Desert Lion clinches ASRY Cup

TDT | Manama

Desert Lion lifted the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) Cup yesterday in the eighth and main race of the season-ending meeting at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in RIffa. In attendance at yesterday’s events were REHC High Committee Chairman HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, REHC High Committee Deputy Chairman HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, REHC Executive Director Shaikh Salman bin Rashed Al Khalifa, and other high-ranking VIPs.

Paddy Mathers steered Desert Lion to victory to claim the largest share of the main race’s BD5,000 total prize. The four-year-old, 87-rated horse completed the 10-furlong event for imported three-yearolds and up in a winning time of two minutes 02.392 seconds, competing for owner Isa Mahmood Al Seddiqi and trainer Hesham Al Haddad. Finishing as the runner-up three-and-a-half lengths behind was Sidewinder, racing for Shaikh Ebrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Yousif Taher and Abdulla Faisal; while Cartago came third for Al Adiyat Racing, Alan Smith and Gerald Mosse. Taking fourth place and completing the race’s prize winners was Zymran, competing for Al Hassanain Syndicate, Mohammed Al Sammak and Husain Makki. Meanwhile, Sabreena claimed a fine win in the seventh race of the day to capture the HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. Competing against other local breeds aged three and above, the Victorious-owned horse completed the nine-furlong race distance in 1:50.571 to take the lion’s share of the BD2,000 prize. Sabreena was trained by Fawzi Nass and ridden by Husain Makki. Gharaieb was in second place two lengths behind for Al Afoo Racing Stable, Mohammed Saeed and Lee Newman; while News Breaker came third for Victorious, Alan Smith and Gerald Mosse. Dushanbe was fourth for HH Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Abdulla Faisal. In the day’s sixth race for the HH Shaikh Sultan bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, Al Barg triumphed among the imported three-yearolds to claim the biggest portion of the BD3,000 total prize. Competing for owner Hasan Mefareh Alajmi and trainer Yousif Taher, Abdulla Faisal rode Al Barg to the win in 1:12.522.

It was one of the tightest races of the day, as two others in the six-furlong sprint finished just a neck’s distance behind. Summer Blossom was able to take second for Al Afoo Racing Stable, Mohammed Saeed and Ahmed Maki; while Munshid was third for Al Sairafi Syndicate, Osama Hashim and Adnan Jaffar. Tamaady claimed fourth for Fateel Brothers Syndicate, Basem Mahdi and Marcialis Jaures. In race three, Dirab was the victor to claim the Shaikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. Battling other local three-yearolds, Dirab won the eight-furlong event in 1:38.576 for HH Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Abdulla Faisal. Waseela was a close runner-up just a nose behind for Shaikh Isa bin Duaij bin Salman bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Hesham Al Haddad and Paddy Mathers; while Kailash was third for HH Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Lee Newman. Mutazin came fourth for HH Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Mohammed Al Saffar. The day’s opening event was for the HH Shaikh Sultan bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup and it was over a straight of five furlongs with a BD2,000 total prize. Al Hamdany 1746 was the winner of the WAHO race in 1:09.919 for Al Riffa, Yousif Alboainain and Hassan Al Saffar. Al Saqlawy 1757 was in second a neck behind for Safra, Alan Smith and Gerald Mosse; Tuwaisaan 1762 was third for Victorious, Yousif Taher and Paddy Mathers; and Kuheilan Umm Zorayr 1766 was fourth for Safra, Alan Smith and Abdulrahim Jasim. Three other races were held yesterday. Estikmaal won race five for Al Asayel Racing, Khalid Al Khatri and Ebrahim Nader; Tamerlane won the fourth race for Al Mohamediya Racing, Ali Al Ansari and Paddy Mathers; and Sadara claimed the second event for HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Abdulla Faisal.