ONE of the richest and most prestigious races will be held today with a total cash prize of BD44,400 at stake at the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in Sakhir.
Three of the five feature races on the cards are for His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.
Shogun, owned by Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith and to be ridden by Gerald Mosse, 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.
Thorkhill Star and Pressure Point are the second and third favourites respectively.
News Breaker, owned by Victorious, trained by Alan Smith and to be ridden by Gerald Mosse, is tipped to win the Crown Prince Cup for locally bred horses carrying a cash prize of BD15,000 and to be run over 2,000 metres, starting at 4.35pm.
Milyar and Brightsideoflife are expected to give the favourite a run for its money.
The Crown Prince Cup for Arabian horses, carrying a cash prize of BD5,000 and to be run over 1,400 metres, starting at 4.10pm, has attracted the smallest field of five horses.
But Al Hamdany 1697, owned by Safra, trained by Alan Smith and to be ridden by Gerald Mosse, is expected to win this race beating its closest challengers Kuheilan Aafas 1675 and Al Jellaby 1544.
The day’s action begins at 3.20pm with the handicap race for the High Committee Cup carrying a cash prize of BD5,000 and to be run over 1,200 metres with 12 horses in the fray.
Gharaieb, owned by Al-Afoo Racing Stable, trained by Mohammed Saeed and to be ridden by P Convertino, looks in best shape to win the Bahrain Oaks, sponsored by Al Muzdaher Stud, for locally bred horses carrying a cash prize of BD4,400 and to be run over 1,800 metres, starting at 3.45pm.
Al Nimra and Masharif are the second and third favourites respectively.