FIVE feature races are scheduled for today which is one of the biggest and richest day’s in Bahrain’s horse racing calendar.
Three of the feature races is for His Royal Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and first Deputy Prime Minister.
The five races at the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in Sakhir carry a total prize money of BD41,300.
Shogun, owned by Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith and to be ridden by Frankie Dettori, is the favourite to win the Crown Prince Cup for imported horses carrying a cash prize of BD15,000 and to be run over 2,000 metres, starting at 5pm.
Laidback Romeo and Thorkhill Star are the second and third favourites respectively.
The Crown Prince Cup for locally bred horses also carries a cash prize of BD15,000 and will be run over 2,000 metres, starting at 4.35pm.
Of the eight horses in the fray, News Breaker, owned by Victorious, trained by Alan Smith and to be ridden by Adrie De Vries, looks in best shape to win this race ahead of its closest rivals Harash and Milyar.
The third Crown Prince Cup is for the Arabian horses carrying a cash prize of BD5,000 and to be run over 1,400 metres, starting at 4.10pm.
Of the six horses in the fray, Kuheilan Aafas 1675, owned by Al Wasmiya, trained by Abdulla Kuwaiti and to be ridden by Brett Doyle, looks in best shape to win this race.
Al Jellaby 1544 and Kuheilan Aafas 1640 are expected to give the favourite a run for its money.
Action
The day’s action starts at 3.20pm with the race for the High Committee Cup for imported horses carrying a cash prize of BD2,000 and to be run over 1,200 metres straight.
Curtain Call, owned by Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, trained by Abdulla Kuwaiti and to be ridden by A Rahim Jasim, is tipped to win this race.
Shipyard and Showdaisy are the second and third favourites respectively.
The Bahrain Oaks, sponsored by Al Muzdaher Stud, for locally bred horses carrying a cash prize of BD4,300 and to be run over 1,800 metres, starting at 3.45pm, has attracted the smallest field of five horses.
But Sabreh, owned by Abdulla Fawzi Nass, trained by Fawzi Nass and to be ridden by Husain Makki, looks in best shape to win this race ahead of his nearest challengers Miryah and Al Saida.