HORSERACING – Grand Grey lifted the Champions Sprint Cup for Al Afoo Racing last night in one of the richest races in the 29th and concluding meeting of the 2025-26 season at Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club (REHC) in Sakhir.
Grand Grey triumphed in the sixth of nine races on yesterday’s exciting card, which also featured the Bahrain Gold Cup, won by Hi Royal for Al Mohamediya Racing, and the Owner’s Cup, claimed by Jerusalema for owner Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim.
The three events offered BD10,000 apiece in total prize money.
In attendance during last night’s programme was Prime Minister’s Court Minister and REHC High Committee chairman Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, along with other high-ranking officials.
Grand Grey won the Champions Sprint Cup for trainer Jaber Ramadhan, with jockey Alberto Sanna in the saddle.
Sanna steered the five-year-old gelding to first place at the end of a 1,200-metre straight with a winning margin of four lengths from runner-up Dan Tucker, competing for Mohamediya, Ali Abdulmajeed, and Neil Callan.
Ava Go Joe came third for AMS Racing, Ali Jan, and Anas Al Siyabi, while Redemption Time was fourth for Afoo and Ramadhan, ridden by Benoit De La Sayette.
Hi Royal claimed the Bahrain Gold Cup after 2,000m of racing for the Mohamediya-Abdulmajeed-Callan triumvirate.
The six-year-old gelding crossed the finish line with a two-and-a-half lengths’ gap from runner-up Refreshment, competing for Afoo-Ramadhan-Sanna connection.
Calif finished third for Victorious Forever, Fawzi Nass, and Stephane Ladjadj, while Cracksking came fourth for Al Adiyat Racing, Daniel and Claire Kubler, and De La Sayette.
Jerusalema lifted the Owner’s Cup, also held over 2,000m, for trainer Haider Ebrahim and with Ebrahim Nader in the saddle.
Behind the five-year-old mare in second was Midhaal, racing for Shaikh Isa bin Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa, Abdulla Kuwaiti, and Abdulrahim Jasim.
Haddar came third for Mohamediya and Abdulmajeed with Hussain Asghar in the saddle, and The Minder finished fourth for Victorious Forever, Paul Smith, and Edinson Rodriguez.
Meanwhile, Royal Scimitar won the REHC Mile Cup in last night’s eighth race, held over 1,600m with BD5,000 in winnings. The eight-year-old gelding triumphed for Mohamediya, trainer Mohamed Hasan, and Callan, finishing a length-and-a-half ahead of Piz Nair, who came second for Adiyat and the Kublers, while ridden by Abdulla Faisal. Byline was third for Adiyat, the Kublers, and Nader, while Athan came fourth for Gulf Racing Club, Nass, and Ladjadj.
In race three, held over 2,400m with BD5,000 in total prizes, Westridge took the Stewards Cup for the Adiyat-Kublers-Nader triumvirate.
Vestigia came second for Afoo, Ramadhan, and De La Sayette, while Azka came third for Azka Racing, Nass, and Ladjadj. Best Adventure was classified fourth in the race for the Afoo-Ramadhan-Sanna trio.
Elsewhere in yesterday’s season-ending meeting, Night Lantern won the REHC Bahrain Bred Mile Cup (BD4,000) and Black Pearl lifted the REHC Victory Sprint Cup (BD4,000), both for the connections of owners M and E Racing, Smith, and Rodriguez; Esrar lifted the REHC Prestige Cup (BD2,000) for Afoo-Ramadhan-Sanna; and Al Hamdany 1810 took the REHC Waho Cup for Victorious Forever, trainer Yousif Taher, and jockey Ali Moosa.
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