m for the Bapco Cup, Masharif owned by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa claimed the win. Trained by Naylor and ridden by Elliott, Masharif won in 2:07.581 – just three-quarters-of-a-length ahead of Shawwash. Excelsior came third. In the second race of the day covering 1,600m for the Bapco Cup, taking first place in 1:40.379 was Madaar, owned by His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, trained by Naylor and ridden by Elliott. Jayyash was the runner-up one-and-three-quartersof-a-length behind while Remiah came third. In the day’s first race for the Bahrain Olympic Committee Cup over 1,400m, Krayaan 1706 triumphed in 1:40.227. Owned by Victorious and trained by Yousif Taher, Krayaan 1706 was ridden by Anas Al Siyabi. Al Jellaby 1683 was second and Al Saqlaawy 1772 came third.