Glen Force lifts HH Shaikh Nasser Cup

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Glen Force lived up to its billing as a pre-race favourite to lift the HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup in the feature race yesterday at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Riffa.

The event was one of three races on the day’s eight-race card dedicated to His Majesty the King’s Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs representative and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The other two cups were claimed by Sabreena and Aldurah to headline an exciting day of racing at REHC. HH Shaikh Nasser attended the races while REHC executive director Shaikh Salman bin Rashed Al Khalifa was also on hand, along with other high-ranking officials. Glen Force triumphed in the final race of the day, held over 11 furlongs with a massive BD10,000 total prize.

The Esnaad Racing four-year-old, trained by Hesham Al Haddad, crossed the finish line in a winning time of two minutes 13.513 seconds with jockey Husain Makki in the saddle.

The 102-rated victor was two-and-three-quarters lengths ahead of runner-up Litigator, the 104-rated challenger of MKAR Racing, trained by Haider Ebrahim and ridden by Daniel Tudhope.

Jazeel came third for Victorious, Hesham Al Haddad and Ben Sanderson. Nine horses participated in yesterday’s star-studded eighth race.

Meanwhile, Sabreena won the HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup in race six, also held over 11 furlongs with a BD5,000 prize.

The Victorious-owned winner claimed first place in 2:21.109 for trainer Fawzi Nass while ridden by Husain Makki, pipping runner-up Al Tariq by just a three-quarter’s length. Al Tariq was competing for KHK Racing, Hesham Al Haddad and Marcialis Jaures.

Ramiyaat came third for Eman Abdulla Isa Ahmed and Yousif Alboainain, while saddled by Adnan Jaffar.

Aldurah captured the other HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup in yesterday’s fourth race to come away with the lion’s share of the BD3,000 prize.

The Al Afoo Racing Stable six-year-old completed the five-furlong distance in 1:02.663 for trainer Mohammed Saeed and jockey Daisuke Fukumoto. Wahaaj came second for Al Nuwayef Racing, Allan Smith and Abdulrahim Jasim, whereas Royal Blue was third for Mahmood Fadhel Merza, Ali Jan and George Wood.

Winners

Also yesterday, Coolagh Forest won the seventh race to lift the HH Shaikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup.

Competing for MKAR Racing and Haider Ebrahim, Daniel Tudhope saddled the victor to the triumph in the seven-furlong, BD4,000 event ahead of Beauchamp Bagenal and Kinks.

Powertrain won race five for the HH Shaikha Sheemah bint Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, racing for Al Adiyat Racing and Allan Smith.

Abdulla Faisal rode the winner to first place over five furlongs to claim the biggest share of the BD3,000 prize, with Subutai and Darkash trailing behind. Murjani was first in the 10-furlong, BD2,000 third race of the day to lift the HH Shaikh Hamdan bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup.

The five-year-old was representing HH Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, James Naylor and Abdulla Faisal, with Henry The Horse and Snake Eagle finishing in second and third, respectively.

Kuheilan Afas 1695 won the first race of the day to clinch the HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup. Contested over eight furlongs with a BD3,000 prize, the Al Wasmiya seven-year-old triumphed for Abdulla Kuwaiti and Seamus Cronin ahead of Kuheilan Afas 1708 and Tuwaisaan 1762.

Elsewhere yesterday, the REHC Cup in the second race was won by Muqarin.

The four-year-old completed the seven-furlong, BD2,000 event in first place for owner HH Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, trainer James Naylor and jockey Abdulla Faisal, with Katie Elder and Toulouse Le Plot classified behind.