Shawwash wins main event in season-opening horse races in Riffa

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Shawwash lived up to his tag as one of the pre-race favourites and won the Opening Day Cup, honouring the Late His Highness Shaikh Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa, held yesterday as part of the season’s first meeting at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Riffa.

The five-year-old victor, owned by Al Nuwayef Racing, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Seamus Cronin, claimed the narrow victory by a short head with a time of one minute 38.960 seconds. Dance Monkey was the runner-up for Abdulla Fawzi Nass, Fawzi Nass and Marcialis Jaures; while Marvel of Peru was third for Victorious, Alan Smith and Carlos Bueno.

A total of 15 runners competed in the day’s main race, which was over eight furlongs with a prize of BD5,000. Each of the six other events on the seven-race card was also for Late HH Shaikh Rashid bin Isa Al Khalifa Cups. Gomati was triumphant in the day’s sixth race, also held over eight furlongs. The eight-yearold, owned by Abdulla Fawzi Nass, trained by Hesham Al Haddad and ridden by Hussain Makki, won by just a half-length ahead of Starboy to take the lion’s share of the BD5,000 prize.

Gomati’s winning time was 1:35.895. Coolagh Forest came third. In race five, Hello Baileys claimed first place in the seven-furlong event, offering a prize of BD2,000. Paddy Mathers jockeyed the three-year-old, owned by Al Mohamediya Racing and trained by Osama Hashim, to the win in 1:24.283. Gateway followed a length-and-a-quarter behind while Philadelphia was third in the 13-horse field.

Boragh Steps followed suit with a win in race four for HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Adnan Jaffar. The five-year-old winner had a finishing time of 1:12.274 over the six-furlong straight. Others to claim a share of the BD2,000 prize were Summer Blossom and Roman River, who were second and third, respectively. In the third event of the day, held over a straight of five furlongs with a BD2,000 prize, Kuheilan Umm Zorayr 1766 was the winner in 1:09.204.

The five-year-old is owned by Safra, trained by Alan Smith and was ridden by Edinson Rodriguez. Al Krush 1751 finished as runner-up while Al Hamdany 1746 came third. Race two was claimed by Saheel, owned by HH Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa. The five-year-old completed the five-furlong straight in 58.627s, taking the biggest share in the BD2,000 prize for trainer James Naylor and jockey Paddy Mathers.

Magsood was second five lengths behind, while Sadara rounded out the top three. In race one, held over eight furlongs with a prize of BD2,000, Parchment took first place for owner Victorious, trainer Alan Smith and jockey Abdulrahim Jasim. The seven-year-old won in 1:38.162, two lengths ahead of runner-up Remiah. Duwaliya was third among the nine entrants.