Simsir, owned by Victorious team, won the Bahrain International Trophy edging out Al Adiyat Racing’s Global Giant at the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club yesterday.
The much-awaited race, for imported horses three years old and above, produced a thrilling finish as Victorious edged ahead of its nearest rival by a neck to claim the prestigious trophy.
The winner of the 2,000 metre race was trained by Fawzi Nass and ridden by Lee Newman while second-placed Global Giant’s trainer was John Gosden and Frankie Dettori the jockey.
In third position was Sovereign, owned by Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. It was trained by A P O’Brien and ridden by Ryan Moore. Port Lions, owned by Victorious, was fourth.
Six more races were held yesterday, with Buffer Zone, owned by Victorious, clinching the sixth race for Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) Cup.
The winner, trained by Hesham Al Haddad and ridden by David Egan, held off Konchek of Al Mohamediya Racing by a length to claim a cash prize of BD7,000. Roman River, owned by M and E Racing, finished third. The 1,000m race was held for imported horses three years old and upwards.
Al Tariq of KHK Racing won the fifth race for Batelco Cup carrying a prize of BD5,000.
Al Tariq, trained by Hesham Al Haddad and ridden by Adrie De Vries, held off News Breaker, owned by Victorious, by seven-and-a-half length in the 2,200m race for local-bred horses three years old and upwards. In third position was Campolina, owned by Abdulla Fawzi Nass.
Meanwhile, Macaque, owned by Victorious, trained by Hesham Al Haddad and ridden by Abdulla Faisal, emerged winner of the fourth race for the Bahrain Economic Development Board Cup and earned BD4,000.
Macaque finished ahead of Al Asayel Racing’s Mushtaq by a neck in the 1,600m handicap race for horses three years old and above. KHK Racing’s Beauchamp Bagenal was third.
The third race for the Batelco Cup, was won by Alejandro of Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by Andrea Atzeni.
Alejandro held off Waseela of KHK Racing by three-fourth length in the 1,600m race for local-bred class 4 and maiden horses three years old and above. Shawwash of Al Nuwayef Racing finished third.
Saheel, owned by Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, trained by J Naylor and ridden by Abdulla Faisal, claimed victory in the second race for Bapco Cup.
Jadayel, owned by Abdulla Fawzi Nass, was second while Sadara, owned by Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa finished third.
Local-bred horses three years old and upwards took part in the 1,200m race.
The first race of the day, for the Bahrain Economic Development Board Cup, saw Tuwaisan 1762 of Victorious claiming victory after seeing off Al Saqlawy 1772 of Al Riffa. Al Mlolesh 1748 of Victorious finished third in the 1.200m race for class 4 maiden horses three years old and upwards (WAHO).
Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who attended the race, affirmed that the kingdom continues to establish its important position in the field of horseracing by organising prestigious events like the Bahrain International Race. He congratulated the winners and praised the performances of all the contestants.