Bahrain Turf Series returns to action at REHC

TDT | Manama  

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Turf Series is back this weekend at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir, with two prestigious cups up for the taking. Set to be the seventh and eighth races of the 10 £50,000 handicaps, the Hawar Cup and Anchorman Cup are to be vied for by a pair of packed fields featuring top international contenders.

Both races are to be held on Saturday at REHC, which is set to host back-to-back days of exciting events. The Hawar Cup is set to feature 15 imported entries rated 80 to 100, who are set to battle it out over a six-furlong straight.

Among the pre-race favourites is Deep Intrigue, owned by Hasan Mefareh Alajmi and trained by Hesham Al Haddad, to be ridden this weekend by last year’s Bahrain International Trophy-winning jockey David Egan.

Deep Intrigue had previously claimed the Al Wasmiya Cup in the Bahrain Turf Series’ fourth race, and Egan is hoping for a repeat win this time around. Also amongst the leading contenders are Al Mohamediya Racing’s Dark Shadow, trained by Osama Hashim and to be ridden by Neil Callan; along with Roman River for M and E Racing, trained by AM Smith and to be saddled by Edinson Rodriguez.

Jamie Osborne-owned and trained horse Peerless is also in the fray, to be ridden by Jimmy Quinn; as are Wonder Elzaam for owners Paul Kwok, Angel Li and Orbital Racing Group, trainer JS Moore and jockey John Egan, and Saffie Osborne-jockeyed Laieth, owned by EERC and trained by Hesham Al Haddad.

Others in the hugely competitive field are Michael Bell trained Natural Path, owned by Peter Trainor and to be saddled by Kieran Shoemark; Jack the Truth competing for Mr Jack Stephenson and to be ridden by Rosie Jessop; Kinks for Isa Mahmood Al Seddiqi, to be ridden by Paddy Mathers; Four Wheel Drive of Gunners Racing, to be ridden by Abdulla Faisal; and Graphite Storm for Al Hassanain Racing, to be saddled by Cameron Noble.

The entries are completed by Riffaa Wonder for Redha Mufaredi Racing, Aleko for Naser Ali Naser Almoamen, Fighter Pilot for Esnaad Racing and Ibn Arabi for Al Afoo Racing.

Meanwhile, the Anchorman Cup will see 13 top imported challengers, all rated 80 to 100, battling it out over nine furlongs. Among them is Magical Wish, owned by MKAR Racing and trained by Stan Moore, who claimed his first-ever win in Bahrain last week at REHC with the Stewards Cup, which was held as part of events headlined by the 2022 HRH The Crown Prince’s Cup, sponsored by Howden.

Magical Wish will once again be ridden by John Egan. Also in the fray are Howzer Black representing Middleham Park Racing LXXVILL and Keith Dalgleish, to be ridden by George Wood; and Brains, competing for The Judges and Partner and Jamie Osborne, to be saddled by Saffie Osborne.

Classical Wave is another leading contender for Victorious and Hesham Al Haddad, with David Egan in the saddle; along with the Al Mohamediya Racing trio of Bond’s Boy to be ridden by Paddy Mathers, Ahdab saddled by Jimmy Quinn, and Zagato with jockey Neil Callan.

The field is completed by Arqoob for Little Staughton Farms Ltd, Giustino for Al Adiyat Racing, Zymyran and Wait Forever for Al Hassanain Racing, Baronial Bride for Sister’s Syndicate and Zezenia for MKAR Racing.

The Hawar Cup will be the fourth race on Saturday’s seven-race card while the Anchor man Cup will be the fifth race. Other cups to be won on the day are the House ME Cup in races seven and three, and Royal Golf Club Cup in race two.