HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister attends the Bahrain International Trophy

Manama, Nov. 17 (BNA): His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today attended the fifth edition of the Bahrain International Trophy, held at the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club.

His Royal Highness emphasised the Kingdom’s commitment to consolidating its global position in hosting regional and international sporting events, in line with the vision of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa.

HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad noted the development of the Kingdom’s horseracing sector, thanks to the development plans being implemented by the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club, supported by His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee.

HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister emphasised the importance of continuing to adopt initiatives and programmes to bolster the horseracing sector, enhancing the Kingdom’s reputation as a hub for hosting international sports events.

His Royal Highness commended the efforts of Team Bahrain in hosting the fifth edition of the Bahrain International Trophy, which reflects the national workforce’s capabilities in hosting international sporting events.

HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad highlighted the broad local and international participation and the enthusiastic atmosphere, congratulating the first-place winners and wishing the rest of the participants the best of luck in future races.

For his part, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club High Committee, outlined that the development of the Kingdom’s horseracing sector is attributable to the continuous support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

His Highness Shaikh Isa outlined that the hosting of the fifth edition of the Bahrain International Trophy reflects the remarkable progress made by the Rashid Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in positioning Bahrain as a hub for horse racing. In this regard, HH Shaikh Isa noted that the race presents an opportunity for Bahraini jockeys and trainers to benefit from exchanging expertise with international participants, with wide-ranging experience in horseracing.

His Highness Shaikh Isa expressed his pride in the successes and accomplishments in the horseracing sector, furthering the development of the sport across all levels.

The Representative of HM the King for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Chairman of the General Sports Authority and President of Bahrain Olympic Committee, His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad and number of senior officials, representatives of sponsors, and a large audience of international horse racing enthusiasts, also attended the race.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and Prime Minister presented the Bahrain International Trophy to Sir Alex Ferguson, the owner of the horse Spirit Dancer who won first place in the fifth and main race, which was held for imported horses for distances of 2,000 metres.

The runner-ups were Israr, who came in second place, followed by Point Lonsdale in third place, and Real World, who came in fourth place.

Winners of the other races were also awarded with trophies. His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad presented the first round cup to Abdullah Kuwaiti, while His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman received the Bahrain Turf Club Cup from His Highness Shaikh Faisal bin Rashid, for his horse Rebel At Dawn winning first place in the sixth race.

HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad also received the seventh race cup from the Chief Executive Officer of Bapco Energies, Mark Thomas, after His Highness’s horse Rayounpour won first place. His Highness also received the eighth race cup from the Managing Director of the Bahrain Jewellery Centre, Ahmed Shirazi, after His Highness's horse Byline won first place.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Beyon, Shaikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, presented the cup for the third race to the owner of the winning horse, Abdullah Sami Nass. The Economic Development Board’s Advisor to the President Ian Lindasy presented the cup for the fourth race to Muhammed Jassim Jaafar. The Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay Marketing Director, Islam Fouad, presented to Haidar Ibrahim the cup for his horse winning the second race.

A total of seven races were held for Beyon, Bapco Energies, the Economic Development Board, the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, and Chopard, the Bahrain Jewellery Centre, the sponsors of the international race, with the results as follows:

The first race was held for the World Arabian Horse Organisation Cup, designated for purebred Bahraini Arabian horses known as WAHO at a distance of 1200 meters. The horse Musannan 1811 of the Al Wasmiya Stable, trained by Abdullah Kuwaiti, and ridden by the jockey, Abdulla Jassim, won first place, followed by Obeyan 1867 of the Riffa Stables, trained by Yousef Al Buainain, and ridden by the jockey, Abdullah Faisal, in second place.  Kuheilat Al Adiyat 1782 of the Victorious stable, trained by Yousif Taher, and ridden by the jockey, Mohamed Al Farsi, came in third, followed by Al Ma'anagy 1846 of the Khaldiya Stable, trained by Fawzi Nass, and ridden by the jockey, Adrie de Vries, in fourth place.

The second race was held for the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay Cup for the third category of first-class local horses, at a distance of 1,200 meters straight. Khazzama owned by HH Shaikh Hamad bin Abdulla bin Isa Al Khalifa, trained by Haidar Ebrahim and ridden by the jockey, Abdulla Faisal, won first place, followed by Stylish of the Victorious Stables who was trained by Alan Smith, and ridden by the jockey Mathieu Pelletan, coming in second. In third place was Qamari of the Al Afoo Racing, trained by Mohammed Hasan and ridden by the jockey Sufyan Saadi. Fourth place went to December of Al Mohamediya Racing, trained by Fawzi Nass and ridden by the jockey, Jason Watson.

The third race was the Beyon Cup for all categories of local horses at a distance of 2,000 meters which was won by Living Art owned by Abdulla Sami Nass, trained by Fawzi Nass and ridden by the jockey Adrie de Vries. Second place went to Battle of Talas of Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith and ridden by the jockey Lee Newman, followed by Immortal in third place who is owned by Mohammed Khalid Abdulrahim, trained by Haidar Ebrahim and ridden by the jockey Abdulla Faisal. Fourth place went to Manama Girl, owned by Aqeel Hassan Abdulrahim, trained by Jaber Ramadhan and ridden by the jockey Nathan Crosse.

The fourth race was held for the Bahrain Economic Development Board Handicap Cup for imported horses at a distance of 1,200 meters straight, which was won by Amaan, owned by Mohamed Jasim Jaafar, trained by Talal Alawi, ridden by the jockey Cristian Demuro. Second place went to Anaan owned by Al Afoo Racing, trained by Mohammed Hasan, ridden by the jockey Sufyan Saadi. Third place went to The Thin Blue Line owned by Al Mohamediya Racing, trained by Ali Abdulmajeed and ridden by the jockey Anas Al Siyabi. Fourth place went to Raahy, owned by Husain and Abbas Aqeel Hasan, trained by Jaber Ramadhan and ridden by the jockey Lee Newman.

The fifth race was the Bahrain Turf Club Cup for imported horses at a distance of 1,000 meters straight, which was won by Rebel at Dawn of the Al Adiyat Racing Stables, trained by Alan Smith, ridden by the jockey Gerald Mosse. Second place went to Ava Go Joe, owned by Aqeel Hassan Abdulraheem, trained by Jaber Ramadhan, ridden by the jockey Nathan Crosse. Third place went to Ocean Star of the Al Afoo Racing, trained by Mohammed Hassan, ridden by the jockey Sufyan Saadi. Fourth place went to Buffer Zone of the Victorious Stables, trained by Fawzi Nass, jockeyed by Adre de Vries.

The sixth race was the Bapco Energies Horseracing Handicap Cup for imported horses at a distance of 2,400 meters, which was won by Rayounpour of the Al Adiyat Racing Stables, trained by Alan Smith, ridden by the jockey Richard Kingscote. Second place went to American Flag of the Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith, ridden by the jockey Gerald Moose. Third place went to Tawaareq of the Victorious Stables, trained by Fawzi Nass, ridden by the jockey Adre de Vries. Fourth place went to Zagato of the Al Mahmadia stable, trained by Fawzi Nass, ridden by the jockey Jason Watson.

The final and seventh race was the Chopard Bahrain Jewellery Centre Handicap Cup for imported horses at a distance of 1,600 meters. The first place winner was Byline of the Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith, ridden by the jockey Gerald Moose. Second place went to The Covex Kid of the Al Mahmadia stable, trained by Fawzi Nass, ridden by the jockey Jason Watson. Third place went to Ecosystem, owned by Mohammed Khaled Abdulrahim, trained by Haider Ebrahim, ridden by the jockey Keran Shoemark. Fourth place went to Giustino of the Al Adiyat Racing, trained by Alan Smith, ridden by the jockey by Lee Newman.