Tulip Fever claims upset win in main event

Tulip Fever raced to an upset victory yesterday to lift the A’Ali Sprint Cup in the day’s main event at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Riffa. REHC High Committee Deputy Chairman HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa was on hand to watch yesterday’s action.

Owned by HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa and trained by James Naylor, Tulip Fever and jockey Brett Doyle overcame some stiff competition and claimed the win by the narrowest of margins. Tulip Fever completed the straight of five furlongs in a total time of 59.096 seconds to claim the lion’s share of the BD5,000 total prize. All three imported horses finishing behind were the pre-race favourites.

Taking the runner-up spot, just a nose or 0.003 seconds behind the victor was Likethelook, competing for Ramadhan Stable, Jaber Ramadhan and Abdulla Faisal. London Look finished third for owner Karrar Abdulhadi Ali Al Baqqali, trainer Taleb Ali and jockey Marcialis Jaures; while in fourth was Four Wheel Drive for Gunners Racing, Alan Smith and Robert Tart. A total of 12 horses, all three years old and above, competed in the race. Meanwhile, three of the other races were for an Al Sharif Group Cup, while two were for a Crown Industries Cup and one was for the WAHO Cup.

The sixth race of the day for an Al Sharif Group Cup was also over a straight of five furlongs with a BD4,000 cash prize. Taking the win amongst the four locally bred horses competing was Saheel in 59.369 seconds.

Owned by His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor and ridden by Andrew Elliott, Saheel finished two lengths ahead of second-placer Riyada, competing for His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Brett Doyle. In third was Ramani for Al Afoo Racing Stable, Mohammed Saeed and Lee Newman; while in fourth was Malzuma for M and M Syndicate, Osama Hashim and Paddy Mathers.

In the third race of the day, also for an Al Sharif Group Cup, Aluqair completed the seven-furlong distance in first place to claim the largest portion of the BD4,000 total prize. Aluqair won in a time of one minute 23.700 seconds for owner Shaikh Isa bin Duaij bin Salman bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, trainer Sami Saloom and jockey John Egan.

Solar Flair was second for Al Mohamediya Racing, Jaber Ramadhan and Robert Tart; while Sir Viktor was third for Al Hermi Syndicate, Abdulla Kuwaiti and Brett Doyle. Starboy was fourth as the race’s last prize winner for Al Afoo Racing Stable, Mohammed Saeed and Lee Newman. The third Al Sharif Group Cup was claimed by Dirab in the fourth race of the day, which was over eight furlongs for locally bred three-year-olds.

Dirab won in 1:40.455 for owner His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Abdulla Faisal. Kailash was second for His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Brett Doyle, while Al Mulhtar was third for Al Afoo Racing Stable, Mohammed Saeed and Paddy Mathers. Pulp Fiction finished in fourth place for Al Adiyat Racing, Alan Smith and Robert Tart.

In the second race of the day over seven furlongs with a BD3,000 prize, Valentine lifted a Crown Industries Cup after winning in 1:25.914 for Abdulla Fawzi Nass, Hesham Al Haddad and Paddy Mathers; while in the fifth race for the other Crown Industries Cup, Aleko won for Naser Ali Naser Almoamen, Bader Al Abed and Marcialis Jaures after completing the nine-furlong distance in 1:51.382 to claim the lion’s share of the BD2,000 prize.

The first race of the day for the WAHO Cup, held over seven furlongs and offering a BD2,000 total prize, was won by Al Saqlawy 1564, owned by Al Wasmiya, trained by Abdulla Kuwaiti and ridden by Ebrahim Nader. Al Saqlawy won in 1:38.561.