De Vries lifts HH Shaikh Nasser Cup

TDT | Manama

Dutch jockey Adrie De Vries stole the show yesterday at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC), winning three of the seven races including the main event for the HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Cup. His Majesty the King’s Representative for Charity Work and Youth Affairs and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa along with REHC High Committee Deputy Chairman His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, were on hand to enjoy the day’s action along with many other high-ranking VIPs. De Vries won the seventh and final race on the card riding New Show, who was one of the prerace favourites.

The event was 11 furlongs in distance for imported horses aged three years and up, and it carried a whopping total prize of BD10,000. Owned by Victorious and trained by Hesham Al Haddad, New Show claimed the impressive victory in two minutes 17.317 seconds. Finishing half-a-length behind in second place was Macaque while third was Vale de Sol, both also owned by Victorious and trained by Hesham Al Haddad. Al Haddad was another to have a superb day at the track, with many of his horses taking top places. Macaque was ridden by Abdulla Faisal while Vale de Sol was steered by Husain Makki. Coolagh Forest completed the top four for Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim, Paul D’Arcy and John Egan. De Vries also triumphed in the sixth race of the day, which was also for a HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Cup. Riding Pulsar, De Vries completed the 11-furlong event for local breeds aged three and up in 2:20.735.

The Abdulla Fawzi Nass-owned and Hesham Al Haddad-trained winner came away with the lion’s share of the BD5,500 prize, finishing two lengths ahead of Al Tariq, who was also owned by Abdulla Fawzi Nass and trained by Hesham Al Haddad, but ridden by Paddy Mathers. News Breaker was third for Victorious, Alan Smith and Lee Newman while Good News came fourth for M and E Racing, Alan Smith and Rosie Jessop. De Vries won race five to kick off his eventually successful bid for a hat-trick. The race was over seven furlongs for imported three-year-olds and up, and it had a BD5,500 prize with the winner taking the HH Shaikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. De Vries was riding Gomati, owned by Abdulla Fawzi Nass and trained by Hesham Al Haddad. They secured first place in 1:24.237, winning with a length-and-a-half ’s gap in front of Prince Elzaam, who was competing for Al Mohamediya Racing, Jaber Ramadhan and Andrew Elliott. Chatham House came third for Hasan Mefareh Alajmi, Yousif Taher and Abdulla Faisal, while Sunsprite was fourth for Al Afoo Racing Stable, Mohammed Saeed and Lee Newman. Earlier in the day, Magsood won race three, which was also for a HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Cup. It was over a straight of five furlongs for locally bred three-year-olds and up, with a BD3,000 prize. Magsood won in 1:03.229 for Zahra Ebrahim Abdulla, Samir Dawood and Hussain Makki. Wilayah was second for HH Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Andrew Elliott. Shomukh came third for HH Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Abdulla Faisal, white fourth was Katie Elder for Al Adiyat Racing, Alan Smith and Rosie Jessop.

The fourth race of the day was for the HH Shaikha Sheemah bint Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. It was over a straight of five furlongs for imported three-year-olds and older, with a BD3,000 prize. Langavat was triumphant in 1:01.417 for Al Mohamediya Racing, Alan Smith and Abdulrahim Jasim. A length-and-a-quarter behind as the runner-up was Pont Vert for Jassim Mohammed Asad, Ramzi Al Baqlawa and Jacob Clark; while third was Boragh Steps for HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Andrew Elliott and fourth came Al Barg for Hasan Mefareh Alajmi, Yousif Taher and Abdulla Faisal. In the day’s second race for the HH Shaikh Hamdan bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, Al Saida won the nine-furlong, BD2,000 race for three-year-old local breeds in 1:54.864. Al Saida was competing for owners Al Mohamediya Racing, trainer Abbas Al Mawali and jockey Paddy Mathers; while Murjani came second a neck’s length behind for HH Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Andrew Elliott. Jedlaan was third for Mohamed Salah Mahdi, Salah Mahdi and Marcialis Juares and Snake Eagle came fourth for Mansoori Syndicate, Yousif Alboainain and Abdulla Faisal. The day’s opening sprint was for the HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. The WAHO event was over eight furlongs with a BD3,000 total prize. Victorious owned the top two horses, with both also trained by Yousif Taher. Kuheilan Afas 1708 was the winner, ridden by Abdulla Faisal to the win in 1:53.425. Al Jellaby 1544 was second with jockey Marcialis Jaures, finishing four lengths behind. Al Saqlawy 1564 was third for Al Wasmiya, Abdulla Kuwaiti and Adnan Jaffar, while Al Jellaby 1683 was fourth for Al Riffa, Yousif Alboainain and Hasan Al Saffar.