Stage set for horseracing spectacle

One of the highlights of the horseracing season is scheduled to take place on Friday at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Riffa.

Seven thrilling races are on the card, with three of them being for the Cups of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.

All are welcome to attend. The meeting will be held between 1pm and 5pm. There will also be plenty of side attractions for the whole family, including carnival games, kids’ rides, entertainment and food stalls. Entrance is free.

A staggering BD35,000 combined prize will be shared amongst the winners in the three Cups of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, which will be offered in the day’s seventh, sixth and third races.

The seventh and final race on Friday is over 10 furlongs with a BD15,000 total prize. Nine imported horses aged three years old and above are entered in the event, all of whom are owned either by Al Adiyat Racing or Victorious.

Two of the three horses tipped to have a chance are from Al Adiyat, including Thorkhill Star and Rustang. Both are trained by Alan Smith, while Thorkhill Star is to be ridden by Frankie Dettori and Rustang is to be ridden by James Doyle.

Port Lions competing for Victorious is the other horse with a chance. Trained by Hesham Al Haddad, Port Lions is to be ridden by Adrie De Vries.

Five of the other competing horses are owned by Victorious, including Jazeel, Macaque, Vale Do Sol, What a Welcome and Albert Finney; while the other competing horse is Laidback Romeo, owned by Al Adiyat Racing.

The sixth race of the day is also over 10 furlongs with another BD15,000 total prize up for grabs. Eight locally bred horses aged three and up are set to battle it out, with Retort, News Breaker and Pulsar all tipped to have a chance at victory.

Retort and News Breaker are both owned by Victorious and trained by Alan Smith. Jockey James Doyle will be riding Retort while Frankie Dettori will be on News Breaker.

Pulsar is owned by Abdulla Fawzi Nass, trained by Hesham Al Haddad and is to be ridden by Adrie De Vries.

The five other horses taking part are Parchment for Victorious, Al Nimra for Abdulla Fawzi Nass, Good News for M and E Racing, Daleel for His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa and Dushanbe for His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa.

Race three will be over seven furlongs with a BD5,000 total prize.

Five horses are entered in the event, with those tipped with a chance being Kuheilan Afas 1708 and Al Jellaby 1544, both competing for Victorious; and Kuheilan Afas 1695 for Al Wasmiya.

Meanwhile, the four other races on the day are also set for some exciting battles.

The fifth race is the Bahrain Derby and it is over 10 furlongs with a BD6,900 prize. Five horses are entered, with Al Tariq, Shawwash and Raed all with a chance.

Race four is the Bahrain Oaks (Sponsored by Al Muzdaher Stud), set for nine furlongs with a BD4,500 prize. Four horses are set to compete, with Sabreena, Sadara and Valentine all tipped with a chance.

The second race is for the Stewards’ Cup, set over eight furlongs with a BD5,000 prize; while the opening event is for the High Committee Cup, set over a straight of six furlongs with a BD5,000 prize.