HORSERACING – ONE of Bahrain’s most prestigious races, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s Cup, has been rewarded with the news that it has been promoted to international Group Three status following a review by the Asian Pattern Committee, it was announced yesterday.
The upgrade, alongside a promotion to Listed status for the Al Adiyat Cup, is another boost for Bahrain’s premier races and a sign of the increasing quality and competitiveness of racing in the kingdom.
The HRH the Crown Prince’s Cup is one of the feature events of Bahrain’s horseracing season. The next running of the race is on January 30 where the 2,000m event, with a prize fund of $200,000, is the highlight of the two-day HRH the Crown Prince’s Cup Festival.
Last season’s race was won by multiple Stakes winner Phantom Flight, owned by Victorious Forever, from Sovereign Spirit, and the runner-up went on to win the Group Three His Majesty the King’s Cup in March.
The other upgrade is for the Al Adiyat Cup, which has been awarded Listed status for the first time.
Part of the Bahrain Turf Series and run over a distance of 1,800m, the Al Adiyat Cup, to be held in mid-January of next year, was also won by Phantom Flight last season prior to the gelding’s success in HRH the Crown Prince’s Cup.
The upgrades follow the promotions last year of HM the King’s Cup to Group Three and the His Highness Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup and the His Highness Shaikh Khalid Bin Hamad Al Khalifa Cup to Listed status.
In 2023, the kingdom’s most valuable race, the $1million Bahrain International Trophy, was upgraded to Group Two, and this year’s running on November 14 has attracted a record entry of 68 horses from seven different jurisdictions around the world.
The Asian Pattern Committee promotions bring the total of international pattern races held during the Bahrain season to seven, including the Listed Al Methaq Mile, staged at HM the King’s Cup Festival in March.
Prior to 2019 and the launch of the Bahrain International Trophy, there were no internationally recognised races in the kingdom.
Bahrain Turf Club CEO Yusuf Buheji said: “We are delighted with the news that the Asian Pattern Committee has recognised the increasing quality of HRH the Crown Prince’s Cup and promoted the race to Group Three status.
“Under the leadership of the club’s chairman, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, our ambition is to continue the development of horseracing in Bahrain and be a jurisdiction that stands alongside the world’s best.
“The two upgrades this year underline how our investment in developing an attractive international programme, coupled with increased prize money for locally trained horses, is helping deliver our objective of raising both the quality and competitiveness of racing in Bahrain.”
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