AS expected, favourite Thorkhill Star was the biggest winner at yesterday horse racing at Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in Sakhir.
Thorkhill Star, owned by Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Frankie Dettori, beat its nearest rival Vale Do Sol by one-and-half-a-length to win the Bahrain Gold Cup, sponsored by Viva, for imported horses carrying the highest cash prize of BD10,000.
Jaqen H’Ghar was third and Emerald fourth.
Sabreh, another favourite, also lived up to expectations winning the prestigious Bahrain Derby, sponsored by Viva, for local horses carrying a cash prize of BD5,100.
Sabreh, owned by Abdulla Fawzi Nass, trained by Fawzi Nass and ridden by Husain Makki, beat Parchment while Miryah was third.
Blues Guitar, owned by H and R Stables, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Andrew Elliott, beat Wayne Looney by half-a-length to win the Viva Jusoor Cup carrying a cash prize of BD2,000.
Fardiya was third and Snake Eagle fourth.
The only upset of the day was caused by Inclination, owned by Al-Afoo Racing Stable, trained by Hussain Aldailami and ridden by Gerald Avranche, when it beat Impressive Day by half a length to lift the Viva Cup for imported horses carrying a cash prize of BD2,000.
Sahara was third and Shamaliya fourth.
Al Jellaby 1544, owned by Hamad Al Merisi, trained by Yousif Taher and ridden by Abdulla Faisal, beat Al Saqlawy 1578 by one-and-three-fourth-length, to win the Viva Waho Cup for Arabian horses carrying a cash prize of BD2,000.
Al Jellaby 1434 was third and Al Hamdaany 1680 fourth.
Jim Rockford, owned by Shaikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, trained by Abdulla Kuwaiti and ridden by Brett Doyle, beat Ramani by a length to win the Viva Elite Cup for imported horses carrying a cash prize of BD2,000.
Mayalee was third and Cypria Charis fourth.
Saoob, owned by Al Jasmi Stable, trained by Omar Al Nesef and ridden by Jimmy Quinn, beat Confirm A Friend by three lengths to win the only support race (for locally bred horses) of the day carrying a cash prize of BD1,500.
Shamil was third and Hasbah fourth.