Happy Craf, Mars Landing win first Turf Series races
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Happy Craf and Mars Landing made history yesterday as the winners of the first-ever races in the all-new Bahrain Turf Series, which headlined yesterday’s action at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.
In attendance at yesterday’s events were Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa; REHC High Committee chairman His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa; and a number of other high-ranking officials.
Happy Craf, owned by M and E Racing, trained by AM Smith and ridden by Edinson Rodriguez, lifted the Al Manama Cup in the series’ inaugural race, which was held over seven furlongs.
Mars Landing followed suit for owners Al Mohamediya Racing and trainer Hesham Al Haddad while saddled by Neil Callan to lift the Al Muharraq Cup, which was contested over a 10-furlong distance.
Both of yesterday’s Bahrain Turf Series events, which are part of a 10-race programme, carried £50,000 in prize money apiece. Contenders collect points throughout the series for a chance to win extra prize money upon its completion in February of next year. The Al Manama Cup was yesterday’s third race.
Finishing behind Happy Craf in second place was Sonja Henie for Victorious and Hesham Al Haddad, with jockey David Egan in the saddle. Mission Boy for MKAR Racing, Jaber Ramadhan and Martin Seidl came third.
In the fourth race for the Al Muharraq Cup, classified as the runner-up behind Mars Landing was Arqoob, representing Little Staughton Farms Ltd, William Jarvis and Keiran Shoemark. Wait Forever came third for Al Hassanain Racing, Ali Jan and Abdulla Faisal.
Meanwhile, three HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cups were up for the taking yesterday. There were six other events in yesterday’s eight-race card. In the seventh race, Byline won over eight furlongs to clinch a HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup and the lion’s share of the BD10,000 prize.
Byline represented owners Al Adiyat Racing and trainer AM Smith, while saddled by Charles Bishop. Shebil Aljazira and Beauchamp Bagenal were second and third, respectively. In the sixth race for another HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, Buffer Zone triumphed for owners Victorious, trainer Hesham Al Haddad and jockey David Egan.
It was contested over a six-furlong straight, also with a BD10,000 prize. Dark Shadow and Graphite Storm followed. In the first race of the day for the third HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, held over eight furlongs with a BD3,000 prize, Al Saqlawy 1772 took first place for Al Riffa, Yousif Alboainain and Abdulla Faisal.
Kuheilan Afas 1695 and Kuheilan Afas 1708 were second and third, respectively. In race five for the HH Shaikh Faisal bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, Living Art came first for Abdulla Fawzi Nass, Hesham Al Haddad and Hussain Makki.
Campolina and News Breaker followed in second and third, respectively in the 11-furlong, BD4,000 event. The second race of the day was claimed by Breathtaking for Abdulla Fawzi Nass, Hesham Al Haddad and David Egan to lift the HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, contested over six furlongs with a BD3,000 prize.
Ramani was the runner-up and Shamikh third. Finally, in yesterday’s last race, held over 12 furlongs with a BD10,000 prize for the right to lift the National Day Cup, sponsored by the Ministry of Information Affairs, Recovery Run triumphed for Al Adiyat Racing, AM Smith and Charles Bishop. Medal Winner and Hold Sway competed the race’s top three.
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