Happy Craf lifts Al Jasra Cup

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Happy Craf lifted the Al Jasra Cup yesterday for a second victory in the prestigious Bahrain Turf Series at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir. After clinching the Al Manama Cup last December in the series’ first event, the M and E Racing-owned, AM Smith trained five-year-old took the honours in the sixth of the 10 £50,000 races, saddled by Edinson Rodriguez.

Happy Craf finished first after seven furlongs and was followed by Byline, who was competing for Al Adiyat Racing, AM Smith and Charles Bishop, while Koolasice came third for Mark T Griffins, Ross O’Sullivan and Gary Halpin.

In attendance at yesterday’s races was REHC High Committee chairman His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. There were eight events in all on the day, with five Lexus Cups to be won in the the eighth, sixth, fourth, third and second events.

In race eight, Tall Order captured a smooth victory for Al Mallah Syndicate, Abduljaleel Al Mallah and Marvin Grandin over a 12-furlong distance to claim the lion’s share of the BD4,000 prize.

Wild Hero was second for HBR Racing, Hareb Almalki and Husain Makki, while Law of One finished third for Al Afoo Racing, Mohammed Saeed and Hasan Al Saffar. In the sixth race of the day held over seven furlongs with a BD2,000 prize purse, Lahoug came first for Rashed Racing, Yousif Alboainain and Marvin Grandin.

Wewonitsixtimes took second for M and E Racing, AM Smith and Charles Bishop, while Wahaaj was third for Al Nuwayef Racing, AM Smith and Abdulrahim Jasim. Chimgan was the winner in the fourth race’s Lexus Cup, carrying a BD2,000 prize, for Al Mohamediya Racing and Osama Hashim, saddled by Paddy Mathers.

Second over the six-furlong straight was Instinctive Move, representing Al Adiyat Racing, AM Smith and Charles Bishop, while Altai came third for Al Mohamediya Racing, Osama Hashim and Jimmy Quinn.

In race three, held over five furlongs with a BD2,000 prize, Overseas emerged victorious for Rashed Racing, trained by Yousif Alboainain and ridden by Marcialis Jaures. Wafiah was the runner-up for Al Nayefaat, Abdulla Kuwaiti and Abbas Ebrahim, whereas Remiah was third for Al Afoo Racing, Mohammed Saeed and Hasan Al Saffar.

The day’s second race saw Batmobile take the Lexus Cup over six furlongs for a share of the BD2,000 prize. The Victorious-owned horse is trained by AM Smith and was ridden by Hasan Asghar.

Magdsood came second for Zahra Ebrahim Abdulla, Samir Dawood and Husain Makki, while Safwa was third for HH Shaikh Isa bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, Haider Ebrahim and Ebrahim Nader.

Elsewhere yesterday, the seventh race for the REHC Cup was lifted by Ecosystem for MKAR Racing and Haider Ebrahim, while saddled by Ebrahim Nader. Jamais Assez was the runner-up for Al Mallah Syndicate, Abduljaleel Al Mallah and Marvin Grandin, while Apres Dark was third for HBR Racing, Hareb Almalki and George Wood.

The first race was held over six furlongs for the Hasan bin Saleh Al Rowai Cup, carrying a BD1,500 prize. KHK Racing’s Kuheilan Umm Zorayr 1797 clinched the win for trainer Hesham Al Haddad while ridden by Husain Makki.

Al Jellaby 1791 came second for Al Riffa, Yousif Alboainain and Charles Bishop, while Kuheila’t Al Adiyat 1782 was third for Victorious, Yousif Taher and Anas Al Siyabi.