HORSERACING – SOVEREIGN Spirit narrowly held off the strong, late finish of Cracksking to win a thrilling renewal of the Group Three HRH The Crown Prince’s Cup, sponsored by Cebarco, last night at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.
With His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in attendance, Sovereign Spirit completed a famous double, having won the HM The King’s Cup last season. Also on hand yesterday were Supreme Council for Youth and Sport first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa; Prime Minister’s Court Minister and REHC High Committee chairman Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa; and other high-ranking officials.
Ridden for the first time by jockey Paul Mulrennan, Sovereign Spirit has been a wonderful flag-bearer for owners Al Afoo Racing and trainer Jaber Ramadhan, and yesterday’s victory – in a race with a prize fund of $200,000 – was the 11th of his career and his eighth win in the kingdom.
The pace was set by Sovereign Spirit’s stable companion King Of The Throne, but that horse weakened early in the home straight, leaving Sovereign Spirit in front with the pack closing. However, only Cracksking, in the colours of Al Adiyat Racing for Daniel and Claire Kubler, emerged to throw down a challenge but time just ran out, with the winning distance at the line only a short head. Hi Royal, trained by Kevin Ryan, finished third.
Delighted winning rider Mulrennan said after the race, which headlined this year’s HRH The Crown Prince’s Cup Festival at REHC: “I was just a passenger, he travelled round so strong. I probably ended up getting there a bit too soon, but he was going so well and I hated to disappoint him.
“He stays well, he’s very genuine, and he put his head down right on the line. It’s great to be over here and ride a big winner.”
Sovereign Spirit’s proud and relieved trainer Ramadhan added: “I was nervous about the photo finish. The jockey was great, he gave him a brilliant ride. He’s a proper horse but when he runs, I do get nervous. The plan now is to go to Saudi and then HM The King’s Cup again.”
On a strong supporting card, one of the most anticipated races was the Bahrain Mile, sponsored by BBK, in which local hero Byline was up against No Retreat.
In the end, victory was emphatic in favour of No Retreat, providing the team of Victorious Forever, trainer George Scott, and jockey Callum Shepherd with another horse to be excited about and one who could be campaigned in major races both in the Middle East and Europe.
Held up off a strong pace, No Retreat pulled clear of Byline and international raider Northern Express.
Speaking after the race, Shepherd said: “He was very good, it was really smooth. He seems to have taken a big leap forward the last two starts and he’s earned his place wherever he goes next, he’s a proper Stakes horse.”
Trainer Scott revealed that No Retreat’s next run will be in the Middle East. “He goes to Qatar in two weeks, I am looking forward to that,” he said. “We’ll see how he goes there and we’ll take it one race at a time, but I do love this horse. I would have been very upset if he didn’t win well.”
Speaking about how well the horse has taken to being based in Bahrain, Scott added: “He loves a strict routine and he doesn’t take much work. When you’re in the UK, there are variable factors that change, but here it’s the same thing every day, which he enjoys.
“Today was a race of some magnitude, but bigger tests will await him now. He’s got the physical capability to keep improving.”
One of this season’s most improved horses is Chandigah, and he recorded his third win of the campaign in The Howden Cup. Trained by Mahmood Jawad and once again ridden by Szczepan Mazur, Chandigah relished the return to the 1,200m trip, over which he had previously won a Bahrain Turf Series race so impressively, and his connections are also now eyeing up opportunities abroad.
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