Port Douglas lifts Al Hawaj Cup

Port Douglas lifted the Al Hawaj Cup yesterday after winning the day’s main race at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Riffa. Deputy Chairman of the High Committee at REHC, HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, was in attendance yesterday along with several other high-ranking officials.

Owned by Al Hassanain Syndicate, trained by Mohammed Al Sammak and ridden by Abdulla Faisal, Port Douglas completed the 2,000-metre event in a total time of two minutes 06.487 seconds. The victor claimed first place by the narrowest of margins, finishing just two lengths ahead of runner-up New Show, owned by Victorious, trained by Hesham Al Haddad and ridden by Husain Makki.

In third place was Tamerlane, owned by Al Mohamediya Racing, trained by Ali Al Ansar and ridden by Paddy Mathers. The race, which carried a total prize of BD3,000, featured eight horses in all. Classified fourth through eighth, respectively, were Saajid, Born to Boom, Lugano, Tonabrocky and Happy Call. Meanwhile, the Ebrahim bin Saad Al Romaihi Cup was won by Mushtaq, owned by Al Asayel Racing, trained by Khalid Hilal and ridden by Ebrahim Nader.

Mushtaq triumphed in 1:37.257 in the 1,600m event, which was the sixth event of the day with a BD2,000 total prize. Taking second place one-anda-quarter lengths behind was Starboy, owned by Al Afoo Racing Stable, trained by Mohammed Saeed and ridden by Lee Newman. In third, one-and-ahalf lengths back, was Strong Challenge, owned by Jawad Abdulwahid Ahmed, trained by Jaffar Radhi and ridden by Brett Doyle. Fourteen horses in all competed in the race.

In the fifth race, held over 1,400m with a BD2,000 prize, Al Nimra was the winner. Owned by Abdulla Fawzi Nass, trained by Hesham Al Haddad and ridden by Paddy Mathers, Al Nimra won in a time of 1:26.214. One -and-three - quarters lengths behind as runner-up was Shamikh, owned by His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor and ridden by Brett Doyle.

In third was Yaoud, owned by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor and ridden by Andrew Elliott. Elsewhere, Saraab owned by Al Afoo Racing Stable, trained by Mohammed Saeed and ridden by Lee Newman claimed first place in the fourth race of the day, held over 1,400m with a BD2,000 total prize. Finishing in second place just a short head behind was Dirab, owned by His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor and ridden by Brett Doyle. Galayid was third four lengths back.

Galayid is owned by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, trained by James Naylor and ridden by Hasan Al Saffar. The Al Wasmiya Cup was won by Kuheilan Umm Zorayr 1766, owned by Safra, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Rosie Jessop. The win was claimed in 1:12.338 over 1,000m, and it came two lengths ahead of Tuwaisaan 1762, owned by Victorious, trained by Yousif Taher and ridden by Abdulla Faisal.

Taking third place was Al Mlolesh 1748, also owned by Victorious and trained by Yousif Taher, while ridden by Husain Makki. Earlier yesterday at REHC, Naseeb owned by Al Mohamediya Racing won the 1,200m second race in 1:15.085, while Daarej owned by His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa won the first event, held over 2,000m in 2:08.099.